Incidentally, one of the meanings of kahurangi in Māori is jewel. Diamond Lake is one of seven lakes in an area known as either Diamond Lakes or Sylvester Lakes. While camping there for a few days, I fell in love with the lake, a true gem in Kahurangi National Park!
Sunrise at Diamond Lake
Even though there is no track that leads to Diamond Lake, it isn’t too difficult to get to. In fact, it may be a good introduction to wilderness travel for those who have never ventured off the beaten track. From the western side of the Cobb Reservoir dam (at 820 m), it’s a two to three-hour walk along an old, disused vehicle track to Sylvester Hut (at 1310 m). Beyond the hut there are no tracks and wilderness travel in open country begins.
There are two main routes from Sylvester Hut to Diamond Lake:
Iron Stream Route
From Sylvester Hut, follow the ridge southeast of Lake Sylvester until you pick up a cairned route that leads to a steep, grassy slope down to Iron Stream. Across the stream head for a clump of beech trees and an obvious rocky outcrop. Pick up an old and still marked track, and follow it up through the beech forest to the open ridge east of Lake Lillie. Sidle past Lake Lillie to the bush edge south of Diamond Lake. From here, descend through the beech forest in a northerly direction, straight down to Diamond Lake.
Iron Hill Route
From Sylvester Hut, follow the spur between Lake Sylvester and Little Lake Sylvester, and head for the outlet of Iron Lake. From there, a cairned route climbs steeply through a maze of rocky outcrops and bluffs, all the way to the summit of Iron Hill. At 1695 metres it is the highest point on the Lockett Range, offering a breathtaking 360-degree panorama. From Iron Hill follow the Lockett Range to point 1631 and down the ridge northwest of Lake Lillie. When you reach the bushline, descend through the beech forest in a northerly direction, straight down to Diamond Lake.
Clockwise from top left: Lake Sylvester, Little Lake Sylvester and Iron Lake
View from Iron Hill to Cobb Valley and Peel Range
A word of caution
As with all mountainous and exposed areas in Kahurangi National Park, the weather can change very quickly. The first time I camped at Diamond Lake, I encountered a freak storm and cold snap that brought several inches of snow in the middle of summer. Be prepared! It can be lovely and warm one day, and unfavourable and freezing on the next. Visibility can change quickly too. If you need to travel in adverse weather opt for the Iron Stream Route.
Fog over Diamond Lake
How long does it take to get from Sylvester Hut to Diamond Lake?
That depends on many factors, such as level of fitness, how often you stop for breaks, the weather, and also whether you are a Speedy Gonzáles or Slowpoke Rodriguez type tramper. Anyhow, for either route, allow at least four hours each way.
Are there any campsites at Diamond Lake?
Yes, there are good campsites at both ends of the lake.
Diamond Lake is a good base to explore the other lakes, like Ruby Lake or Lake Lockett, and makes for a straight-forward climb to Mt Lockett.
Diamond Lake
How to get there
At Upper Takaka (at the base of Takaka Hill on the Golden Bay side), a narrow 28-kilometre road leads to Cobb Reservoir. For more information download DOC’s Cobb Valley, Mt Arthur, Tableland publication.
