Lake Emily - Canterbury

Date: Saturday 23 August 2025 - sunrise

Location: Lake Emily, Canterbury

After spending the previous Saturday at Woolshed Creek and really enjoying the landscape there, I decided to go back to the same region but further down the valley. I loaded up Google Maps and scrolled around looking for a spot with potential. Lake Emily stood out, and there was a short walking track leading straight to it, you beauty!

Saturday morning rolled around and it was a chilly one! I loaded up the car and took off a couple of hours before sunrise, the temperature reading inside the car indicated -3degrees! As I made the 90 minute drive to the ‘carpark’ the temperature dropped degree by degree until it bottomed out at -7..brrrr.

I don’t have a 4WD so I stopped and parked outside the farm gate, walked through the gate and started making my way towards Lake Emily. Once I was moving I quickly forgot about the cold. The bonus was the wind was non-existent so it was actually quite a nice stroll. As I made my way closer Lake Emily I realised that it wouldn’t see any sun until mid/late morning. For photography this wasn’t ideal, the contrast was just too great between the lake and the sky behind it. As you will see, I didn’t take any photos of the lake itself, instead aiming my camera in a North-western direction for softer light on the foreground.

I will head out there again one day but for late afternoon golden light and sunset.