In the event you’re questioning whether or not so as to add Lake Tekapo to your New Zealand highway journey itinerary, I’m going to avoid wasting you from pondering it any longer… the reply is sure.
Situated within the coronary heart of the South Island, Lake Tekapo is legendary for its wildly magical (severely wtf) turquoise waters, snow-capped mountain backdrops, golden tussock (a sort of grass) landscapes, and a few of the clearest evening skies on Earth. A killer mixture certainly. It’s secure to say that we spent most of our time in and round Lake Tekapo with our jaws on the ground. You’ll see what I imply as you begin scrolling via the pictures on this information.
And btw, not one of the images on this publish are closely edited. The blue lake actually IS that blue. This isn’t a case of seeing edited images on-line after which being disillusioned in individual.
You will be blown away.
In the event you’re on the lookout for the last word information to Lake Tekapo, the most effective issues to do in Lake Tekapo, the place to remain, when to go to and issues to not miss in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand – you’re in the best place. This Lake Tekapo journey information covers every thing you could know earlier than visiting, and all my suggestions (having simply been there) that will help you plan an unforgettable journey.
Whether or not you’re an energetic adventurer, a lakeside bum, an evening sky fanatic or just passing via and needing a lake swim, a breakfast pull up in your campervan or a hotspring dip… Lake Tekapo has you lined, and I’ve received the most effective spots to share.
Let’s dive in.
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The place is Lake Tekapo?
Lake Tekapo is a part of the Mackenzie area on New Zealand’s South Island. It sits roughly midway between Christchurch and Queenstown, making it an ideal highway journey cease when you’re making your method down that well-known route! It’s about:
- 3 hours’ drive from Christchurch
- 3 hours from Queenstown
- 1 hour from Aoraki / Mount Cook dinner Nationwide Park
It’s a small, peaceable, and extremely scenic lakeside city. It’s the type of place you’ll be able to pull up and soak in a slower-paced, relaxed afternoon or morning on the water.
When is the Finest Time to Go to Lake Tekapo?
There isn’t a unhealthy time to go to Lake Tekapo, however once you go to will have an effect on what the most effective issues to do in Lake Tekapo can be found so that you can take pleasure in. For instance, we visited in mid Feb, which was wonderful as a result of it wasn’t peak vacationer season (cheaper costs, fewer crowds), nevertheless it meant that we weren’t current for the well-known Lupin bloom.
Right here’s an concept of what to anticipate in every season:
- Summer season (Dec–Feb) – Warmest climate, benefit from the lupins in bloom, nice mountaineering situations. Busiest, peak season.
- Autumn (Mar–Could) – Crisp air, sunny days, fewer crowds, golden tones throughout the basin.
- Winter (Jun–Aug) – Snow on the mountains, magical alpine vibes, ski fields close by to take pleasure in. Chilly however gorgeous.
- Spring (Sep–Nov) – The quieter shoulder season of the 2, with recent alpine surroundings.
How Lengthy Do You Want in Lake Tekapo?
It will depend on what you like from the most effective issues to do within the Lake Tekapo part. I’d say you’ll be able to completely take pleasure in the most effective of Lake Tekapo in 1–2 days. In the event you solely have a day or a number of hours to move via, as we did, nonetheless do it. You’d be foolish to not!
One or two days offer you time to:
- take pleasure in a dawn/sundown
- have a few alternatives to stargaze
- Go on a hike
- chill out by the lake
Two nights helps you to gradual proper down, open a e book, soak within the scorching springs and dive a bit deeper into the cultural significance of this spot – one thing I’d so love to return again and do!
The place to Keep in Lake Tekapo
There are honeymoon-vibe luxurious lodges right here, backpacker hostels, and campervan parks. All I’d say is, when you’re travelling in peak/shoulder season, e book in early, as lodging is restricted on this small city and fills up quick.
Lake Tekapo isn’t about ticking off a load of sights. It’s about environment. It’s about stillness. It’s about selecting whether or not you’d like to absorb the view from a hike, a scorching spring or out of your picnic blanket. It’s about wanting up at a sky you’ve by no means seen so clear earlier than and getting a brand new perspective on life. As a result of once you have a look at a view as lovely as this, it’s onerous to flee the truth that there’s something a lot bigger than you at play right here.
Earlier than we transfer into the most effective issues to do in Lake Tekapo, let’s reply the query on most peoples lips…
Why is Lake Tekapo so blue?
Okay, so that you’re questioning how on earth the lake will get that insanely mesmerising turquoise color?
The lake will get its color from ‘rock flour’ – a high quality glacial sediment floor down by the encompassing glaciers within the Southern Alps and suspended within the water. When daylight hits the suspended particles, it displays that surreal milky-blue shade.
It’s not a filter, I promise you! Wild hey?!
Go to the Church of the Good Shepherd
The tiny stone Church of the Good Shepherd is probably the most photographed constructing within the area, and even within the shoulder season after we went, it was attracting tons of of vacationers and photographers.
Inbuilt 1935, it sits proper on the lake’s edge with panoramic mountain views framed via its altar window. Dawn and sundown are particularly magical right here, nevertheless it’s additionally top-of-the-line foregrounds for astrophotography at evening.
As you’ll be able to see within the picture under, you’ll be able to park proper subsequent to it, or park on the town and stroll throughout the bridge to discover it.
Stroll throughout the bridge on the town and take all of it in
I imply, severely, do I must say any extra? Speechless is what we had been after we received out of the automobile right here.
As you drive into or via city, you’ll see the bridge – you can not miss it!
There are a number of eateries and bars on the entrance right here close to the bridge, so you probably have time, gradual it down much more, seize a drink and a chunk to eat with a view.
Stargaze within the Aoraki Mackenzie Darkish Sky Reserve
Lake Tekapo sits throughout the world-renowned Aoraki Mackenzie Worldwide Darkish Sky Reserve, one of many largest darkish sky reserves on Earth. Yep. This implies it’s right here in Lake Tekapo that you just’ll discover minimal gentle air pollution and crystal-clear views of the Milky Means, the Southern Cross and each planets and distant galaxies.
You may be a part of a guided stargazing tour at Mount John Observatory, or just drive a couple of minutes out of city and search for as soon as the solar goes down. On a transparent evening, it can genuinely blow your thoughts.
We didn’t have time for a guided tour, however we had been fortunate sufficient to have clear evening skies on either side of our time in Lake Tekapo, when tenting in each Fairlie and Mt. Cook dinner Nationwide Park, so don’t stress when you don’t have time or the climate to expertise this. The evening skies are wildly lovely throughout the South Island of New Zealand, so preserve an eye fixed out for a transparent sky, get out of city after which search for!
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Hike the Mount John Summit Monitor
In the event you solely do one stroll right here, make it the Mount John hike. That is the one which we did, and it was about 45 minutes up and 45 minutes down. Nothing strenuous, roughly 5.5 kilometres lengthy in size, with a complete elevation acquire of round 300 meters. In the event you don’t need to or can’t hike, you’ll be able to drive to the highest for a similar view, however there’s a toll highway you must pay, which was like $12 NZD or one thing.
In any other case, park without spending a dime on the town by the Scorching Springs and climb steadily via the forest cover till you attain the highest, the place you’ll be rewarded with 360-degree views over Lake Tekapo, the encompassing mountains and the Mackenzie Basin. You’ll end at Mount John Summit, residence to the observatory and arguably the most effective views within the area.
I’d go away round 2–3 hours, relying in your tempo and power ranges.
Definitely, top-of-the-line issues to do in Lake Tekapo.
Have espresso and cake at Astro Cafe (or deliver your individual snacks)
In case you have time, on the high of the Mt John monitor is a restaurant with a VIEW – Astro Cafe.
As you’ll be able to think about, the place will get actually busy. They do have a buzzer system and a full espresso/drinks menu alongside a packed-out cake and dessert counter – so it’s value permitting time to be up right here and benefit from the insane view.
I imply, there’s greater than sufficient picture alternatives and spots to learn your e book with a view while you wait in your pot of English breakfast and freshly baked cookies to reach.
The most effective issues to do in Lake Tekapo? Completely. An actual spotlight from our time in New Zealand, to be trustworthy!
Soak at Tekapo Springs and benefit from the day spa
For a post-hike deal with, head again into city to Tekapo Springs, the place they’ve a day spa, scorching swimming pools, sauna, steam and alternatives to stargaze proper beside the lake. You may e book in massages right here too!
I’m unsure there’s significantly better than inhaling alpine air overlooking snow-dusted peaks while soaking drained muscle tissue in a scorching spring.
P.s. In winter, there’s even an ice rink and snow tubing right here.
Get within the lake or on the lake
On a relaxed day, getting out on the water on a paddleboard or canoe is nothing wanting magic.
The lake is, nonetheless, freezing (even in summer season), haha, however paddling throughout that vivid blue floor with mountains mirrored round you is a recipe for a type of core journey reminiscences. Mornings are greatest for calm situations.
If getting on the lake isn’t your factor, bounce on in! Have a towel and one thing heat able to chuck on afterwards, and go immerse your pores and skin within the recent glacial waters.
Having a dip, swim, or paddleboard is without doubt one of the greatest issues to do in Lake Tekapo – don’t miss it!
See the Lupins in bloom (Seasonal)
In the event you’re visiting between late November and early January, you’ll be right here to witness the well-known lupin bloom. Purple, pink, and blue flowers line the lake’s edges and roads, making for a postcard-perfect picture.
There are some standard, particular spots to tug over and get these iconic photographs. In the event you’re , you will get entry to ALL of my New Zealand pins, areas, suggestions, free camp spots and pull-ups on my New Zealand Google Map right here.
Campervan life by the lake
Does it get significantly better than brewing espresso or making breakfast in your campervan with a view? Now add within the Lake Tekapo blues pouring in via each window, and you’ve got a scene out of your wildest tenting goals.
There are such a lot of spots to tug up for breakfast, lunch and dinner, identical to the one under. Take your time driving round and discovering your spot, prepare dinner up, learn a e book and think about for a second simply how lovely this life is.
To have entry to ALL of my New Zealand pins, areas, suggestions, free camp spots and pull-ups, see my New Zealand Google Map right here.
Day Journey to Aoraki / Mount Cook dinner Nationwide Park
That is in all probability a vacation spot already in your highway journey/itinerary, however simply in case it isn’t and you’ve got time, get your self to Mount Cook dinner Nationwide Park. Situated simply over an hour’s drive away, Aoraki / Mount Cook dinner Nationwide Park is residence to New Zealand’s tallest mountain.
Right here you’ll discover subsequent degree alpine surroundings, a number of day hikes and epic in a single day trails, glacier fed lakes and… one other insanely blue lake!
In the event you’re constructing a South Island itinerary, Lake Tekapo + Mount Cook dinner is an unbeatable combo.
Have you ever been to Lake Tekapo, New Zealand?
What are the most effective issues to do in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand? Something you’d add to this Lake Tekapo, New Zealand bucket checklist?
Love as at all times and blissful adventuring…
Get lifetime entry to my limitless hours of analysis and time spent on the bottom discovering the most effective locations to eat, drink, chill out and discover in New Zealand. You merely open the Google Map in your system and ALL my suggestions are on the contact of your fingertips.
