Lake Hāwea in brief
Lake Hāwea lies next to Lake Wānaka in Otago. A narrow strip of land called The Neck separates the two lakes, and State Highway 6 (SH6) crosses it on the way from Wānaka toward Makarora and the Haast Pass. So you pass the lake on the way to the Blue Pools, but it is not within walking distance of them. The pools are on the far side of Makarora.
This is an independent guide, not run by DOC, a tourism board or a business at the lake. It covers the stops that fit a Blue Pools day: The Neck, the Kidds Bush forest walk and the steep Isthmus Peak track.
How Hāwea fits a Blue Pools day
The order of stops from Wānaka.
1. Wānaka to The Neck
You leave Wānaka on SH6 and reach The Neck between the two lakes. The lake views here make a good first stop.
Wānaka →2. On to Makarora
From Wānaka, DOC gives 1 hour 10 minutes to the Blue Pools car park. A local operator gives 1 hour from Wānaka to Makarora, then 10 minutes more to the car park. Stops at the lake come on top.
Makarora →3. The pools
The Blue Pools Track is 3 km return and takes about 1 hour, with two swing bridges. Leave enough daylight for the drive back.
Blue Pools Track →Tours from Wānaka toward the Blue Pools
Guided day trips, scenic flights and jet boats on the road between Lake Hāwea, Makarora and the Blue Pools, with live prices and availability.
The road past The Neck in 2026
Dated notices, not a live status.
The Neck lies in the SH6 corridor that was hit by the storm of late August 2026. SH6 between Makarora and Lake Hāwea was closed on August 28 because of slips after heavy rain, and about 30 slip sites were reported either side of The Neck on August 29. Convoys followed in early September. NZTA announced round-the-clock travel from October 9, while roadworks and delays continued. Earlier passage times are not a basis for planning, so check NZTA for the current state of SH6 on the day you travel.
Two walks near the lake
Different effort, different setting.
| Walk | Type | Start | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kidds Bush Nature Walk | Forest loop | Kidds Bush campground, about 40 km north of Wānaka, 6 km from The Neck via Meads Road | Toilets and limited mobile coverage at the campground |
| Isthmus Peak Track | Steep hill track | Car park on SH6; you cross the road to the start | About 1,000 m of climbing over 8 km; no drinking water |
Kidds Bush
The Kidds Bush Nature Walk is a forest loop that starts at the campground of the same name. From The Neck it is 6 km via Meads Road. Kidds Bush belongs to the Hāwea Conservation Park, not to Mount Aspiring National Park. The campground has toilets, and mobile coverage is limited.
Isthmus Peak
DOC describes the Isthmus Peak Track as a steep route over private land, with about 1,000 m of climbing over 8 km one way. The way back is the same. The car park is on SH6, and you cross the road to reach the start. There is no drinking water on the track. Avalanche paths are a concern, especially from May to November.
An older DOC brochure (November 2024) gives 16 km and 5 to 6 hours return, and lists a closure from November 20 to December 20. Look up the current closure dates on the DOC page before you go. This is a full hill day, so it does not combine with a Blue Pools trip.
Staying and camping
Options on this stretch are limited.
Kidds Bush has a campground. Check the current fees and rules with DOC before you plan to stay. Further on, the DOC campsites at Cameron Flat and Pleasant Flat cost NZ$15 per adult per night in 2026 and must be booked online. For the full rules, including freedom camping in the Queenstown Lakes District, see the camping page. For beds in Wānaka, Makarora or Haast, see where to stay.
If you are driving on to the West Coast after the pools, the Franz Josef Glacier guide picks up the route north of Haast.
Lake Hāwea: frequently asked questions
Is Lake Hāwea close to the Blue Pools?
It is on the same road, but the pools are on the far side of Makarora. DOC gives 1 hour 10 minutes by car from Wānaka to the Blue Pools car park, so Hāwea is a stop on the way, not a short walk.
What is The Neck?
The Neck is the narrow strip of land between Lake Hāwea and Lake Wānaka, which SH6 crosses on the way toward Makarora.
Is Kidds Bush part of Mount Aspiring National Park?
No. DOC places it in the Hāwea Conservation Park. It is a forest loop starting at the campground of the same name.
How hard is Isthmus Peak?
It is steep: about 1,000 m of climbing over 8 km one way, with no drinking water, over private land. Avalanche paths matter especially from May to November.
Is the road past The Neck open?
SH6 was closed on August 28, 2026 after slips, and NZTA announced round-the-clock travel from October 9, with roadworks continuing. Check NZTA for the state on the day you travel.