This small lakeside village is something of a wonderland, offering a picturesque landscape and only a few distractions away from the natural attractions. The village is located only within a few hours of Queenstown and Christchurch, but it truly feels like it’s world’s away.
Most visitors to Lake Tekapo arrive by ground transportation, either by driving along the Central Southern Alps Highway, or taking a bus from one of the bigger cities that are within three or four hours away.
Lake Tekapo is one of the best places in the world from which to observe the night sky. The village has rules set in place to prevent artificial lights from interfering with the lights of the stars, and the cloudless skies help make it all the more possible to be the best place in the southern hemisphere to observe the night sky. One great place to take part in stargazing is certainly
Mount John Observatory, which is easy to access either on foot or by car from most of the hotels in the village.
The
Church of the Good Shepherd was built in the 1930s, and is now the main place of worship for residents of the village. The small church sits on a picturesque piece of land overlooking the lake, underneath the stars for which Lake Tekapo is so famous. It’s a great destination for an afternoon picnic by the lake, perhaps taking a stroll along the promenade.
Those who are willing to journey just a few kilometers outside of town should certainly take in a few rounds at the
Cairns Golf Course, a great option especially for those traveling with family or friends and looking for a group activity besides nature walks.
The interactive map on this page is a great place to start exploring where the rest of the hotels and attractions surrounding Lake Tekapo are located.
