Giveaways
THE Lake Marian Track has lately become very popular, although tourist numbers are down at present because of Covid (so, if in NZ already, you should go there!). The track begins from Marian Carpark, one kilometre down the unsealed Hollyford Road from its intersection with the Milford Road, some ninety kilometres out from Te Anau. It now has a wooden gantry only 20 minutes in, from which you can admire the Marian Falls, which are really more like rapids. Even if you don’t do the rest of the track, you can still walk to the gantry.
Once at the lake you can camp overnight. There is more birdlife there now than there used to be, what with the conservation and trapping being done on the Routeburn: it is so great to see.
There are good views over toward the mountainous terrain of the Routeburn Track, from which you can also glimpse Lake Marian, from Key Summit at least.
Here's a short video of the lake and Mount Christina behind:
All in all, this is one of the best little short trips that you can do from the road in New Zealand! Indeed, the travel writer GirlEatWorld has described Lake Marian as "my favorite experience in New Zealand so far."
Here is the New Zealand Department of Conservation page on Lake Marian. There is also, as of the time of writing, a very good Wikipedia page.
If you liked the post above, check out my new book about the South Island! It's available for purchase from this website.
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