About Lake Ferry

Lake Ferry is a small coastal settlement in Palliser Bay, on the eastern shore of Lake Ōnoke on the southern coast of the North Island . It is close to the popular town of Martinborough.

The coast is a popular fishing location  with an historic hotel close by. The name of the settlement and the hotel arises from a ferry service that previously operated across the lake outlet. The ferry service was established following a drowning in 1850, and the ferry operator established the Lake Ferry hotel in 1851 to supplement his income.

The ocean outlet of Lake Ōnoke is frequently closed by natural wave action on the beach, and this can lead to rising water levels in the lake. Natural forces can lead to the opening of the lake outlet, but historically, the lake levels have been controlled by excavating a channel through the beach to the sea.