Notable lake · Waitaki, Canterbury
Waitaki Dam
Waitaki Dam is a lake in Waitaki, Canterbury.
Waitaki Dam: crowds and conditions
Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.
Status options for this lake: Full / gates open · Low water level · Entry closed.
Best time to visit Waitaki Dam
Season: August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open.
Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.
Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.
Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.
How to reach Waitaki Dam — distance from nearby cities
Coordinates: -44.68921, 170.42683. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.
Places to visit near Waitaki Dam
- Oteake Conservation Park · sanctuary · Waitaki · ~36 km · Must-see
- Elephant Rocks · attraction · Waitaki · ~36 km · Must-see
- Danseys Pass Recreation Reserve · viewpoint · Central Otago · ~43 km · Must-see
- Benmore Peak · viewpoint · Central Otago · ~50 km · Must-see
- Mount Nimrod/Kaumira · viewpoint · Waitaki · ~52 km · Must-see
- Kakanui Mountains · viewpoint · Waitaki · ~59 km · Must-see
- St Patrick's Basilica, Waimate · church · Waitaki · ~62 km · Must-see
- Clay Cliffs · attraction · Waitaki · ~62 km · Must-see
- Knottingley Park · park · Waitaki · ~63 km · Must-see
- Mount Dryburgh · viewpoint · Waimate · ~3 km
- Lake Waitaki · lake · Central Otago · ~3 km
- Lake Waitaki · lake · Waitaki · ~4 km
- Kurow Hill · viewpoint · Waitaki · ~6 km
- Kurow Museum · museum · Central Otago · ~7 km
- Kurow Scenic Reserve · sanctuary · Waitaki · ~8 km
- Aviemore Dam · lake · Waitaki · ~9 km
- Mount Bitterness · viewpoint · Waitaki · ~15 km
- Saint Marys Range · viewpoint · Waitaki · ~15 km
Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Waitaki Dam
- Lake Waitaki · lake · Central Otago · ~3 km
- Lake Waitaki · lake · Waitaki · ~4 km
- Aviemore Dam · lake · Waitaki · ~9 km
- Lake Aviemore · lake · Central Otago · ~16 km
- Lake Aviemore · lake · Waimate · ~19 km
- Benmore Dam · lake · Waitaki · ~28 km
- Lake Benmore · lake · Waitaki · ~42 km
- Lake Benmore · lake · Central Otago · ~43 km
- Hoffmans Dam · lake · Central Otago · ~55 km
- Coalpit Dam · lake · Central Otago · ~55 km
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Frequently asked
Is Waitaki Dam full? Are the gates open?
No visitor has reported the water level status for Waitaki Dam yet. Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Busiest: Weekends and long holidays.
What is the best time to visit Waitaki Dam?
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open. Moderate; weekends busier.
What are the places to visit near Waitaki Dam?
Nearby: Oteake Conservation Park (sanctuary, 36 km), Elephant Rocks (attraction, 36 km), Danseys Pass Recreation Reserve (viewpoint, 43 km), Benmore Peak (viewpoint, 50 km), Mount Nimrod/Kaumira (viewpoint, 52 km), Kakanui Mountains (viewpoint, 59 km).
Is Waitaki Dam worth visiting?
Waitaki Dam is listed as a notable lake in Canterbury on Spotwander.