We make a quick pit stop at Lake Matheson, a five-minute drive from Fox Glacier. This kettle lake was formed 14,000 years ago, when the glacier had its last major retreat from the sea. In its wake, the glacier left a depression in the ground that later filled with water.
Lake Matheson is famous for its crystal-clear reflections of New Zealand’s two highest peaks – Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. Thanks to its naturally dark brown waters caused by organic matter from the surrounding forest, the lake has a perfect reflective surface for the mountains in the east. The ultimate mirror lake.
We take a leisurely walk around the lake; it only takes 1.5 hours to complete the circuit and along the way we get stunning views of the mountains and native rimu trees repeated in reverse in the water, especially on a calm day. Paying close attention, we spot deer grazing and even long-finned eels swimming in the lake.
If this is where the heavens meet the earth, it’s a beautiful meeting of the spheres.