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Pro
The remoteness and all those incredible colours
Con
Time it wrong and you'll hit a few tour buses.
In a nutshell
Worth more than a 10 leg stretch. But watch out for the tour buses.
AusPinay Says: Driving from Christchurch to Queenstown was the best thing we've done for our New Zealand trip!This was mainly due to the easy drive - not much traffic and of course since we're Sydneysiders we were comfy with the driving style there (unlike in LA where we were terrified to...
stargate2 Says: 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...
Flight over Southern Alps of New Zealand
toff Says: 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...
Kakapo2 Says: 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 SafarisPhone (03) 6806...
Kakapo2 Says: 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...
The Sheepdog Monument, Friday and James McKenzie
Kakapo2 Says: 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...
What a View from the Church of the Good Shepherd!
Kakapo2 Says: 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! LOLThe weddings are real, and the church is used...
Of Course, you are there for the Lupins ;-)
Kakapo2 Says: 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...
A Wonderful Project at Lake Alexandrina
Kakapo2 Says: 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...
Have Fun on the Ice or in the Hot Pools
Kakapo2 Says: Another cool winter activity than skiing (and not as much depending on the weather) is getting on the ice. There is an ice-rink right in the darkest corner right under Mt. John. The latter has lately (mid 2007) been updated into a modern facility, called Alpine Springs and...
Mackenzie's Bar and Grill: Not a place for steak
merryhe45 Says: My boyfriend and I had dinner at Mackenzie's Bar and Grill, I ordered steak which would be a safe choice in any place but not this time - the pepper sauce is tasteless, asked for medium but cooked medium rare. No formal apologies from duty manager but a "Oh, I'm sorry." from...
Pepe's Pizza & Pasta Restaurant, Lake Tekapo: A rustic place with hearty Italian food
Kakapo2 Says: This restaurant with its rustic and warm interior feels a little bit like a wooden hut in Switzerland. It is very comfortable to have dinner at the tables or a drink at the bar. The service has always been good, and the food as well.The menu is not enormously exciting but...
Lake Tekapo - Lake Pukaki, a ride along the canal
Kakapo2 Says: This spectacular tour along the Bullock Wagon Trail gives you a highland feeling, and you can do it by car or bicycle. Or walk on the bicycle track - because long stretches on the true right side of the Lake Tekapo Canal, designed as the Lake Tekapo-Twizel bike trail, are so...
wkcsmt Says: Another remarkable turquoise coloured lake... We were heading towards Lake Tekapo from Twizel on State Highway 8 (SH8) when we had this scenic stop. You'll be able to see Mt Cook on the far side of the lake. Definitely worth the stop!Lake Pukaki is 518 - 532m above sea level...
Kakapo2 Says: Lake Tekapo is surrounded by farming stations thousands of hectares in size. The land that makes up these farms consists of both mountainous and low land areas.Glenmore Station on the western shores of Lake Tekapo, for example, covers nearly half the area of Christchurch...
Cass River and its Braided Bed
Kakapo2 Says: The Cass River flows through one of those fascinating braided river beds Canterbury is famous for. The river flows into Lake Tekapo on its western shore, about half way between Lake Tekapo township and the northern tip of the lake. The upper reaches of the river are the...
Lake Tekapo and its Neighbours
Kakapo2 Says: -On this photo you can see Lake Tekapo’s neighbour lakes very well. The water (including peninsula) in the foreground is Lake Tekapo, the small one above is Lake McGregor, and again above that is Lake Alexandrina. They are all great spots for trout fishing. (Plus there are...
Kakapo2 Says: -There are two ways the water from Lake Tekapo can get to Lake Benmore (which is one of the storage lakes and power stations of the Waitaki River, further south-east). (The following info is taken from the website http://www.tekapotourism.com/hydro.htm)Either it bypasses the...
Kakapo2 Says: An aerial view of Lake Tekapo township which is located at the southern end of the lake. It has about 315 permanent residents.At the moment quite some development and building is taking place, mostly apartments on the southern side of State Highway 8. Not all have great lake...
The Power Station and the Whitewater Kayak Course
Kakapo2 Says: -As beautiful as the lake is – we should not forget that it would not be there, had there not been the need to provide water to Canterbury. Lake Tekapo is a hydro lake, generating power.The construction of the power station began in 1938, the twelve metre high dam was built...
Plan a Lake Tekapo vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Lake Tekapo locals
Another remarkable turquoise coloured lake... We were heading towards Lake Tekapo from Twizel on State Highway 8 (SH8) when we had this scenic stop. You'll be...
Q: When is the best time of the year for the peak bloom on the Lupins? I'm working on planning a trip to NZ in 2011. Thank...
A: It can differ quite a bit. This year, for example, here in the South Island the vegetation has been one month behind because the spring weather was not as good as in...
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A Picture-Perfect Dream in Turquoise-Blue
When we chose a location to marry Lake Tekapo was the runner up ;-) I could not imagine anything more beautiful than to marry in a picture-perfect landscape with tussock grass and turquoise blue...
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Church of the Good Shepherd was built in memory of the pioneers of the Mackenzie Country. The foundation stone was laid by the Duke of Gloucester on 16 Jan 1935 and the church was completed eight...
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Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki & Lake Wakatipu
Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki and Lake Wakatipu are 3 of the major lakes of central South Island of New Zealand. The lakes and their surrounding mountains offer supreme scenery and some landmarks worth...
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Driving from Christchurch to Queenstown, we made sure we didn't miss visiting fabulous Lake Tekapo. Seeing it, soaking its beauty felt like being in heaven on earth! In the centre of the South Island...
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