Lake Tekapo - South Island, New Zealand

Lake Tekapo township is located 42 kms west of Fairlie on the shores of beautiful Lake Tekapo. It has a small population. In Maori, taka means "sleeping mat" and po means "night" which signifies this as a stopover place from the earliest days. Housing developments are coming up on the hill behind the town and more and more tourist shops and accommodation are spreading towards the shore.

Lake Tekapo is at an altitude of 710 metres and has the cleanest air in the entire Southern Hemisphere. It is the best place to take photos of the Southern Alps on a clear bright day.

The glacial Lake Tekapo along with Lake Pukaki has an extraordinary turquoise colour due to the reflection of light from microscopic rock particles suspended in the glacial water. Lake Tekapo covers an area of 83 square kms and is fed by the Godley and Cass Rivers. The Lake ends at the Tekapo River which runs through the grassbelts of the Mackenzie region.

Lake Tekapo is well served by buses running from Christchurch to Queenstown and from Timaru to Aoraki Mt Cook. All the commercial establishments are in the town center; there is a post office and some tourist shops that double up as a visitor centre and booking agent for onward travel.

Lake Tekapo Accommodation

Lake Tekapo accommodation is on the expensive side with few budget accommodation options and it is advisable to book well in advance. Lake Tekapo is blessed with incredible scenery right around and is a popular destination for camera-clicking tourists. A must-see place here is the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Inside the church there is a window facing the lake. The mountain's reflection in the lake when seen through this window is astounding. The square window on an elevated platform frames the lake and surrounding hills and mountains perfectly and the sunset is glorious viewed through this window.

To the east of the church is the Collie Dog Monument built by sheep farmers to commemorate their love and respect for the shepherd dogs that help them round up the cattle in the harsh terrain of the Mackenzie region.

Lake Tekapo Activities

There are a wide variety of walks to go on in Lake Tekapo. Mount John Lookout is the pick of the lot, offering fantastic views of the Mackenzie Basin, Lake Tekapo and the Southern Alps.

Due to the clear air of Lake Tekapo, stargazing is another interesting and fascinating activity although it is only seasonal. Ice skating in the local rink and guided horse treks through mindblowing scenery are other hallmark activities of Lake Tekapo.

There are scenic flights 6 kms to the west of Tekapo with fantastic aerial views of the Franz Josef, the Fox, the Tasman and the Muller glaciers as well as sensational Aoraki Mt Cook.

You can hire kayaks for a relaxed paddle in the lake; the guided experience is more expensive than the freedom rental. In winter the Roundhill Ski Area overlooks Lake Tekapo and is made up of gentle slopes and friendly terrain. It offers tobogganing fun as well.

There are a variety of cafes and restaurants close to SH8 with great lake views offering good food and wine. Lake Pukaki lies 47 kms southwest of Lake Tekapo. This pale blue coloured 30 km lake is a visual stunner and provides a beautiful foreground for Aoraki Mt Cook.

LooknbookNZ can arrange your Lake Tekapo accommodation and Lake Tekapo activities allowing you and your family to have loads of fun in this beautiful scenic region of the South Island.