Notable lake · Buller, West Coast
Bessons Dam
Bessons Dam is a lake in Buller, West Coast.
Bessons 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 Bessons 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 Bessons Dam — distance from nearby cities
Coordinates: -42.05991, 171.38585. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.
Places to visit near Bessons Dam
- Inland Pack Track · trek · Buller · ~4 km · Must-see
- Te Miko / Perpendicular Point · beach · Buller · ~6 km · Must-see
- Paparoa National Park · sanctuary · Hurunui · ~12 km · Must-see
- Punakaiki Marine Reserve · sanctuary · West Coast · ~13 km · Must-see
- Paparoa Range / Te Paparoa · viewpoint · Buller · ~15 km · Must-see
- Ananui Caves · cave · Buller · ~20 km · Must-see
- Pike River Mine · fort · Grey · ~22 km · Must-see
- Paparoa Track · trek · Grey · ~23 km · Must-see
- Paparoa National Park · sanctuary · Buller · ~25 km · Must-see
- Tauranga Bay · beach · West Coast · ~41 km · Must-see
- Cape Foulwind · beach · Buller · ~44 km · Must-see
- Carters Beach · beach · West Coast · ~47 km · Must-see
- Coaltown Museum · museum · Buller · ~48 km · Must-see
- St Canice's · church · Buller · ~48 km · Must-see
- Blacks Point Museum · museum · Hurunui · ~52 km · Must-see
- Mount Rochfort · viewpoint · Buller · ~54 km · Must-see
- Wingham Park · park · Grey · ~55 km · Must-see
- Cobden Aromahana Sanctuary · sanctuary · Selwyn · ~56 km · Must-see
Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Bessons Dam
- Lake Mahinapua · lake · Selwyn · ~113 km · Must-see
- Bessons Dam · lake · Hurunui · ~0 km
- Pororari Lagoon · lake · Buller · ~7 km
- Morgan Tarn · lake · Buller · ~26 km
- Lake Margaret · lake · Grey · ~32 km
- Ōkari Lagoon · lake · Buller · ~33 km
- Gillows Dam Wildlife Management Reserve · lake · Buller · ~44 km
- Gillows Dam · lake · Buller · ~44 km
- Orowaiti Lagoon · lake · Buller · ~50 km
- Lake Ryan · lake · Grey · ~54 km
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Frequently asked
Is Bessons Dam full? Are the gates open?
No visitor has reported the water level status for Bessons Dam yet. Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Busiest: Weekends and long holidays.
What is the best time to visit Bessons Dam?
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open. Moderate; weekends busier.
What are the places to visit near Bessons Dam?
Nearby: Inland Pack Track (trek, 4 km), Te Miko / Perpendicular Point (beach, 6 km), Paparoa National Park (sanctuary, 12 km), Punakaiki Marine Reserve (sanctuary, 13 km), Paparoa Range / Te Paparoa (viewpoint, 15 km), Ananui Caves (cave, 20 km).
Is Bessons Dam worth visiting?
Bessons Dam is listed as a notable lake in West Coast on Spotwander.