New Zealand Walk
Mirror Lakes world famous for beauty
O
ne of the highlights of the Milford Road, the Mirror Lakes are world famous for their beauty and the way they reflect their surrounding scenery. You’ll find the Mirror Lakes within the Eglinton Valley. Stunningly scenic, on a calm day they provide breathtaking reflections of the Earl mountain ranges opposite. Thousands of tourists visit the Mir-
ror Lakes every year in search of the perfect photo op. However, they’re also a habitat for many animals, including some of our rarest birds. New Zealand’s smallest duck, the scaup or pāpango, live in the Mirror Lakes and other Eglinton Valley waterways, as do the grey duck or pārera. Under the water you’ll find longfinned native eels, as well as brown and rainbow trout which were intro-
10 Walking New Zealand, issue no 289 - 2022
duced in the 1800s. The Mirror Lakes were created when the Eglinton River shifted its course long ago, leaving these two river bends behind to form what is known as ‘oxbow’ lakes. Together with the Eglinton River Above: The Mirror Lakes in the Eglinton Valley. Below left: Walking on the boardwalk.
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