Notable lake · Southland, Southland
Lake Charles
Lake Charles is a lake in Southland, Southland.
Lake Charles: 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 Charles
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 Charles — distance from nearby cities
Coordinates: -46.63119, 168.86161. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.
Places to visit near Lake Charles
- Waipapa Point · beach · Southland · ~4 km · Must-see
- SS Tararua · fort · Southland · ~5 km · Must-see
- Pukewao · viewpoint · Southland · ~12 km · Must-see
- Slope Point · viewpoint · Southland · ~15 km · Must-see
- Waipapa / Slope Point · beach · Southland · ~15 km · Must-see
- Curio Bay · beach · Southland · ~23 km · Must-see
- Porpoise Bay · beach · Southland · ~25 km · Must-see
- Dog Island Lighthouse · beach · Southland · ~43 km · Must-see
- Tiwai Point · beach · Invercargill City · ~48 km · Must-see
- McLean Falls · waterfall · Clutha · ~48 km · Must-see
- Te Kanawera / Stirling Point · beach · Invercargill City · ~48 km · Must-see
- Catlins Conservation Park · sanctuary · Clutha · ~48 km · Must-see
- Awarua / Bluff Harbour · beach · Invercargill City · ~51 km · Must-see
- Mount Pye · viewpoint · Clutha · ~51 km · Must-see
- Tautuku Peninsula · beach · Clutha · ~56 km · Must-see
- Queen's Park, Invercargill · sanctuary · Clutha · ~58 km · Must-see
- Anderson Park · park · Clutha · ~61 km · Must-see
- Oreti Beach · beach · Clutha · ~66 km · Must-see
Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Lake Charles
- Lake Forest · lake · Southland · ~2 km
- Lake Brunton · lake · Clutha · ~3 km
- Lake Brunton · lake · Southland · ~4 km
- Lake Cook · lake · Southland · ~6 km
- Lake Vincent · lake · Clutha · ~6 km
- Lake Vincent · lake · Southland · ~6 km
- The Reservoir · lake · Southland · ~19 km
- Waipārera / Waituna Lagoon · lake · Southland · ~25 km
- Moana Pūtakitaki Lagoon · lake · Southland · ~37 km
- Tauatemaku Lagoon · lake · Southland · ~39 km
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Frequently asked
Is Lake Charles full? Are the gates open?
No visitor has reported the water level status for Lake Charles yet. Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Busiest: Weekends and long holidays.
What is the best time to visit Lake Charles?
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open. Moderate; weekends busier.
What are the places to visit near Lake Charles?
Nearby: Waipapa Point (beach, 4 km), SS Tararua (fort, 5 km), Pukewao (viewpoint, 12 km), Slope Point (viewpoint, 15 km), Waipapa / Slope Point (beach, 15 km), Curio Bay (beach, 23 km).
Is Lake Charles worth visiting?
Lake Charles is listed as a notable lake in Southland on Spotwander.