Lake Tekapo Things to Do

Church of the Good Shepherd, built in 1935, one of the most photographed in New Zealand, and features an altar window that frames stunning views of the lake and mountains.

Photography is not allow inside the church. There is a person guarding the church and may insist tourist to donate.

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Air Safaris provide a fantastic flight titled " The Grand Traverse of Aoraki Mount Cook and the glaciers". I took a flight in 2001 and 2009. The flight in 2001 was in a small 5 seater plane, and that in 2009 was in a larger plane with about 12 seats. Weather is crucial for a scenic flight. In 2001 the weather was perfect for flying- blue sky, sunny, little cloud. Well worth the expense ( see photos at http://thetoff.jalbum.net/ ). However, in November 2009 cloud over the Fox Glacier and Aoraki Mount Cook was a big disappointment as most of this area was in cloud. Did not get my money's worth that time, and only a few photos were taken.

To ensure that you get your money's worth, I suggest that if you think the day looks ok or you have some concern about scattered cloud in the region then motor to the beautiful blue Lake Pukaki, and cast your eyes in the direction of the mountain range and Aoraki Mount Cook. If you can clearly see mountain peaks and Aoraki Mount Cook then contact the airport and book a flight. For photographers I recommend the small plane or if a bigger plane then sit towards the rear of the plane.

If you want to take a a flight over the moon-like landscape of the Mackenzie Country and the highest peaks of New Zealand dotted along the lakes – contact one of the following companies:

Air Safaris

Phone (03) 6806 880

http://www.airsafaris.co.nz/

http://www.tekapotourism.co.nz/activities/airsafaris.htm

A tour from and back to Lake Tekapo costs NZ$ 280 (from Mt. Cook 320). They also offer options to transfer you to their other two locations at Glentanner Park (that is several kilometres before Mt. Cook Village) and Franz Josef.

They are also based in Glentanner (Mt. Cook Village) and Franz Josef, so you can also start a scenic flight over Mt. Cook National Park, Lake Tekapo and the glaciers from there.



Tekapo Helicopters

Freephone within NZ (0800) 359 835

http://www.tekapohelicopters.co.nz/

http://www.tekapotourism.co.nz/activities/tekapo_helicopters.htm

The shortest and cheapest flight costs $190. If you want a snow or glacier landing you must calculate with $270 - but prices range up to $500.

We love hiking (the New Zealanders call it tramping) and cycling at Lake Tekapo, apart from just walking half an hour and then lie in the sun. On a website I have seen an interesting guided 6-7 day tramp called "Lake Stroll" through four big sheep stations. Could be great but we have not made it (yet).

We enjoy the walk up to Mt. John Oberservatory (Astro Café!) and then along the ridge of the mountain, along the western lake side. The track leads down to the lake, so you can walk back along the shore.

The walk starts at the ice-rink/hot pools complex. If you face the complex, to the left of it. Alpine Springs/Ice-Rink is signposted on SH 8. If you come from Christchurch/Fairlie you have to turn right at the end of the township. After the turn the roads turns further left, and you cannot miss it.

Just some metres from the Church of the Good Shepherd is a monument to honour a good shepherd's best friend: the Sheepdog Monument. The sign at the bronze statue says that the grazing of the mountainous Mackenzie Country would be impossible without the help of the sheep dogs.

The most popular sheepdog in New Zealand is the border collie, a very friendly breed even I like, and I am really not known as a dog lover ;-) The statue which was put up in 1968 is in honour to all border collies and especially to one named Friday.

Friday belonged to New Zealand's most (in-)famous outlaw, James McKenzie, after whom the Mackenzie Country - Canterbury's high-country around Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki - is named. Only the spelling has changed slightly.

James McKenzie had immigrated from Scotland via Australia in the mid 1840s. He was a sheep rustler who, along with his sheep dog Friday, was accused of stealing sheep. He was finally captured in 1855, and after a series of escapes and increasing illness, he was pardoned and released in 1856 and promptly disappeared forever. He had served time at the Lyttelton Gaol, and it is not known if he stayed in New Zealand or left the country. Views differ. Some say he was sent on a ship to South America, others say to Australia, and others say he just disappeared.

Legend (one of the many...) says that Friday was trained not to bark. McKenzie who was also called Jock and Mac is said to have stolen whole mobs of sheep (and we speak of about 1000) from the coastal farmers, drove them undetected through the secret mountain pass to the high country plains, then south to Dunedin, where he sold them for a good profit.

Although he was infamous for the wrong reasons James McKenzie seems to have been one of the great pioneers of the high-country. Some legends even say that he was set up for the sheep stealing.

The pastor of Lake Tekapo can tell you funny stories. When tourists show up during a wedding ceremony some of them are full of admiration that they hold show weddings for tourists at the idyllic Church of the Good Shepherd! LOL

The weddings are real, and the church is used for normal church services. But obviously its spectacular location makes people think it is too fantastic to be real. But it is.

This little granite stone church is located right on the shore of the lake, in a slightly elevated position, surrounded by tussock grass, and in summer Russell lupins make the picture perfect. From inside the church you have a direct view of the turquoise blue lake and the surrounding mountains. The altar window frames a perfect view of the mountains at the end of the lake - on a beautiful day.

It was built in 1935 in memory of the pioneers of the Mackenzie Country (read more about the Mackenzie Country in the next tip about the sheep dog monument).

The church is open from 9am till 5pm in summer (Oct-May) and 11am to 4pm in winter (June-Sep), donations welcome.

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Although classified as weeds, they are wonderful. And of course, you are allowed to enjoy the splash of colour along the roads to and around Lake Tekapo.

Depending on the weather, the Russel lupins are in bloom from November/December to January/February.

The colour sensation along SH 8 starts shortly after Burke’s Pass – so take care when cars in front of you suddenly brake to park along the highway and take photos. The views get more spectacular by the minute, as soon the summits of the Southern Alps peak over the horizon and form a spectacular, often snow-capped, background.

Also along the lake and the Church of the Good Shepherd you will find plenty of lupins, and also the spectacular orange-coloured Mexican poppies.

Another great stretch of lupin-seamed road is along the Lake Alexandrina road west of Lake Tekapo, and also the meandering road up to the Observatory and the summit area of Mt. John (the place of the Observatory) offers a lot of flower power.

If you carry on on SH 8 towards Lake Pukaki/Mt. Cook there is another sea of lupins. If they were not as colourful and you would not see them, you would smell them!

As soon as you leave Lake Tekapo township, you will most probably feel the solitude of the Mackenzie Country. Even more so, if you leave SH 8, and head along Lake Tekapo.

You will be surprised to find a small community further out in the middle of nowhere, west of Lake Tekapo. If you drive along the lake (turn towards the Observatory at the Mt. Cook end of the township) you will get to a left turn towards Lake Alexandrina. (Good view over both lakes from the Observatory.)

Some people have huts or camp out there at Lake Alexandrina and form a small community. They show a great dedication to protect the place which they enjoy so much. They have joined in a conservation trust, set up by the Department of Conservation (DOC), in 2004. The group achieved Charitable Trust status in 2005, so they could get funds to purchase tools, herbicides and native plants, and expertise for the removal of unwanted wilding pines and briar. So out there they remove weeds, undertake bird surveys and control predators. They also plant DOC-approved native plants and water them.

I think this is the spirit you need in such a fragile environment! Wonderful!

More information here