Lake Tekapo is the Adventure That Will Ruin You for Future Holidays

There’s a belief in travel that the best destinations are the ones that take grit to reach, the ones that keep their bounty tucked behind mud-rutted roads and rolling hills. Lake Tekapo, seated in New Zealand’s rugged Mackenzie Region, certainly fits the bill.

With no air or rail links it’s a place that feels like a prize for the journey: pastel-blue waters, gnarled fairytale trees, starlight so bright it practically hums. After a few days soaking in Lake Tekapo sightseeing, you’ll be ready to rent out a tiny shack by the water and call the place home.

Let’s begin with that dazzlingly turquoise body of water, the lake that launched a million Instagram likes. The almost unreal hue comes from glacial flour - tiny rock particles ground by ancient glaciers, suspended in the lake and reflecting that famous milky-blue. At around 700 metres above sea level, Tekapo is the second-largest of three lakes carved by glaciers long ago. She sprawls over 83 square kilometers, framed by the dramatic Southern Alps.

From late November to early January, Lake Tekapo’s shores are edged in a dreamy jewel-toned splashes, courtesy of Russell lupins. These tall, spiky blooms come in pinks, purples, blues, and yellows, and though they’re not native, they’ve become an iconic part of Tekapo’s scenery.

At the eastern shore of Lake Tekapo you’ll find the Church of the Good Shepherd. More than just a social media darling, the tiny stone chapel is the oldest church in the Mackenzie Basin, originally meant to serve the local pioneer families.

Pro tip: Tekapo is best photographed either just after sunrise or just before sunset when the light softens, casting the lake in a dreamy glow. Head to Mt. John for a wide-angle panorama of the entire lake, or find a patch of those vibrant lupins near the shore for a closer perspective. If you really want your pics to pop, use a polarising filter to cut through glare and deepen the lake’s natural blues.

Getting there: Lake Tekapo sits about three hours from both Queenstown and Christchurch along State Highway 8, making for a quintessential South Island road trip. If you’re flying into Christchurch, hire a car at the terminal or hop aboard an InterCity or GreatSights bus heading south.

The world has a lot of impressive night skies for humans to be awed by, huddled around a dying campfire in Arizona, perched on a rooftop in Buenos Aires, drifting through Middle Eastern deserts. But none can match Lake Tekapo, the region is even a designated International Dark Sky Reserve.

Join a stargazing tour with the Mount John Observatory for the full experience. The tours come with telescopes, highly caffeinated astronomers, and some of the best cosmic storytelling you’ll ever hear. Or, because Tekapo is one of those places so vast and epic you need distance to fully appreciate it, take to the sky. Tiny airplanes and helicopters whisk you over the lake and the Southern Alps, giving a vantage of snow-capped peaks scraping at the clouds, and glacier after glacier, each one more dramatic than the last.

Then, once you’ve spent the day craning your neck at cosmic wonders, take a load off at Tekapo Springs. These heavenly, mineral-rich hot pools are perched on the edge of Lake Tekapo, with the Southern Alps as backdrop. There’s also an ice rink in winter, a snow tube park, a kiddy area, an adult-only pool and they occasionally host after-dark events where you can soak under a canopy of stars.

Pro tip: Peppers Bluewater Resort is a short walk from both the Dark Sky Project for stargazing and Tekapo Springs, and every room has incredible views of the lake or alps.

Address: Peppers Bluewater Resort Lake Tekapo, State Highway 8, Lake Tekapo 7945

Between the high-country farms that dot the Mackenzie Basin and the alpine waters, you’ll encounter some of the freshest, highest-quality meat and fish you’ll ever taste. Seek out these two local heroes wherever you go; Tekapo’s chefs know their stuff when it comes to lamb and salmon.

The Astro Café atop Ōtehīwai (Mount John) provides an incredible 360 panorama of the area, and very good coffee to warm your hands against the Alpine chill. At the cosy Blue Lake Eatery and Bar you’ll find honest cooking anchored by local ingredients. Their Mt. Cook Alpine Salmon is fresh as it gets, seared just enough to leave the centre buttery and tender, perched atop a bed of seasonal greens.

Nearby, Mackenzies Café Bar and Grill serves up classic Kiwi pub-style dishes in a rustic setting. The lamb shank here deserves its own fan club. Braised slowly until it’s falling off the bone, it comes bathed in a rich gravy that tastes like a slow Sunday afternoon at a farmhouse.

Despite the playful name, The Greedy Cow is serious about dishing out some of the juiciest burgers and sandwiches in town. They love to highlight local, pasture-raised beef and the Bacon and Blue burger hits every note on the flavour scale.

Pro tip: Keep an eye out for food trucks near the shoreline, particularly Better Batter for fresh fish and chips and Monster Kitchen for juicy burgers.

Address: Lakeside Drive, Lake Tekapo 7945

Rousing yourself at dawn might feel like a cruel joke on vacation, but the payoff is worth it we promise. As you head along State Highway 8, the sun begins its slow climb, painting the Mackenzie Basin in pastel hues. Pull over at Lake Pukaki and snap a few photos as Aoraki Mt. Cook (standing at over 3,700 metres) peers at you from the horizon.

Once you reach Aoraki (Mount Cook Village) get your hiking boots on for the Hooker Valley Track. It’s a relatively easy trail, about three hours return, but it packs more visual punch than you’d think possible in such a short distance. You’ll cross swinging bridges, navigate a path that winds between alpine shrubs, and end up at the foot of the Hooker Glacier. If you crave a steeper challenge go for Sealy Tarns.

Let’s just say it’s not called the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ for nothing - it’s a near-vertical slog, but your reward is a vantage point that’ll make you feel like you’re standing on the edge of the world. To get up close to the misty lake, consider a Tasman Glacier kayaking tour. You’ll paddle across milky-blue glacial waters, weaving around actual icebergs that have calved off the glacier.

Drop by the Old Mountaineers’ Café, a rustic joint that’s been feeding would-be explorers and misguided wanderers for years. Or buy some gooey local cheese, crackers, and maybe a bottle of Central Otago Pinot Noir, find a quiet spot along the lake to set up a picnic. The clouds rolling over the Southern Alps can be downright hypnotizing.

Pro tip: Mantra Lake Tekapo has the perfect alpine views and hot tub to soak in after a day of adventure. The apartments are large with all the comforts of home, fireplaces and heated floors.

Address: Mantra Lake Tekapo, 1 Beauchamp Place, Lake Tekapo 7999

A journey to Lake Tekapo rewards you richly: glacial-blue vistas, cosmic wonders that put neon-lit cities to shame, and that quiet hum of life uninterrupted.

Come for the promise of that unreal turquoise lake, stay for the starlight. And if you find yourself standing by the shore at dusk, the horizon lit by lingering sunlight, the waves gently lapping at your feet, take a moment to breathe it all in.