Lake Hay

Lake Hay: 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 Hay

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 Hay — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: -45.80639, 167.04852. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Lake Hay

• Mount Edgecumbe · viewpoint · Southland · ~17 km · Must-see
• Moana Uta (Wet Jacket Arm) Marine Reserve · sanctuary · Southland · ~30 km · Must-see
• Te Tapuwae o Hua (Long Sound) Marine Reserve · sanctuary · Southland · ~36 km · Must-see
• Mount Sparrman · viewpoint · Southland · ~40 km · Must-see
• Tuturau / Hunter Mountains · viewpoint · Southland · ~40 km · Must-see
• Mount Danae · viewpoint · Southland · ~42 km · Must-see
• Mount Wilmot · viewpoint · Southland · ~43 km · Must-see
• Breaksea Sound · beach · Southland · ~43 km · Must-see
• Rakituma / Preservation Inlet · beach · Southland · ~44 km · Must-see
• Chalky Inlet · beach · Southland · ~48 km · Must-see
• Taipaririki / Deep Cove · beach · Southland · ~50 km · Must-see
• Mount Titiroa · viewpoint · Southland · ~50 km · Must-see
• Mount Moturau · viewpoint · Southland · ~52 km · Must-see
• Taumoana (Five Finger Peninsula) Marine Reserve · sanctuary · Southland · ~52 km · Must-see
• Taipari Roa (Elizabeth Island) Marine Reserve · sanctuary · Southland · ~54 km · Must-see
• Browne Falls · waterfall · Southland · ~57 km · Must-see
• Lake Manapouri · lake · Southland · ~57 km · Must-see
• Pōhuruhuru / Pomona Island · river spot · Southland · ~59 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Lake Hay

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Lake Hay

• Lake Manapouri · lake · Southland · ~57 km · Must-see
• Sphinx Lake · lake · Southland · ~6 km
• False Lake · lake · Southland · ~14 km
• Jane Lake · lake · Southland · ~14 km
• Lake Mike · lake · Southland · ~15 km
• Prong Lake · lake · Southland · ~15 km
• Lake Story · lake · Southland · ~15 km
• Lake Kakapo · lake · Southland · ~16 km
• Lake Ursula · lake · Southland · ~17 km
• Loch Maree · lake · Southland · ~17 km

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Southland

Frequently asked