# Manorburn Dam > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Manorburn_Dam > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Manorburn_Dam.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manorburn_Dam > Source revision: 1321382156 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Lake in Central Otago, New Zealand Manorburn Dam Manorburn Dam Location of Manorburn Dam in New Zealand Location Central Otago, New Zealand Coordinates 45°14′26.95″S 169°26′44.75″E / 45.2408194°S 169.4457639°E / -45.2408194; 169.4457639 Primary inflows Manor Burn Primary outflows Manor Burn Basin countries New Zealand Built early 1900s Location Interactive map of Manorburn Dam **Manorburn Dam** is a lake in the [Central Otago](/source/Central_Otago) district of the [South Island](/source/South_Island) of New Zealand, 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) east of [Alexandra](/source/Alexandra%2C_New_Zealand). Its outflow, the Manor Burn, connects with the [Manuherikia River](/source/Manuherikia_River) just to the northeast of the town. The dam is also known as the **Lower Manorburn Dam**, as its inflow, also the Manor Burn, runs 25 kilometres (16 mi) northwest to it from the 700-hectare (1,700-acre) irrigation storage reservoirs [Manorburn Reservoir](/source/Manorburn_Reservoir), or the Upper Manorburn Dam, and Greenland Reservoir.[1] Surrounded by [schist](/source/Schist) [tors](/source/Tor_(rock_formation)), the lake is a popular spot for Alexandra's recreational activities. As determined by the [Central Otago District Council](/source/Central_Otago_District_Council), the lake is part of the 76-hectare (190-acre) Manorburn Dam Recreation Reserve.[2] ## History Manorburn Dam was initially constructed as an irrigation dam in the early 1900s.[3] In February 1958, it was declared that the lake would be for irrigation purposes only, but by June of the same year it was declared to have the second purpose of recreational activity.[2] In 1979, it was officially grouped as a recreation reserve, subject to the Reserves Act 1977. Until the Ice Inline Sports Complex was built in Alexandra's Molyneux Park in 1993, it was the most popular ice skating location in the area, but still sees use today. ## Activities As one of the most often frozen lakes in New Zealand,[4] Manorburn Dam is popular for ice skating in the winter. Boating is prohibited in the Manorburn, but fishing, swimming, walking, and kayaking are common activities in the area.[3] A 4.6-mile (7.4 km) walking track passes by the lake.[5] The lake is also a [curling](/source/Curling) venue, and [bonspiels](/source/Bonspiel) are regular events in colder winters. The local curling club boasts that it is the largest outdoor curling venue in the Southern Hemisphere.[6] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Upper Manorburn Dam"](https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/freshwater-fishing-in-new-zealand/where-to-fish/regional-info/otago/upper-manorburn-dam). *Fish & Game*. Retrieved 25 April 2025. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) ["Manorburn Dam Recreation Reserve Management Plan"](https://lets-talk.codc.govt.nz/manorburn-dam-recreation-reserve-management-plan). *Let’s Talk Central Otago*. Retrieved 25 April 2025. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_3-1) ["Lower Manorburn Dam"](https://centralapp.nz/Info/lower-manorburn-dam/5bb15803e72eb0002aa05ede). *centralapp.nz*. Retrieved 25 April 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Lower Manorburn Dam"](https://www.otagocentralrailtrail.co.nz/explore-and-discover/things-to-do-in-central-otago/historic-sites/lower-manorburn-dam/#:~:text=The%20Lower%20Manorburn%20dam%20is,road%20about%20a%20further%201km). *Otago Central Rail Trail*. Retrieved 25 April 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Lower Manorburn Dam via Tucker Hill Road"](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/new-zealand/otago/lower-manorburn-dam-via-tucker-hill-road). *All Trails*. 26 April 2025. Retrieved 26 April 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** "[Manorburn Curling Club](https://iceinline.co.nz/clubs/manorburn-curling-club/)", *iceinline.co.nz*. Retrieved 26 April 2025. v t e Central Otago District, New Zealand Seat: Alexandra Populated places Cromwell Ward Bannockburn Bendigo Cromwell Kawarau Gorge Lindis Pass Lowburn Pisa Moorings Tarras Maniototo Ward Danseys Pass Gimmerburn Ida Valley Kyeburn Naseby Oturehua Paerau Patearoa Ranfurly Waipiata Wedderburn Teviot Valley Ward Ettrick Lake Roxburgh Millers Flat Raes Junction Roxburgh Vincent Ward Alexandra Becks Cambrians Clyde Earnscleugh Fruitlands Galloway Lauder Omakau Ophir Poolburn St Bathans Geographic features Cromwell Gorge Lake Dunstan Greenland Reservoir Lake Manuherikia Maniototo Plain Manorburn Dam Facilities and attractions Alexandra Aerodrome Alexandra Blossom Festival Alexandra bridges Deadman's Point Bridge Central Otago wine region Highlands Motorsport Park Molyneux Park Government District Council Mayor Regional Council Other The Cromwell Argus Dunstan High School v t e Clutha River (Mata-Au) Source: Southern Alps—Flows into: Pacific Ocean Administrative areas Otago Region Queenstown–Lakes District Central Otago District Clutha District Towns and settlements (upstream to downstream) Wānaka Albert Town Luggate Lowburn Cromwell Clyde Alexandra Lake Roxburgh Roxburgh Teviot Ettrick Millers Flat Beaumont Tuapeka Mouth Clydevale Balclutha Stirling Kaitangata Port Molyneux Major tributaries (upstream to downstream by confluence) Makarora River Matukituki River Hāwea River Cardrona River Lindis River Kawarau River Manuherikia River Teviot River Tuapeka River Pomahaka River Waitāhuna River Lakes in catchment (upstream to downstream by location or tributary) Lake Wānaka Lake Hāwea Lake Dunstan Lake Wakatipu Greenland Reservoir Manorburn Reservoir Manorburn Dam Butchers Dam Lake Roxburgh Lake Tuakitoto Islands in catchment (upstream to downstream by location or tributary) Mou Waho Pigeon Island Pig Island / Mātau Birch Island Inch Clutha Other features (upstream to downstream) Central Otago wine region Deadman's Point Bridge Old Cromwell Bridge Cromwell Gorge Clyde Dam Alexandra bridges Roxburgh Dam Kelso Balclutha Road Bridge Longest New Zealand rivers 1: Waikato 2: Clutha 3: Whanganui 4: Taieri 5: Rangitīkei 6: Mataura 7: Waiau 8: Waiau Toa / Clarence 9: Waitaki 10: Ōreti 11: Rangitaiki 12: Manawatū --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Manorburn Dam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manorburn_Dam) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manorburn_Dam?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.