Mou Waho

Mou Waho (120 ha) translates as 'Outer Island' and has a long and rich Māori and European history. Over time Mou Waho has had several different names including Te Mou-a-hou, Pigeon, Harwich and Manuka.

The island was used for both boat building and sheep farming. In 1863, Alfred Pinn established a cottage near today's main landing and built wooden schooners for the lake trade using Mou Waho timber. Remnants of the stone wharf and cottage can still be seen.

Mice were successfully eradicated in 1995. It's a pest-free haven for several plant, bird and insect species that have disappeared or severley reduced from the adjacent mainland, including the mountain stone wētā and the Southern Alps gecko. The inquisitive buff weka was transferred here in 2004 from Te Peka Karara and there are now an estimated 200 weka on Mou Waho.

It was once forested with impressive stands of mātai and tōtara. Several fires over the years have destroyed native vegetation on the island and hindered its recovery. However, DOC and the local community have worked together to remove exotic animals and plants and re-establish native vegetation and bird species.

Mou Waho is geologically interesting with glacially scoured out Arethusa Pool (earlier named Moutimu by Māori, then Paradise Lake) in the middle of the island 150 m above lake level.

Activities: A return walk (less than 3 km) leads from the wharf up the hill to a viewpoint (450 m) overlooking the fascinating Arethusa Pool and a wider view of Lake Wanaka and surrounding mountains.