Sutton Salt Lake – Middlemarch, New Zealand - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

Sutton Salt Lake

Middlemarch, New Zealand

New Zealand's only inland salt lake goes through a constant cycle of filling, evaporating, and refilling. 

View all photos
14
135
Top Places in New Zealand
Colossal Squid
Wellington, New Zealand
Waikumete Cemetery
Auckland, New Zealand
Milford Sound
Milford Sound, New Zealand
 See All

Travel through Otago and you might see Sutton Salt Lake, New Zealand’s only inland salt lake. If you visit before it evaporates, that is.

Though it contains water up to half as salty as seawater when full, the lake is over 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the nearest coast. Located in a shallow basin, its salinity is all thanks to salt produced by a repeated cycle of refill and evaporation created by rain and high winds.

Visit in the winter for your best shot at seeing the lake, but bring your windbreaker.

Know Before You Go

Ask Google for directions to Sutton Salt Lake and you may mistakenly be directed down what is actually a private road with no lake access. You'll need to search for 'Sutton Salt Lake Scenic Reserve', located approximately 9.5 km from Middlemarch, along the unsealed Kidds Road. The reserve entrance is about 2.5km along this road on the left.


The lake is then a one hour return walk from the carpark. Unfortunately, it is not wheelchair accessible. There are also no public toilets in the reserve.

Atlas Obscura Trips

NEW — Wild New Zealand: Exploring the North & South Islands

Stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, and rich Māori culture.
Book Now
salt lakes geological oddities
Community Contributors
D
Added by
DawnC
Published
January 12, 2022
Edit this listing
Make an Edit Add Photos
Nearby
Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery
28.96 miles
The Alexander Piano
29.15 miles
Baldwin Street Houses
29.22 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
A bone sculpture by Bruce Mahalski.
Dunedin, New Zealand

Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery

Three rooms of bones, curios, and one artist's collection of natural artifacts create this intriguing museum.
The Alexander Piano, one of the largest pianos in the world.
Dunedin, New Zealand

The Alexander Piano

One of the world's largest pianos is displayed in the workshop of the man who built it as a teenager.
Baldwin Street
Dunedin, New Zealand

Baldwin Street Houses

One of the world's steepest streets seems to have houses sliding down it.
Dunedin, New Zealand

Beverly Clock

Running since 1864, this clock has yet to be wound, one of the longest-running science experiments known.
Related Places
The salt lake becomes colorful in warm temperatures because of algae growth
Yuncheng, China

Yuncheng Salt Lake

Rainbow-hued in the summer and crystalline in the winter, this salty lake has inspired battles, temples, and plenty of awe.
Don Juan Pond.
Antarctica

Don Juan Pond

Scientists use one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth as a terrestrial base for studying water on Mars.
Torrevieja, Spain

The Pink Lake of Torrevieja

Bacteria and algae give the salty water its bubblegum hue.
Valley Falls, Oregon

Lake Abert

Oregon's only closed-basin hypersaline lake, an important stopover for migrating waterfowl, is in danger of drying up completely.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web