Wakatipu - The Long Lake

The rich scenery around Lake Wakatipu has inspired painters, postage stamps and director Peter Jackson. Shortly before leaving NZ in 1954, photographer Brian Brake headed south for the NFU to capture images of lake, mountain, tourist and miner. Amid the postcard perfection, Brake films mist-shrouded hills sliced open by mining, and a trio of skiers on Coronet Peak, travelling hand in hand. Tourists swap lake steamers for open top buses, en route to the Routeburn track; and one old-timer sets out on horse to pan for gold, via the abandoned mining village of Macetown.

Deep away in the south of New Zealand lies a 52 mile stretch of blue water. Mountains crowd it close and trees line its shores. This is the long lake the Māoris called Wakatipu.

– Narrator

Key Cast & Crew

Oxley Hughan

Writer, Director

Bob Kingsbury

Writer, Editor

Patrick Smyth

Narrator

Brian Brake

Camera