The Hāwea community includes Lake Hāwea, the small township on the lakefront and Hāwea Flat, its rural counterpart tucked back down the valley towards the hills. Hāwea Flat was originally the main settlement and hub of the area due to the farming community, with Lake Hāwea an early recreational holiday destination. This has gradually changed with the development of housing, and Lake Hāwea is now the larger township with more services.

Lake Hāwea has approx. 2500 people, and Hāwea Flat approx. 600 people. These numbers are increasing quickly. This is resulting in a demographic change to the town, which is transitioning from a Kiwi ‘crib’ holiday destination to a thriving community of families and retirees.

The hub of Lake Hāwea has a hotel/restaurant, campground, general store/cafe, community hall, bowling green, bike park, playground, early learning centre, petrol station/garage and library. The primary school is at Hāwea Flat, along with a kindergarten, playgroup, church, community hall, bike park and the popular white-water river wave/park.

Exceptional rugged mountainous terrain and the lake make Hāwea a recreational hub for locals and tourists. Boating/water-sports, fishing, kayaking, mountain-biking, mountaineering, climbing and tramping are all popular activities, with easy access routes into the surrounding mountains.

The surrounding high country stations are farmed with merino sheep and deer, and wild deer and pigs for hunters. Lake Hāwea has a salmon fishery, among other native fish and eels.

The terrain, altitude and location of Hāwea means the area experiences weather in the extremes. Clear summer days are some of the hottest in New Zealand and winter brings snow to lake-level at times. Weather at the headwaters travels down the lake creating impressive white-caps and waves. Perfectly still days reflect the mountains beautifully in the lake like a mirror. The lake causes a grey inversion layer in winter, with low fog settling over the township, occasionally for weeks on end before breaking.