Photospot
Sightseeing
This absolute gem is well worth the short 10 minute walk on a calm day to see stunning mirror reflections of the surrounding mountains, It’s especially magic early in the morning when the light is soft, the crowds aren't around, and the water is at its glassiest. This is easily one of the best low-effort, high-reward stops on the West Coast.
Introducing: Peters Pool, Franz Josef
Directions: drive or walk south from the Franz Josef/Waiau township across the Waiho River bridge and turn left onto the Glacier Access Road or Te Ara a Waiau. Drive or walk for approximately 4 km to the car park at the end of the road.
Toilets are at the carpark
The track is takes 20 - 30 minutes return and is 1.1km
The track is flat and easy to walk on
There a bench seat at the lake
Sunrise is quieter and there's no harsh light to ruin your photography
In summer, there can be a lot of mozzies, so take insect repellent or wear long pants!
The West Coast gets the most amount of rainfall than any other region in New Zealand, so expect some wet days when you're there!
Reviews:
'Hiked passed on our way to Robert’s Track and at 8am in the morning steam rose off the lake and the mountains mirrored themselves in the lake' - Susanna, Google
'Very easy walk along a gravel path. Could easily push a pram or wheelchair. Lots of tropical looking trees and all sorts of ferns. The reflection on the pool was pretty for a photo despite the dreary weather. Huge carpark with toilets and a relocated hut which was interesting to read about and have a look inside.' - Keira, Google
'Absolutely stunning! We got there around 10 AM and expected it to be ripply by then, but in fact it was perfectly still and mirror-like. It’s a pretty easy walk there and back from the Franz Josef Glacier Car Park, but it’s definitely worth doing the full Douglas Walk/Te Ara A Waiau Walkway loop track if you have time.' - Gretchen, Google
Handy Sites:
https://www.tartancoconuts.com/peters-pool.html
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/new-zealand/west-coast/peter-s-pool-walk
https://seethesouthisland.com/peters-pool-franz-josef-new-zealand/
https://planmywalk.nz/tracks/peters-pool-walk/map
Track History
Peter’s Pool was named after Peter Westland, a nine-year old boy who camped here with his mother Muriel Westland in 1894. The pool is a fingerprint left by the retreating glacier dropping a chunk of melted ice that formed into a kettle lake around 1800 AD.
A prefabricated hut once stood near the pool and was originally used by the surveyor-explorers A.P. Harper and Charlie Douglas. It was made from corrugated iron bolted to a frame of angle iron with a stone fire-place and tin chimney. The hut was also used by thousands of people on their glacier expeditions. The Graham brothers and their guides used it as a lunch hut where their clients could enjoy a cup of black billy tea.
