Lake Pearson

Lake Pearson (Moana Rua) is a beautiful and tranquil lake that is a great place for overnight camping and is located in the Craigieburn Forest Park in the Canterbury region. It is about a 20-minute drive from Arthur’s Pass Village just off State Highway 73. The area is a wildlife refuge and motorised boats are banned as it is a preserved habitat for southern crested gerbe. This high-country lake is part of the Waimakariri Basin and is a great spot for birdwatching. You can also enjoy fishing and it has a beautiful landscape for photographers.

Lake Pearson is about 125km away from Christchurch. It contains rainbow trout, brown trout, and mackinaw. The bag limit for fishing is two trout and two salmon. Fishing for trout is ideal in the summer as the catch is higher and in winter it’s a challenge as the fish lay at the bottom of the lake. The two types of fishing permitted are fly fishing and spin fishing. The Canterbury Ngai Tahu camped here and it was an important place for food gathering. The area is also very close to the large limestone formations which are a part of Castle Hill which was also the backdrop of the Lord of the Rings movies. The campsite is nestled under mature willow trees and can accommodate up to 20 tents and campervans. Toilets are available as well as many picnic tables. Lake Pearson is shaped like an hourglass and you can enjoy an easy walk along the shoreline.