One of Lake Hāwea’s most distinctive features is Corner Peak, a pyramidal mountain rising steeply from the lake’s eastern shores. It dominates the view from the lakefront, and when you see it you’ll want to climb it. 

The track entrance is a short walk up the road past the Timaru Creek car park. The track climbs steeply through a small kānuka stand then more gently along an easy 4WD track above Timaru River. 

From then on it’s an abrupt climb for 600m to the ridge – and that is not the summit. The climb, which is sheltered from prevailing westerlies, can be severely hot in summer and icy all day in winter. From the ridge are rewarding views of Lake Hāwea and layer upon layer of distant mountain ranges.    

The going is less steep from the ridge and a poled route, which follows an official easement across Dingleburn Station, marks the way. A short descent off Pt1410m gives some relief. Pt1410m is a destination itself if you are short on time. The views to the west extend across Lake Hāwea to Lake Wānaka and Tititea Mt Aspiring National Park, and Mt Dingle (1835m) dominates the view to the east. 

After the saddle at Pt1410m some rocky sections require scrambling and care, but the route avoids the steep gendarmes of Pt1371 by sidling on the Lake Hāwea side. The poled route finishes at the start of the Hāwea Conservation Area and a foot track, with occasional cairns, leads across the slopes on the ridge’s eastern side. Continue to sidle and climb to the broad sweeping saddle at 1480m, just south of Corner Peak, after which a further 200m climb up easy tussock slopes leads to the 1683m summit.

It’s a long but rewarding day trip. The views are outstanding, the route is fun and varied, and the multiple rocky ribs leading down to the lake are visually dramatic. It’s also potentially dangerous, especially in winter, so take an ice axe and crampons and be prepared to turn around. The route is
exposed with no shade or water.