Lake Onslow, lake in New Zealand
Lake Onslow is an artificial reservoir in the Otago region on New Zealand's South Island. The water is surrounded by hills and open farmland, with gentle shores and a simple, broad structure with no major buildings or settlements nearby.
The first dam was built in 1890 to hold back the Teviot River and the nearby Dismal Swamp. In 1982, a new, taller dam was constructed, covering the original and making the lake larger and deeper.
The lake is named after an early European settler and remains a gathering place for local anglers from the region. The water and surrounding landscape shape daily life for farmers and visitors who value the open high country setting.
The lake is easiest to reach on foot from nearby parking areas, with various points along the shore easily accessible. Bring your own supplies as there are limited facilities immediately nearby, and prepare for weather that varies significantly by season.
The lake was studied as a possible site for a clean energy storage system where water would be pumped between reservoirs to generate electricity when needed. Though this project was rejected in 2023, it shows how this quiet mountain lake played a role in New Zealand's debates over renewable energy.
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