Tekapo Lake is one of the largest lakes as well as one of the most attractive tourist destinations in New Zealand. There are a lot of resort hotels located at the township of Lake Tekapo at the lake’s southern end. Although Water Tekapo is accessible all year round, the summer season (December to February), when the lake is warm enough for swimming, is when visitors flock there in greater numbers. Here are the best activities and attractions that you should experience when visiting Lake Tekapo:
Visit Church of the Good Shepherd is one of the best activities in Tekapo lake
With Lake Tekapo and, on a clear day, Mount Cook serving as its backdrop, the Church of the Good Shepard is very picturesque. This is the main reason why tourists adore this cathedral so much. To avoid the crowds, I suggest arriving early in the morning or late in the evening. If you can make it here for dawn or sunset or after dark for the best photo ops, all the better.
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Lupins Season – best activities and attractions in Tekapo Lake
Along the banks of Lake Tekapo is one of the most well-known locations for lupin photography. This is an excellent location to take photos of lupins because it is home to thousands of them. A lupin field on the route to Christchurch, only 2 minutes from Tekapo town, is a nice hidden location, though. Given that there are probably several automobiles parked on the road next to this area, you can’t miss it.
The greatest time to see lupins in Tekapo is from mid-November until the end of December, while the season lasts from November to the beginning of February. The greatest time to visit New Zealand (and Lake Tekapo) if you’re visiting for the flowers is in the late spring/early summer.
Takepo Jet Boating
A jet boat trip is a fun and distinctive way to discover the Tekapo region for the more daring tourists. You travel with Tekapo Jet along Lake Tekapo and up to Motuariki Island. It’s a fantastic chance to experience this beautiful area in a new way.
Throughout the tour, your driver will stop so you can take pictures from the various spectacular vantage points. As you go up the Lake, learn all there is to know about the local history. Of course, once it is safe to do so, experience 360 degree rotations as well.Â
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4WD Tour – activities in Tekapo lake
With this Lake Tekapo adventure, you may take a special 4WD tour through the center of Mackenzie Country. As you are being driven into the high terrain surrounding Tekapo, you will see sheep stations and the backcountry’s unspoiled wildness. All this in a posh Land Rover 4WD car.
Take time to explore the several vantage sites that offer views of Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki, Mt. Cook, Mt. Tasman, and the other mountain ranges. On your way to a Musterers Hut, which is only reachable by 4WD, you may see red deer and wild sheep. You may get tea and snacks right here. One of the must-do activities in Lake Tekapo, it is the only trip of its sort in the Tekapo region.
Kayaking on the Lake
This summertime operation is a fantastic opportunity to discover Lake Tekapo. Renting kayaks and paddleboards from Paddle Tekapo allows you to get up close and personal with New Zealand’s bluest lake at a reasonable price. If it’s your first time, paddleboarding or kayaking, the Lake is a very easy introduction because of how calm it usually is.
Mountain Biking
Lake Tekapo is a fantastic location for mountain riding because of the surrounding mountainous terrain. In fact, Tekapo is traversed by the renowned Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail.
One of the most stunning bike tracks in the world is the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail. This trail has two starting points for cyclists to select from: Tekapo or Mount Cook. The path passes by Lake Pukaki, Twizel, Lake Ohau, Omarama, the Waitaki Valley, and finally arrives in Oamaru. Give yourself 5-7 days to complete the full trail since it is approximately 300 kilometers long. The trail is appropriate for all ages and is rated as easy to intermediate.
As mentioned above, in Tekapo town, there are lots of great hotels to choose from so that you are not afraid of lacking accommodations. In terms of picking a place to stay in Lake Tekapo, you have a lot of great options. However, Lake Tekapo is the location in New Zealand where housing is in high demand, particularly during the summer. Therefore, make your reservations as far in advance as you can.
