Lake Tekapo, located on New Zealand’s South Island, is the prettiest little lake town.
This town is located inland, essentially in the heart of the South Island. It lies at the southern end of the lake from which it takes its name, Lake Tekapo. At around 3 hours drive from both Christchurch and Queenstown, or a little over 3.5 hours from Dunedin, Lake Tekapo is pretty remote.
Whether the sun is shining or the snow is falling, Tekapo has something to offer. Between the lake, the mountains which frame it, and the quite literally dazzling night sky, Tekapo is one of the most striking places you can visit.
Lake Tekapo will always have a special place in my heart. I visited for 1 night, not knowing that I would ever be back. About two weeks later the stars aligned and I suddenly had a job and a home in here. I ended up spending around 4/5 months in this magical little place, and I can confirm that you never get bored of the beautiful scenes of Lake Tekapo!
But you may be wondering where is there to actually do and see in Lake Tekapo. Is it really worth visiting? Lets take a look….
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What to Do in Lake Tekapo
– Town Centre
The ‘centre’ of Tekapo is where you can find the supermarket (Four Square), bars/restaurants/cafés, tour booking offices, Lake Tekapo information centre, a bookstore, post office, gift stores. There are some hotels/hostels here too, and of course the lake just behind the stores!
There is not ‘much’ but there is enough to classify it as the centre of town!
This is just the centre with the amenities. Just across the road are many homes, more tourist accommodation options, tennis courts, community hall, etc.
Ok, now you know where to find the ‘essentials’, lets see what to do when you’re not enjoying a lakeside meal or so….
– Church of the Good Shepherd
The Church of the Good Shepherd is a little church with a beautiful backdrop thanks to its place on the edge of the lake. Both the brilliant blue of the lake and the mighty mountains behind the church really does make it picture perfect. The most picture perfect church in all of New Zealand. In fact, it is not only the most photographed church in the country, but one of the most photographed sights in general. So it really is must see in Lake Tekapo!
It can be very busy as bus tours do frequent here!! But time it right, or wait a little longer until they leave and you can enjoy this magical little church in its tranquility.
– Sheepdog Memorial
Another must see feature in the centre of town is the Sheepdog Memorial! It is dedicated to the hard work of the collie dog.
This cute little statue is just 100m to the right of the Church of the Good Shepherd. The sheepdog stands proudly on its rock, facing the church, again with the most beautiful backdrop. Do be sure to take the very short walk here after the church!
– MacLaren Footbridge
The MacLaren Footbridge is a standout point around the lake. This bridge connects the centre of town to the right side of the lake, with the Church of the Good Shepherd and beyond.
This bridge is definitely a prime photo spot (then again most places around Lake Tekapo are!).
Walking the footbridge is more picturesque than taking the highway bridge, but if you do walk that one you get the view to the footbridge with the lake beyond which is also lovely!
– Walks
Walking in Lake Tekapo is another must do activity. There are a choice of walks, including:
Foreshore Walkway
The Foreshore Walkway is the easiest, most accessible walking path in Lake Tekapo. I mean, you literally can’t miss it. When simply exploring around the lake itself, you will will find yourself on this walkway.
It makes for the perfect lakeside stroll to take in the lake and mountain views. Or, I can confirm it is the perfect running spot! As a runner who lived in Lake Tekapo, I could not count the number of times I ran on this path in the 4 months I was there. I mean there aren’t that many other options of routes but still, I will forever love this path. Actually, my real love of (obsession with) running began from running countless miles along here!
The foreshore walk essentially runs from the the lakeside by Tekapo Springs, to the Sheepdog memorial. However, you can continue even further, which leads to the next walk…
Pines Beach Walkway
The Pines Beach Walkway begins around 900m to the right of the Sheepdog Memorial. This flat, lakeside trail leads to none other than Pines Beach, a pebble beach, with views which give another perspective of the town and lake.
Mt. John Summit Circuit Track
The Mt. John Summit Circuit Track is more of a ‘hike’ and very much is a must do in Lake Tekapo.
The walk begins from the far left of the lake, just by Tekapo Springs (so you can incorporate the foreshore walkway with this walk too, if you wish to walk to the start from the centre of town).
As the name ‘Mount’ John suggests, this walk does involve a climb. You meander up through the woodlands by Tekapo Springs – there is a good view over the complex as you head up. It then opens up to the open mountainside. The climb can be a little steep at times, but it’s not too long and very doable!
At the top of the mountain is the Mt John Observatory View Point, in addition the Summit View Point. Just by the Summit View Point is a café, so you can stop here for a treat to enjoy with the stunning views if you wish! There is also a car park, so you can drive up, but I definitely recommend doing the walk.
From the summit, the views over Lake Tekapo are unmatched, especially on a bright day. The water was SO turquoise the first time I went up and it looked insane from the mountain!
To do the full circuit walk, just continue along the mountain, which, after around 35 minutes of walking from the summit, leads back down to the lakeside. The full circuit walk is around 8.3km.
If you don’t want to walk the whole circuit, it is highly worth even just heading up from the lake to the top of Mt. John and back down the same way. This would make the overall walk around half the distance, a little over 4km.
Cowans Hill Walkway
The walk to Cowans Hill is another excellent choice. This walk is on the right hand side of the Tekapo river (over the bridge from the lake), and actually takes you away from the lake. The Cowans Hill Walkway heads through forest trails, before opening up to Cowans Hill. From the peak, you are facing towards the township, with the lake and mountains in full view. A totally different perspective than the Mt. John walk provides!
Tekapo Regional Park
For some more forest, trail walks (or runs), head to the Tekapo Regional Park.
As a distance runner, in order to make my long runs long, I’d head here when I’d exhausted the foreshore track! It was such a change of scenery than the lakeside and so nice to hit the trails. It feels like you’ve gone far from the lake when in fact you haven’t. There are various trails you can follow, perfect for walking/running or even mountain biking.
– Stargazing
Lake Tekapo is a part of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, which is actually the largest dark sky reserve in the world. This pretty little town is therefore one of THE best places in New Zealand (in the world!!) to marvel at the night sky (of the Southern Hemisphere). Fortunately, the town knows how to make the best of this and offers various tours to experience the dazzling sky to the fullest.
With knowledgeable guides who give a great insight into the stars and planets visible in the Southern Hemisphere, and with top equipment for you to view the wonders of the sky up close, a stargazing tour in Lake Tekapo really is a brilliant activity. You really won’t get another night sky experience quite like it!
Of course, if it’s too cloudy tours will be cancelled. So fingers crossed its a good night for you!!
Tours can be booked online or at one of the booking offices in town. Each tour has its own perks! I’ll leave a couple of options below (there are more!) for you to take a look at….
A great tour option is the top rated Lake Tekapo Stargazing Experience:
Or you might want to head up Mount John (don’t worry you don’t have to hike up in the dark, you will be transported to the summit), to the University of Canterbury Mount John Observatory for an unforgettable night sky experience with the Mount John Observatory Stargazing Tour:
– Tekapo Springs
Tekapo Springs is the place to go in Lake Tekapo, providing both relaxation and fun!! The main attraction of Tekapo Springs is the hot pools, but it has a lot more to offer than that. Also, the views from here, being situated a little UP from the lake, are views you do not get bored of!! Fun fact, I actually worked here as a lifeguard, so I KNOW how good those views are!
Tekapo Springs is located on the far left of Lake Tekapo, around a 25 minute walk from the centre of town. There is also a car park at the springs if you have a car.
At Tekapo Springs, you can:
- Relax in the hot pools: There are three hot pools to choose from – Ohau, Pukaki, Tekapo. You might recognise these names, as the hot pools are named after the main lakes of NZ’s Mackenzie Region. They are actually also shaped like the lakes too! Each is a different temperature, so you can find a hot pool to suit you. There are also some massage jets in Pukaki which are a nice added touch! The hot pools overlook the real Lake Tekapo, and there really is no beating those scenes!
- Go to the Spa: With a choice of spa treatment options, from massages, to facials, to waxing, you will find something to suit you!
- Do a Guided Stargazing Tour: Tekapo Stargazing Tours stand out in their own way by including a dip in the hot pools. Around half way through the tour you get use of the hot pools (open only for the Stargazers). No other stargazing experience in New Zealand offers it this way!
- Take a Yoga Class: Yoga classes are now offered on site. Classes take place on the viewing platform, so this too is a scenic experience! They run for one hour, from 10am-11am Thursday-Monday.
- Go Ice Skating (in winter): During the winter months you can really feel like you are in a winter wonderland and go for a skate on the ice rink. It’s really a great spot – I loved my times after work heading out on the ice for a little skate!
- Play Mini Golf (in spring & summer): Tekapo Springs have now introduced an 18 hole mini golf course for the duration of spring and summer. (It replaces the ice rink when the weather warms up!). A great activity for everyone!
There is also a café on-sight, with indoor and outdoor seating (hello lake views). So should you need a pick me up, you can get that right here too!
– Scenic Flight With Air Safaris
Air Safaris in Lake Tekapo offers the opportunity to go on a scenic flight from Lake Tekapo. The 50-Minute Mount Cook and Beyond Scenic Flight leaves from a small airport located on the Tekapo-Twizel Road, just 3km from the centre of town.
Air Safaris will take you on the ultimate scenic adventure, you won’t experience another quite like this! It is highly rated for a reason!
The flight heads over Aoraki Mt Cook – an unforgettable experience to see NZ’s highest mountain up-close, from above. But that’s not the only highlight, with glaciers, lakes and more to be seen, the entire flight will leave you in awe. Oh and each passenger gets a window seat!
– Lake Activities
In Lake Tekapo you of course can and should take advantage of activities on the lake. This applies more to a visit in spring/summer, but hey you might be crazy enough to go out there in winter, or at least for a dip (I can confirm it is freezing in the lake in winter!).
Whether you wish to swim, kayak, stand-up paddleboard or the likes, this is an amazing place to do just that!
Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards can be rented from Paddle Tekapo, which is open every day in in the spring/summer, beginning from early October. Paddle Tekapo can be found heading left along the lake. It’s around a 20 minute walk from the centre of town, just a 5 minute walk from Tekapo Springs.
When you’re done being active on the lake, chill out on the pebbled lake-front – beach vibes!
– Skiing at Roundhill
Tekapo, with the stunning mountains framing the lake, is also a great place from where to take advantage of them! Skiing/Snowboarding is a brilliant winter activity in Lake Tekapo.
Roundhill Ski Area is the go-to, offering stunning views of Lake Tekapo and Aoraki Mount Cook in the distance.
The ski season generallly runs from the end of June until mid September.
For more information and to book your passes and equipment, head over to Roundhill’s website here.
– Play Golf at the Cairns Golf Course
The Cairns Golf Course is part of The Cairns Alpine Resort. The course is just a 10-15 minute walk from the centre of town.
It has to be one of the most scenic golf courses. The course has 9 holes and offers amazing views over Lake Tekapo.
Oh and don’t worry if you haven’t packed your golf clubs, you can hire some.
If you are interested in playing golf, you might want to stay consider staying at The Cairns Alpine Resort, which includes the Alpine Lodges and Mt John Homestead. A 50% discount on rounds and equipment is available to all guests.
– Visit Mount Cook from Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo is also a great base from where you can take a day trip to the must visit Mount Cook National Park.
If you have a car, it’s a little over an hour drive. You can then have full freedom to spend as long as you like enjoying the beautiful Mount Cook.
Alternatively, you can also head out on an organised day trip, such as the Mt Cook Day Tour with Pukaki, Tasman, & Tekapo Lake. This tour leaves from outside the supermarket in town, taking you to Mount Cook National Park, with a stop at Peter’s Lookout to see the stunning Lake Pukaki on the way. The first stop in Mount Cook is the Tasman Glacier viewpoint, where you have 45 minutes and can undertake a short hike. Next up is the Hooker Valley Track, where you have 4 hours to enjoy Mount Cook’s most popular hike. Afterwards, there is 30 minutes to chill out around the main village of Mount Cook, before heading back to Tekapo.
Accommodation in Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo welcomes everyone. Budget friendly accommodation is available (especially good for the (solo) backpackers out there) with some hostel options. On the other hand, if you are travelling with family or friends and looking for a little more luxury and your own space, there are plenty of hotel/apartment/home options!
Being a small town, you are never far from the lake or the centre of town. Wherever you end up will be a pretty good location!
Lets take a closer look at some of the options available for the different budgets….
Hostels
There are a few hostels to choose from:
Haka House Lake Tekapo is the top rated option.
Haka House is located on the lakefront, in the heart of town. Bars and restaurants are within arms reach, as is the supermarket. The location really could not be better!!
This accommodation is new and modern, having been completely done up and reopened a few years ago. It was actually being done up while I was there, so I didn’t get to experience it as Haka House, but it would be my choice of hostel! There is an outdoor seating area overlooking the lake, and the views from inside the hostel are almost just as good as from the outside. They made sure to install plenty of windows for the desirable views! There is plenty of common room space and a fully equipped kitchen.
Hotels/Apartments
- Lakeview Tekapo is one Tekapo’s highest rated accommodations on Booking.com. It is a little further from the centre, at around 1.3km (at the Pines Beach side of town). With studios and two bedroom apartments all with sky windows to stargaze from bed, this is a brilliant accommodation choice! Moreover the lake is just across the road, so the property offers lake views and your own little outdoor seating area to take them in.
- Grand Suites Lake Tekapo is a 4 star property, highly rated with guests. It is located around 600m from centre, just next to the bridge connecting to the main town amenities. There is the option of studios and apartments and offers studios and apartments. Some rooms look over the lake.
- Peppers Bluewater Resort Lake Tekapo is another very popular option, super central at just 400m from the town centre. Twin/Double, villas and suites are available. Some rooms have lake views and some mountains views.
- Galaxy Boutique Hotel is a 5 star hotel, offering double/twin rooms and two bedroom suites. The double/twin rooms have the added touch of a skylight above the bed, so you can stargaze in Lake Tekapo from there!! This hotel is in a quieter area, but still just about 600m from centre.
- Lake Tekapo Village Motel is a great option if you wish to be right in the heart of town, and is on the lakeside. Here you have the option of a studio/two bedroom apartment. This is often a slightly cheaper option than the others mentioned.
But there are plenty more options…. so I’ll leave it to you to decide what suits you best!
