Lake Tekapo is a lakeside resort village in the Mackenzie Country in the South Island of New Zealand. It gets its name from one of the Southern Lakes in the Southern Alps.
Understand
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Surrounded by mountains and far from the glare of city lights, Lake Tekapo's cloud-free skies make it the best place in the Southern Hemisphere to see the night sky. Local light-pollution laws require all exterior night-time lighting to shine down onto the ground, rather than into the sky. Status as a World Heritage Site is being sought for the area as the world's first starlight preservation area.
Tourist information
[edit]- Lake Tekapo Tourism weebsite
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]It is about 60 km north of Twizel on State Highway 8, the Central Southern Alps Highway, 2.5 hours south-west of Christchurch and three hours north of Queenstown.
By bus
[edit]Buses depart from the bus stop outside the Dark Sky building. There is service to and from Queenstown, Mt Cook, Twizel and Christchurch.
- 1 Tekapo Bus Stand.
From Queenstown, Aoraki/Mt. Cook Village, Twizel
[edit]InterCity, under brand Great Sights, operate one daily service from Queenstown to Tekapo via Aoraki/Mt. Cook. Pickup and drop off in Queenstown is by the car park on Athol Street; in Aoraki/Mt. Cook it is by the YHA and the Hermitage Hotel. Journey time approximately 7 hours, inclusive of 2.5-hour stop at Mt. Cook. From NZ$670. InterCity’s Flexipass is valid.
InterCity also operates one daily service from Queenstown to Tekapo, bypassing Mt. Cook. Pickup and drop off in Queenstown is by the car park on Athol Street. Journey time approximately 4 hours. From NZ$136, prices vary by demand.
There are a number of smaller operators offering scheduled transfer services including Tekapo Shuttle.
From Christchurch
[edit]InterCity operates two services daily from Christchurch. Pickup and drop off in Christchurch is outside the central bus station. Journey time approximately 3 hours.
Get around
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Map of Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo is compact and extremely walkable. All major attractions are within walking distance of one another. There is no public transport available in Lake Tekapo.
See
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- 1 Church of the Good Shepherd (and sheepdog statue). The church is on the lakeshore and has an amazing view straight up the lake (almost picture-perfect behind the church). It is open during the day. Nearby is a bronze statue of a collie dog, in honour of the sheepdogs on which sheep farmers depend. Depending on the season, lupins can also be found here which is the main draw.
- 2 Mount John Observatory, Godley Peaks Rd, ☏ +64 3 680 6000.
- 3 Parkbrae Estate, 3 Sealy St, ☏ +64 3 680 6607. Daily 2–7PM. Walk or guided tours through beautiful private gardens - opposite Church.
Do
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Tramping
[edit]- Tekapo High Country Trek, ☏ +64 3 680-6736, [email protected]. 3-day guided alpine walk in the foothills of the Southern Alps, overlooking Lake Tekapo.
- 1 Tekapo Mt John Walkway. Mt John offers impressive panoramic views of Lake Tekapo. Beginning from right by Tekapo Springs, this track slowly rises up exotic forest and then open tussock hill slopes, right to the summit of Mt John. Allow 3 hours for a round trip. Dogs are not permitted.
- Peninsula Walkway. Approximately 1½- to 2-hr hike. Starts a short bit north of Mt John (most easily reached by car), and takes you around the peninsula which lies halfway along the length of the lake. This is a relatively new hike, and the path hasn't really been worn out yet. Make certain you're following the poles rather than sheep tracks which can divert in different directions altogether. This hike is closed from October to December for lambing.
Stargazing
[edit]- 2 Dark Sky Project Tours, 1 Motuariki Lane, ☏ +64-3-680-6960. 10AM-late. Do a Dark Sky Project tour at one of either two observatories - the famous Mt John Observatory (a research station run by the University of Canterbury, now also hosting night tours and a stunning cafe) or a smaller, more private observatory nearby at Cowan's Hill. On clear nights you can see the wonders of the night sky. If it's cloudy, see areas of the observatory normally closed to the public, and learn about the scientific work done here. The weather is changeable here, so perhaps stay a few days to make sure you get a clear sky. To see the most stars, avoid the full moon: between five days after full moon and ten days before it will give the darkest skies. $209/$169 (child).
Relax
[edit]- 3 Tekapo Springs, 6 Lakeside Drive, ☏ +64 3 680-6550. 10AM-9PM. The Tekapo Springs complex includes a complex containing three inviting hot pools with bench-side seating, private nooks and crannies, and massage jets. The temperature of the pools are 35-37°C. Next to the pools is a sauna and steam room. Four fully-functional spa rooms provide massages, facials, pedicures, manicures and total body care, and each treatment booked gives complimentary access to the sauna and steam room. In addition, there is an ice rink, that is converted for inline or roller skating during spring and summer. Finally, there is also a snow park that provides an ice ramp used with inflatable tubes. This operates as a Summer Tube over the warmer months on artificial matting. Tekapo Springs also offers nightly star viewing from the hot springs pools, with viewers suspended in pool hammocks/floats. $27-149.
Outdoors
[edit]- Tekapo Bike Hire, ☏ +64 3 680-6700. 9AM-7PM. Bike hire by the hour or by the day
- Fishing Safaris, ☏ +64 3 680-6516.
- Hunting Safaris ☏ +64 3 680-6774.
- Horse Trekking, ☏ +64 800 628 269.
- Kayaking, ☏ +64 800 840 740, [email protected]. [email protected].
- 4WD Excursions, ☏ +64 3 680-6844. Glenmore Tours.
- Lake Tekapo Squash Club, ☏ +64 3 680-6739.
- Salmon Farm Tours, ☏ +64 3 435-0085.
Winter sports
[edit]- Alpure Peaks Snowcat and Backcountry Adventures. Guided ski and snowboard day tours in the Two Thumb Range.
- Backcountry ski touring 2-5 days based at hut above snowline, touring the valleys, ridges and basins of the Two Thumb Range. [1]
- Mt. Dobson.
- Ski Roundhill.
- Ice skating, Ice hockey, curling, ☏ +64 3 680-6550.
Golfing
[edit]- Mackenzie Golf Club, ☏ +64 3 680-6830.
- Golf Cross, ☏ +64 3 680-6844.
- Minigolf, ☏ +64 3 680-6745.
Air tours
[edit]- Tekapo Helicopters, ☏ +64 3 680-6229.
- Air Safaris Scenic Flights, ☏ +64 800 806 880. Fly over New Zealand's highest mountains and most spectacular alpine scenery.
Buy
[edit]- Alpine Haven - Wide range of quality New Zealand products and souvenirs ☏ +64 3 680-6656.
- High Country Crafts - Good value New Zealand gifts ☏ +64 3 680-6905.
- Kiwi Treasures and Information Centre - Popular gifts and souvenirs, postcards ☏ +64 3 680-6686.
- Lake Tekapo Post Centre - Fishing licences and tackle also ☏ +64 3 680-6861.
- Tekapo Services - Supermarket and fuel ☏ +64 3 680-6809.
- Challenge petrol station - Snow chains, motor accessories ☏ +64 3 680-6933.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Astro Cafe, Mt John Observatory (drive along Godley Peaks Rd (off the highway, just south of Tekapo Village) until you come to the gate), ☏ +64 3 680 6960. Summer 9AM-6PM, winter 10AM-3PM. Views, walks, and coffee and food. Drive time from Tekapo is 15 min, or you can walk up the trail starting at Tekapo Springs. The road is closed outside of cafe operating hours and during bad weather. Commercial vehicles require prior authorisation.
- 2 Jade Palace Chinese Restaurant, State Highway 8, ☏ +64 3 680-6828.
- 3 Kohan Japanese Restaurant, 6 Rapuwai Lane, ☏ +64 3 680 6688. 11:30AM-2PM, 5:30PM-8PM.
- 4 Dolce Pizza, ☏ +64 21 925 674, [email protected]. 1-9PM. Serves pizzas, pasta and salads, including several vegetarian options. Takeaways available.
- 5 TLV Restaurant & Bar, 7 Motuariki Lane (behind Outside Sports Shop), ☏ +64 3 608 6308, [email protected]. Noon-8:30PM.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]Backpacker hostels
[edit]- 1 Lake Edge Lodge (Lakefront Lodge Backpackers), ☏ +64 3 680-6740. Wi-Fi available for purchase. Dorm bed $37.
- 2 Tailor Made Tekapo Backpackers Hostel, 11 Aorangi Crescent, ☏ +64 3 680-6700, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. This boutique hostel is independently owned and operated. Dorm bed $30 (winter) - $38 (summer), private room $100-125.
- 3 YHA, 5 Motuariki Lane, ☏ +64 3 680-6857. New building opened in April 2019. Dorms from $60, ensuite queen from $249.
Motel and hotel
[edit]- 4 The Chalet Boutique Motel, 14 Pioneer Dr, ☏ +64 3 680-6774.
- 5 Godley Hotel, 2-4 Rapuwai Lane, ☏ +64 3 680-6848, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. 60 room hotel with bar and restaurant.
- 6 Lake Tekapo Motels & Holiday Park, ☏ +64 3 680-6825.
- 7 Lake Tekapo Village Motel, 14 Rapuwai Lane, ☏ +64 3 680-6808, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. Small motel with excellent views of the lake. Opt for a room on the second floor when booking for best views. Only the first floor is accessible.
- Parkbrae Estate, ☏ +64 3 680-6780. A selection of quality cottages and apartments to suit a variety of tastes and budgets. Full of character, and very close to the lake, shops, and Church of the Good Shepherd.
- Parkhead Motels, ☏ +64 3 680-6868, [email protected].
Bed and breakfast
[edit]- Alpine Vista B&B, 12 Hamilton Drive, ☏ +64 3-680 6702. Large rooms with comfortable beds.
- 8 Creel House B&B, 36 Murray Place, ☏ +64 3 680-6516, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. There are rooms with views of the lake and mountains.
- Freda Du Faur House B&B, 1 Esther Hope St, ☏ +64 3 680-6513.
- 9 Lake Tekapo Grandview, ☏ +64 3 680-6910.
- Lake Tekapo Luxury Lodge, ☏ +64 3 680-6566.
- Tekapo Moonlight B&B, ☏ +64 3 680-6514. Offers a view over the lake and the church while you enjoy your breakfast. The ground floor has three rooms and a lounge. The garden is relaxing.
- Tekapo House B&B, ☏ +64 3 680-6607. Offers over 30 self-contained holiday homes, many with views of the lake and mountain range. These holiday homes are fully equipped with amenities.
Go next
[edit]- Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park is about 100 km by road to the west.
Omarama ← Twizel ( jcn to Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park) ←
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