Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
An easy 40 minutes 1.3 km return walk, which is especially beautiful and atmospheric when the cloud is low. This walk begins at the far end of the Dobson Nature Walk, adding another 2.5 km to our return walk.
Map Data: Google, Digital Globe, Department of Conservation (DOC).

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Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
What a great name for a track! So inviting. Especially on a day like this...

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
This track links the Dobson Nature Walk with the Otira Valley Track...

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
...And when the cloud is low, this track is at its best. Here a power pylon looms through the mist.

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Soon we are walking through tall tussock. Follow the orange markers.

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Walking this track in low cloud is quite spooky and bleakly beautiful.

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
And here it is... Lake Misery... Gorgeous. So atmospheric.

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Beautiful...

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Now we'll head over the small hill to the Otira Valley Carpark.

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
The going is as rocky as a pile of rocks at this point.

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
The pylons are like alien Eiffel Towers in the clouds... Sort of.

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Here's the turnoff to the Otira Valley Track.

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Looking up the Otira Valley Track.

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
That's the carpark up ahead.

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Here we are at the carpark.

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Heading back up the track.

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Looking up the Otira Valley, the cloud is lifting.

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
And now we look down on Lake Misery - and we can see how close it is to the road.

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Yep. It sure loses a bit of its magic when the sun comes out.

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
Still quite nice - but really something special when the weather comes in.

Lake Misery Track, Arthur's Pass National Park, New Zealand

LAKE MISERY TRACK - Arthur's Pass National Park
And here we return to the end of Dobson Nature Walk.