Exploring Westland Tai Poutini National Park

We enjoyed a chilly but beautiful afternoon in Westland Tai Poutini National Park where we visited Lake Matheson and Te Kopikopiko o te waka Peak View.

Visiting Lake Matheson

The trail around Lake Matheson is an easy 2.6 miles with several bridges and many locations to view the beautiful lake and mountains. On a clear day, Mount Tasman and Mount Cook can be seen far in the distance and, if the water is still, their reflections can be seen in the lake. Unfortunately, the day we visited was cloudy and windy depriving us of those spectacular views. But it was still a beautiful hike and we were especially happy when Mount Tasman "peaked" out from the clouds as we finished the hike and approached the parking lot.

Visiting Te Kopikopiko o te waka Peak View

As the clouds around Mount Tasman continued to clear, we jumped in our car and drove down the road to Te Kopikopiko o te waka Peak View for another view of the peak as well as Fox Glacier.

You can view the Wheels Up for New Zealand 2026 trip page to see all my blog posts, photos, and Wanderlog info.