Peters Pool is a small glacial lake just outside Franz Josef village on the West Coast, close to Fox Glacier. It’s one of the easiest scenic spots to reach in the area — just a flat 1.1 km return walk (about 25 minutes). You’ll find the track starting from the Franz Josef Glacier carpark, signposted to the left.

The lake has slowly formed over the last 200 years from the retreat of the Franz Josef Glacier and continues to grow as the ice melts.

From the lake edge there are open clearings perfect for setting up your camera with uninterrupted views of the valley and surrounding mountains, framed by native beech forest.

For photography, bring a wide-angle lens (around 16–35 mm) to capture the full scene, and a tripod if you’re shooting in low light before sunrise or after sunset.