LAKE CLEARWATER CAMPING SURFARI
Spectacular South Island Watersport Holiday
Lake Clearwater Wing-foil & Windsurf Camping Surfari Holiday
The Lake Clearwater Wing-Foil & Windsurf Camping Surfari Holiday is ideal for the budget conscious adventurers deep in the Canterbury High Country. There will be wingfoiling and windsurfing until the sun sets, combined with breathtaking scenery, maybe some mountainbiking in the morning, and a fantastic group vibe.
The stunning Lake Clearwater is less than 2 hours drive west of Christchurch and is well known for its fabulous windsurfing and wing-foiling. The strong Northwest wind funnelling down the mountains or the more gentle Easterly thermals coming up the valley on sunny summer days make it the perfect playground for windsports.
Lake Clearwater Camping Holiday Surfari Trip is a low budget trip – bring your own accommodation, breakfast and lunch, we take care of the rest!
FROM
NZD $
450.-
- USD $ 265.-
- EUR € 240.-
2+ nights Lakefront Camping Accommodation
Bring your own campervan, RV, caravan or tent
Meals
BBQ dinner on either Friday night or Saturday night - depending on the wind conditions
Demo Gear
Wing foil and windsurf demo gear available for our guests
Professional Coaching
We are there to give you tips and advice how to master that new move
Alternative activities
Bring your MTB and hiking shoes - there is plenty to do!
Photos
Professional photos taken of you on the water.
What you want to know
Discover the Lake Clearwater wing foil and windsurf holiday dates currently available, your package pricing options, and if you’re looking to travel light, the rental options.
2026 Season
- 16th – 18th of January 2026 – Book Now!
More trips might be added, sign up for our newsletter for the latest updates and special offers!
Request a date that suits you! Get a crew of friends and join us for a Custom Surfari.
Camping Surfari (Friday – Sunday):
- Single: $450.-
- Non-watersports partner: $100.-
- Family Pass: $1100.- *
* Family Pass includes 2 adults and max 2 children 5 – 15 years old
Rent all wing foil or windsurf equipment required for duration of the trip – by prior arrangement
- Core Surfari: $300.-
- Add on day: $150.- per day
Your private wing foil or windsurf lesson, catered to your needs. Perfect if you are trying to nail your jibes, tacks or flying switch etc – by prior arrangement
$60.- per hour on your own gear
What you need to know
Explore everything that is included in the Lake Clearwater wing foil and windsurf holiday package, what you need to bring with you, and what skill level you need to be at.
- Lakefront Camping Accommodation (bring your own camper / tent) for Friday and Saturday night.
- BBQ-dinner on Friday or Saturday night (depending on wind conditions).
- Be part of the Water Nomads community.
- Professional coaching tips to improve your wingfoiling / windsurfing.
- Demo wingfoil and windsurf equipment available to try during your stay.
- Join us on other activities such as mountainbiking or hiking.
- Weather conditions advice.
- your own equipment (unless arranged prior).
- 3/2 or 4/3 wetsuit
- sunblock
- sunhat
- water bottle
- insect repellent
- medications
- your own drinking water for the time of your stay
- your own camping equipment
- your own food except for dinner
If you are unsure what equipment you should bring, please contact us.
- This trip is suitable for beginner to expert wingfoil, windfoil and windsurfer (lessons or tuition can be arranged on request). Being able to stay upwind is an advantage as the walk around the lake if you drift downwind is not very pleasant.
- Wind conditions can be anywhere from 12-40+ knots
- Water state can be buttery-flat through to large chop, dependent on the wind strength and direction.
If you are unsure if this trip is suitable for you, please contact us.
What to expect
Lake Clearwater with its village of traditional kiwi baches (=small holiday houses) sits in a wide tussok covered valley and is a jump back in time: There is no electricity and no communal water supply. All the baches are off-grid, using solar power for their limited electrical needs and collecting rain water.
The Lake Clearwater campground is a classic kiwi campground right at the lake front with easy launching access. It is very low key, offering a cubicle to hang up your solar shower and basic but clean toilets. Bring your own campervan, motorhome, caravan or tent.
Water Nomads can also assist you booking a batch if camping isn’t your thing, though be warned – they are pretty basic too!
A wholesome BBQ meal including a variety of salads (vegetarian options available) will be provided on either Friday or Saturday evening (depending on the wind conditions). This includes a rich desert and a lot of tall stories around the table!
We offer a non-alcoholic drink or a complimentary glass of wine with dinner.
Dinner will be served in the hall of the campground.
Lake Clearwater is as far away from civilisation as you can drive. It is the perfect place to unplug (literally). There is no drinking water (bring your own for the duration of your stay), no electricity and no hot showers at the campground.
Be prepared for a jump back in time!
Bevan will be taking professional action shots of you on the water which are available to purchase at discounted rates.
Free access to wing foil and windsurf demo gear is available for our guests.
Activities
Lake Clearwater and the surrounding Ashburton Lakes offer a fantastic high country experience and an awesome adventure playground. The thermal winds arrive often early afternoon, leaving plenty of time in the morning to enjoy some none wind-based activities. Explore the surroundings or just relax with a good book and soak up the views.
Lake Clearwater lies in a wide mountain valley. The 2 dominant wind directions are Northwest (coming off the mountains) and East (blowing like a thermal wind up the valley).
On sunny summer days, the Easterly thermals are super reliable and usually come in around 2pm with 15 knots, sometimes they build up to 20 knots wind strength. With the campground and launch spot being towards the eastern end of Lake Clearwater, the water is nice and flat in Easterly winds, perfect for learning or practicing new tricks.
The Northwest wind coming off the mountains is a different beast. It develops when there is a low pressure system off the West Coast off New Zealand. It is a warm and usually dry wind (unless some showers are actually making it across the mountains) funneling down from the Main Divide. Wind speeds can often exceed 30 knots!
In late February / early March, the weather tends to be more settled and we expect to get mainly easterly sea thermals at Lake Clearwater.
Of course, water sports are our main goal!
The Northwest wind can blow any time of day or night, wind from the East acts more like a thermal breeze and kicks in after 2pm, giving you time for other activities in the morning.
The mornings are often incredibly calm and the lake is just like a mirror. Perfect for a cruise on your SUP or kayak across the lake to the island.
There are countless MTB trails around Lake Clearwater and the surrounding area, ranging from flat and easy to steep and gnarly. A short loop around the lake or a 5 hour mission up the range? It’s up to you!
Don’t forget to bring your bike!
Go for an easy stroll around the lake or hike to the top of Mount Guy and get rewarded with stunning views!
There is a good variety of walking and hiking tracks around Lake Clearwater, ranging from 3 – 8 hours. Some of them you can start right from the campsite.
Our Reviews from Trips around New Zealand
I have been a follower of Water Nomads for the past few seasons, as a newcomer to the sport. Their safaris look amazing so I was thrilled when this one came up at Lake Clearwater, with advice that it would be suitable for beginners (being able to sail/taxi upwind a pre-requisite however as the walk of shame is from way down the other end of the lake!). I have learned so much on this trip with the benefit of consistent wind and warm and 'flat' water. The tips and bits of advice from Heidi and Bevan along the way have contributed immensely to my learning journey. I left feeling inspired and longing for more. I will definitely be back next year and highly recommend. Oh and lest not forget the scenery and tranquility of the high country. Something for everyone.
Enjoyed another epic Lakes & Mountains odyssey with Water Nomads recently. Superb water, incredible surroundings, the best wing foiling, quintessential hosts (Bevan & Heidi), delicious food, and the best company. My second year done, superb photos provide by Water Nomads providing great memories; I'm now busy planning the next trip.
We had a fantastic trip to the the Canterbury Lakes with excellent organisation from start to finish. We were picked up in Queenstown and driven to great accommodation in Twizel where we were based for 5 days of windsurfing and wing foiling on the surrounding lakes. The food was both excellent and copious with complementary wine in the evening, Heidi and Bevan had superb knowledge of the local conditions and had us in the right places each day and we had plenty of time on the water. Bevan is an experienced photographer and produced a curated slide show each evening of action and candid photos. Thanks team. I'll be back!
Frequently Asked Questions
The Lake Clearwater wing foil and windsurf camping holiday is pretty relaxed, and the flow is usually dictated by wind and weather.
We will be there from Wednesday midday onwards. There is no fix program, but if there is wind, we will be on the water. If there is no wind in the mornings, we might suggest to go for a bike ride or a hike – it’s up to you if you wanna join or not.
The group size is limited to 10 guests, though there might be other people on the campground.
Lake Clearwater is located in a mountain valley, close to the Main Divide. These mountains help to keep most of the rain away, resulting in a semi-arid landscape. Due to it’s altitude, it doesn’t get as hot as in other parts of the country, but expect warm sunny days, with the temperature droppping in the evening.
Lake Clearwater is a lot smaller and shallower than most other South Island Lakes, hence the water is usually a lot warmer. Expect a water temperature of about 20 Degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit).
In the summer months of January to March the wind is very reliable at Lake Clearwater. As a rule of thumb you will either be experiencing a Westerly frontal system (bringing a Northwesterly blowing down the lake) or an Easterly thermal system (starting up early afternoon).
Most other lakes of the Ashburton Lakes are either too small or are a nature reserve with no windsurfing / wingfoiling allowed. Lake Clearwater is perfect positioned in the valley to capture the best wind.
The journey from Christchurch Airport to Lake Clearwater is 150km which is a 2 hours drive time. For the last 10kms the road is not sealed.
No, dogs are not allowed at Lake Clearwater and the surrounding area.
We recommend to bring at least 5 liters per day per person of drinking water. This means you are not using that water for washing or doing dishes.
Lake Clearwater has no facilities. There are no shops, cafes or rental facilities.
There is a small General Store in Mount Somers Village (30 kms) which will cover the basics. The next bigger supermarket is in Methven (60kms).
Got more questions? Try our Surfari Trips Frequently Asked Questions: