Lake Katherine

Lake Katherine: 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 Lake Katherine

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 Lake Katherine — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: -45.00053, 167.45694. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Lake Katherine

• George Sound · beach · Southland · ~13 km · Must-see
• Caswell Sound · beach · Southland · ~24 km · Must-see
• Bligh Sound · beach · Southland · ~26 km · Must-see
• Te Ahi-a-Mahuika / Franklin Mountains · viewpoint · Southland · ~26 km · Must-see
• Hawea (Clio Rocks) Marine Reserve · sanctuary · Southland · ~26 km · Must-see
• Charles Sound · beach · Southland · ~33 km · Must-see
• Kahukura (Gold Arm) Marine Reserve · sanctuary · Southland · ~35 km · Must-see
• Te Puhi-a-noa / Murchison Mountains · viewpoint · Southland · ~36 km · Must-see
• Te Hapua (Sutherland Sound) Marine Reserve · sanctuary · Southland · ~37 km · Must-see
• Sutherland Sound · beach · Southland · ~37 km · Must-see
• Coronation Peak · viewpoint · Southland · ~37 km · Must-see
• Sutherland Falls · waterfall · Southland · ~39 km · Must-see
• Omanui / McKinnon Pass · viewpoint · Southland · ~41 km · Must-see
• Nancy Sound · beach · Southland · ~42 km · Must-see
• Fiordland National Park · sanctuary · Southland · ~42 km · Must-see
• Mount Balloon · viewpoint · Southland · ~43 km · Must-see
• Mount Elliot · viewpoint · Southland · ~45 km · Must-see
• Kutu Parera (Gaer Arm) Marine Reserve · sanctuary · Southland · ~50 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Lake Katherine

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Lake Katherine

• Lake Manapouri · lake · Southland · ~73 km · Must-see
• Queenstown Gardens · lake · Queenstown-Lakes · ~118 km · Must-see
• Hinerukutai / Lake Alice · lake · Southland · ~4 km
• Deadwood Lagoon · lake · Southland · ~5 km
• Welcome Lake · lake · Southland · ~7 km
• Wade Lake · lake · Southland · ~8 km
• Lake Wapiti · lake · Southland · ~9 km
• Lake Thomson · lake · Southland · ~9 km
• Lake Sutherland · lake · Southland · ~10 km
• Lake Clark · lake · Southland · ~11 km

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Southland

Frequently asked