Tucked away in the heart of Nelson Lakes National Park, Rotomairewhenua, also known as Blue Lake, is one of Aotearoa’s most remarkable natural places. Renowned for having the purest natural freshwater in the world, this remote alpine lake is surrounded by rugged ridgelines, native forest and stark mountain terrain. This time, Peter Laurenson takes us to this extraordinary location, exploring the lake’s unique water clarity, the journey required to reach it, and the exceptional photographic opportunities found in this quiet and fragile landscape.
It’s fitting that Nelson Lakes National Park is home to the purest natural water in the world. That title is held by Rotomairewhenua/Blue Lake, nestled west of Franklin Ridge and north of Rotopōhueroa/Lake Constance, about 18 km south of Lake Rotoroa.
Rotomairewhenua translates as ‘Lake of peaceful lands’. Once used by Māori for the cleansing of bones, today the lake’s water is recognised as the purest in the world. Bathing or washing in the lake is now prohibited to safeguard its purity, particularly important since harmful algae, or lake snot, has been detected nearby and the number of trampers has dramatically increased since Te Araroa opened.
