22 best things to do in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

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Planning a trip to Lake Tekapo? Whether you’re here for a good time or a long time, there’s plenty of epic things to do in Tekapo township and around the lake to keep you busy.

Most South Island road trippers slot Lake Tekapo/Takapō (its te reo Māori name) in as a quick stop en route to Queenstown from Christchurch (or vice versa) for the iconic lake and church photo, but this tiny town punches wayyy above its weight when it comes to actual things to do rather than just things to see*.

*The views truly are worth the hype though.

I’ve visited five times now (and driven through a handful more) across summer and winter, and I keep finding reasons to go back.

Tekapo’s stargazing is some of the best on Earth, there’s alpine hot pools with lake views, you can 4WD through private high country stations you’d never be able to access on your own, and it’s a convenient and well-serviced basecamp for the rest of the Mackenzie Country.

This guide covers every worthwhile thing to do in Lake Tekapo, from the free stuff to the bucket list splurges, what to do in winter or on a rainy day, plus where to eat, where to stay, the best day trips and all the practical info you need to plan your visit.

See Lake Tekapo, obviously!

I know it’s a bit of a travel cliché, but Tekapo’s vivid turquoise lake is one of those places where photos truly don’t do it justice.

The water gets its unreal colour from glacial flour, the result of ever-moving glaciers grinding rocks down into a fine powder which flows into the lake and stays suspended in the water rather than sinking, scattering the light and creating the milky blue glow it’s famous for.

The colour does change depending on weather conditions, but I’ve been it bright and blue in every season.

💰 Cost: Free!
⏱️ Time required: 5 minutes to a few hours
⭐ Best for: Literally everyone

Soak in the Tekapo Springs hot pools

My first visit to Tekapo came after a seven hour drive from Glenorchy to Christchurch in a campervan with a literal hole in the ceiling in the middle of winter (our skylight got blown off by a rogue gust of wind, but that’s a story for another day) 🫠 And let me tell you, sinking into the steamy hot pools at Tekapo Springs the next day was nothing short of salvation.

Tekapo Springs sits right at the end of Lakeside Drive, tucked into the base of Mt John, which keeps it sheltered from the bitterly cold alpine winds that whip off the lake.

The complex has three outdoor hot pools ranging from 36.5° to 38.5° (the hottest one is adults-only), plus a cooler deep pool for summer visits, a kids’ aqua play area, a dedicated day spa, and a steam room/sauna/plunge pool combo available as an affordable treat-yourself upgrade.

I’ve just spotted something exciting on the website too, a ‘coming soon’ notice for private pools for 4-8 people above the main pools with unbeatable lake views and total privacy. Sounds like a good reason for me to book my next trip 🤷🏼‍♀️

💰 Cost: $42NZD (adults) and $25NZD (kids 3-15) for an all day pass, with senior/student/families discounts and two day passes to use over a week if you’re staying longer
⏱️ Time required: 1-4 hours
⭐ Best for: Tired drivers, hikers, skiers or cyclists, rainy days
🎟️ Book your ticket here

Go stargazing in the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve

Stargazing in Tekapo is world-renowned, no trip would be complete without looking up after dark.

Lake Tekapo sits inside the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, more than 4300km² of protected skies that make it one of the best places on the planet to see the stars in all their glory.

If you’re blessed with clear weather during your trip then just step outside at night and face away from any street lights, you’ll immediately understand the hype, but if you’re after a proper deep dive into the cosmos there’s a range of stargazing experiences you could add to your Tekapo-after-dark itinerary.

💡 TOP TIP: The stars are magical year-round but March to October is when the Milky Way’s densely packed galactic core comes out to play, and the mid-winter months provide unbeatable astral opportunities with the glowing band stretching across the sky for most of the night.

Chameleon Stargazing

Of all the stargazing tours in Tekapo, this is the one I recommend when my friends ask for travel tips.

Chameleon Stargazing is a locally-owned business that runs small group sessions (max 14 people) from a private patch of land just outside the village with near-zero light pollution. The setup feels more backyard astronomy nerd than polished mass tourism operation, and I mean that as a massive compliment!

The 1h 30m tour kicks off with your guides pointing out constellations and any visible planets with a laser, then you’ll peer through their two giant telescopes at whatever the night sky is serving up that evening (deep space nebulas, star clusters, galaxies that look like a burger), before wrapping up around a campfire with hot chocolate and marshmallows to toast while having deep and meaningful chats with your fellow stargazers.

You’ll also get a professional long-exposure photo of you under the stars to take home, plus snapshots of the telescope views too.

I’ve done the Chameleon experience twice now and it’s truly something special, intimate enough to ask questions without worrying about embarrassing yourself but established enough that they’ve got all the gear required to keep you warm and cosy while you experience the astral magic.

💰 Cost: $109NZD per adult and $79NZD for kids 5-16, but you can nab last minute spots from about $87NZD on Bookme
⏱️ Time required: 1h 30m
⭐ Best for: Anyone wanting great value without the crowds
🎟️ Book here or check Bookme for last minute deals

Dark Sky Project

Dark Sky Project is the biggest stargazing operator in Tekapo, they run three different options: their signature Summit Experience at Mt John Observatory, the Crater Experience for a shorter and more affordable tour, and the Dark Sky Experience for a family-friendly daytime option in their indoor astronomy centre.

The Summit Experience (10+) is their flagship 1h 45m tour that takes you up to the full-blown working research facility at the top of Mt John, where actual scientists spend their time studying the universe’s mysteries.

You’ll get decked out in extreme cold weather jackets (the wind chill factor up here is insane) and see the stars through ultra-fancy telescopes inside their private observatory dome, with expert guides sharing ancient Māori lore and modern science to give you context of what you’re witnessing.

The Crater Experience (5+) is the more accessible option, a 1h 15m tour at a private observatory site just a few minutes by shuttle from their base, with purpose-built craters to shield you from the elements.

And their Dark Sky Experience is a kid-friendly indoor option, a 45 minute walk-through of their astronomy centre right in town, covering local legends and the science of the Milky Way with immersive multi-sensory exhibits that’ll impress space nerds of all ages.

💰 Cost:

• Summit Experience $219 (adults) / $169 (kids 10-17)
• Crater Experience $129 (adults) / $95 (kids 5-17)
• Dark Sky Experience $59 (adults) / $39 (kids 5-17, under 5s free)

⭐ Best for: Summit Experience for exclusive observatory access and channelling your inner scientist, Crater Experience if you want something less extreme (though I’d recommend Chameleon for a more personal small-group option), Dark Sky Experience for families with young kiddos who want to stay warm.
🎟️ Book your spot here

Tekapo Springs hot pool stargazing

You can actually combine two of Tekapo’s most iconic activities in one ticket with New Zealand’s only guided hot pool stargazing experience.

The 1h 30m ‘Soak in the Stars’ tour includes an on-land portion with outdoor stargazing using telescopes or an indoor VR session if the weather doesn’t cooperate, then it’s time to get horizontal on a floating hammock and look up to the night sky, while your poolside guide points out constellations and shares pūrākau (Māori stories).

I absolutely loooved this but it’s definitely more about the atmosphere and novelty of the hot pool + stargazing combo, rather than deep astronomy content or educational substance, so keep that in mind when deciding what to go for.

💰 Cost: From $139NZD (adults) / $84NZD (kids 10-15) but you can often save about 30% for last minute deals on Bookme
⏱️ Time required: 1h 30m
⭐ Best for: Girls’ trips, date nights, post-adventure relaxation, anyone who wants stargazing without standing in the freezing cold
🎟️ Book your soak here

Hike or drive up Mt John

Mt John (Ōtehīwai in te reo Māori) delivers Tekapo’s best view without splurging on a scenic flight, a 360° panorama over the lake and up to the Southern Alps stretching off into the distance.

You can drive up to the summit in just 15 minutes from town, and once you’re up there you’ve gotta do the 30 minute loop track for the full scenic experience. The road’s typically open 9am-4pm, but it’ll close if the weather’s nasty.

If you’re up for a bit of outdoors time then you can hike up instead, from Tekapo Springs carpark it’s about 2h to 2h 30m including photo time up top, add a bit more if you’re walking from town.

There’s a café at the summit but don’t plan on eating up there, it’s wildly overpriced (not unexpected when they’ve got a captive audience of tourists and hungry hikers).

💰 Cost: Free if you hike, $14NZD for the private road toll (payable by card at the gate)
⏱️ Time required: 1h for the drive + summit loop, 2-3h return for the hike
⭐ Best for: Clear sunny days, drivers short on time, hikers looking for a quick climb to an epic view

Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd

This tiny stone chapel sitting right on Lake Tekapo’s rocky shores is a must-see and must-snap for every traveller.

It was built back in the 1930s to honour the farming families who braved the Mackenzie Country’s brutal weather conditions to pioneer the South Island’s agricultural industry, and these days it’s one of the most photographed buildings in the entire country.

You can visit the church grounds (inside the fenced area) from 9am until 5pm in winter and 8pm in summer, if a volunteer is on-site they can sometimes take people inside the church (no photos in there though), and they’re open for church services on Sunday afternoons and Christian holidays.

💰 Cost: Free to roam the grounds, but there’s a contactless koha (donation) station by the front gate where you can tap to give $5 towards the maintenance of this iconic landmark
⏱️ Time required: 15 minutes for a quick visit, hours if you’re a keen photographer
⭐ Best for: First-time Tekapo visitors, shutterbugs, anyone who’s spiritually-inclined

Get off the beaten track with a 4WD tour

If you want to escape the tour buses and experience a side of Tekapo that 99.9% of visitors miss, a 4WD tour with the legends at Tekapo Adventures is your ticket to the raw and rugged Mackenzie backcountry which is totally off limits to the general public.

You’ll jump into an off-road-ready Defender or Land Cruiser and set off across tussock-covered plains to get far, far away from civilisation, with rocky river crossings and exceptional photo spots along the way, while listening to running commentary from your guide on the region’s geology, birdlife and farming heritage.

I did their Cass Valley tour a few years back, it’s still one of my most memorable Tekapo days and one of the most beautiful places in the South Island!

They’ve got a few different 3h backcountry tours with varied landscapes, plus a shorter 1h 30m high country photography tour if you’re pressed for time, and for serious hikers they run day, overnight and multi-night hiking trips that traverse private terrain with alpine huts exclusively for your group.

💰 Cost: 3h backcountry tours from $349NZD, 1h 30m photo tour from $259NZD
⏱️ Time required: Depends on the tour
⭐ Best for: Adventure seekers, return visitors who’ve done the main sights already, and I’m being a broken record here but photographers (again!)

See the lupins in bloom (summer)

The start of summer sets off an explosion of colour right along Tekapo’s lakefront, thanks to thousands of wild lupins flowering in all shades of pink and purple.

The bloom is short and sweet, lupin season typically runs from late November through to early January, with the peak in the first two weeks of December. My photos here are from 1-5 December to give you a bit of context.

A bit of a reality check though: As beautiful as they are, lupins are unfortunately an invasive pest that spreads rampantly throughout Canterbury and Otago, damaging native ecosystems and even altering the region’s famous braided rivers, which can have major flow on effects (pun intended) for flooding and erosion. Yikes!

In some areas conservation staff, councils and private landowners are now actively working to get rid of them, which means a photo spot that was a purple blanket last summer might not eventuate this year, while new patches could pop up in places that were empty before.

That said, the lakefront between the church and Tekapo Springs is your best bet for decent lupin coverage with easy access, you might just have to wander a bit to find the perfect spot for your shots.

💰 Cost: Free
⏱️ Time required: As long as you want
🗓️ When: Late November to early January, but first half of December is usually the best
⭐ Best for: Summer visitors, wildflower lovers, anyone looking for viral content haha

Do the Grand Traverse scenic flight

If you want to see Lake Tekapo, Aoraki / Mount Cook and the West Coast glaciers all in one go, the 50 minute Grand Traverse scenic flight with Air Safaris is the most efficient (and most spectacular) way to do it.

Full disclosure, I’ve tried to do this flight three times now and it’s been cancelled every single time due to weather 🫠 THRICE!

Obviously that’s a good sign, they don’t fly unless conditions are safe and comfortable, but learn from my mistakes and book it for early in your Tekapo itinerary so you’ve got back up days if the weather hampers your plans.

💰 Cost: $495 (adults) and $395 (kids 3-13)
⏱️ Time required: An hour
⭐ Best for: Anyone happy to splurge, it’s a big-ticket experience but for the combo of lakes, mountains and glaciers it’s actually pretty decent value for money
🎟️ Book your seat here (save 10% with code FINDINGALEXXKLOOK when it’s your first Klook booking!)

Hone your astrophotography skills

Whether you’re a night-shooting newbie or you’ve spent many evenings out in the dark with frozen fingers (that’s meeee 🙃), Tekapo is the perfect place to learn or get better at astrophotography, especially if you’re visiting in winter.

The Church of the Good Shepherd is the most popular after-dark location for obvious reasons, but in clear conditions or around a new moon you’ll be jostling for space with a bunch of other hopeful travellers until about 10pm. If you’re serious, head there after most people’s bedtimes and you’ll get the best shots in the couple of hours either side of midnight.

Beyond the church, pretty much anywhere away from the street lights and main road traffic with a bit of open space will give you a decent chance of capturing the stars.

Some other helpful tips for astrophotography in Tekapo:

• Check the moon phase! A new moon (which means no visible moon) gives you the darkest skies so you can capture the most stars, a crescent moon adds juuust enough light to illuminate the foreground, and too much moon can wash out the Milky Way entirely
• Steer clear of spots close to the road, a single set of headlights (coming towards you, passing you or lighting up the foreground you’re shooting) will completely ruin your long exposure
• Don’t drive outside of the township in near-freezing temperatures unless you’re confident with winter driving and your vehicle is prepped to handle potential icy roads
• Wander along the foreshore in daylight and pin the spots that are easily accessible for you to return to at night, much easier than exploring somewhere new with nothing but a head torch
• Bring touchscreen-compatible gloves to avoid fumbling through camera settings with numb fingers
• For the love of the travel gods, turn your auto flash OFF and keep your camera or phone brightness low, even tiny bright lights can muck up the shots of people behind you
• Take extra batteries (they drain quicker in the cold) and SD cards (a timelapse can eat your storage faster than you realise)

Now as a full-time solo female traveller I don’t typically recommend going out in the dark by yourself, but Tekapo is extremely safe with very low crime, I literally spend hours every winter night shooting at the church or along the lakefront and have always felt completely comfortable.

In saying that though, if you’re travelling solo then it’s best to stick to areas where there’ll be other photographers around until late, don’t venture too far from your vehicle and stay within cell reception.

If you’d rather skip the trial and error and learn it straight from an expert, some stargazing operators offer proper astrophotography tours with small-group, hands-on tuition covering everything from basic settings to star trails to editing your final shots. Silver River and Alpha CruX both have bookable tours, other companies might have private options available if you’re looking for one-on-one tuition.

💰 Cost: Free to DIY, $500NZD+ for an astrophotography tour
⏱️ Time required: As long as you feel like standing in the cold!
🗓️ When: Mid-winter for the longest nights and best Milky Way shots
⭐ Best for: Night owls, anyone with a tripod and a camera or phone capable of long exposures

Cycle a section of the Alps 2 Ocean trail

The Alps 2 Ocean is one of New Zealand’s Great Rides, a 315km cycling trail that winds from mighty Aoraki / Mount Cook or Lake Tekapo (you can start in either, they meet at Lake Pukaki) past Twizel and Lake Ohau, before heading east down the Waitaki Valley to finish at Oamaru on the coast.

The entire trail generally takes 5-7 days but there are some easily accessible day ride options:

• Tekapo to Twizel (55km, grade 2)
• Twizel to Lake Ōhau Lodge (38km, grade 2)
• Lake Ōhau Lodge to Ōmarama (43km, grade 3)
• Ōmarama to Ōtematata (35km, grade 3)

BeSpoke Bikes in the village has you sorted for bike hire and shuttles, book in advance if you’re visiting during summer holidays or weekends to make sure you don’t miss out.

💰 Cost: Full day hire from $80NZD for a normal bikes or from $120NZD for an e-bike, shuttle prices depend on where you’re going
⏱️ Time required: Full day or more
⭐ Best for: Cycling enthusiasts, bikepackers, travellers keen to experience a Great Ride without the multi-day commitment

Visit a working high country farm

Fun fact: sheep outnumber humans in New Zealand by about 4.5 to 1, and you can see heeeeaps of them (as well as quirky alpacas, Angus cows and kunekune pigs) on an educational behind-the-scenes farm experience with Lake Tekapo Farm Tours.

You’ll head out onto a 50,000 acre Merino farm just outside of town, stopping at private panoramic lookouts for postcard-worthy photos and learning about sustainable farming methods along the way. The grand finale is at the farmyard where you’ll meet some fluffy friends for hand-feeding and cute selfies.

💰 Cost:

• 1h Mt Hay Farm Experience from $99NZD
• 2h High Country Station Tour from $149NZD (save 10% with code FINDINGALEXXKLOOK)
• Or you can just visit the petting zoo for $20NZD

⏱️ Time required: 30 mins to a couple of hours
⭐ Best for: Families with little ones, city-dwellers who’ve never visited an actual farm before

Embrace the snow

Tekapo absolutely transforms in winter, and aside from the obvious photo ops of snowy mountains and clear night skies, a handful of seasonal activities open up for travellers willing to brave the cold.

Ski or snowboard

You don’t have to go all the way to Queenstown for a day on the slopes, Lake Tekapo offers easy access to three smaller (and cheaper, and less busy!) ski fields.

Roundhill is the closest at around 30 minutes drive, a family-run field with terrain for every level. Their most epic runs come off their Heritage Express Rope Tow (the longest and steepest in the world!) though which only opens in specific conditions, so if you’re chasing black diamonds, check if it’s running before you set off for the day.

Mt Dobson Ski Area is on the other side of the Two Thumb mountain range, about an hour from Tekapo, with wide open runs and a massive learners’ area, and Ohau Snow Field is about 90 minutes away past Twizel and Lake Ohau Lodge, a worthwhile journey for off-piste adventurers on bluebird days.

💰 Cost: Adult day passes from $124-149NZD
⏱️ Time required: Half day or more
📆 When: Late June to mid-September
⭐ Best for: Skiers and snowboarders of all levels

Lace up at the Tekapo Springs ice rink

Live out your figure-skating fantasies at Tekapo Springs’ international-sized outdoor ice rink, open for all skill levels from late April to the end of August.

Never done it before? No stress, you can book a one-on-one lesson to learn from a pro.

💰 Cost: All day passes are $25NZD for adults and $20 for kids (3-15), tickets include helmets and skate hire too, and you can get a combo ticket with the hot pools to save up to 15%
⏱️ Time required: As long as your legs can handle it
📆 When: Late April to late August (but dependent on weather and sometimes closed for professional events and tournaments)
⭐ Best for: First-timers up for a laugh, families with older kids, winter visitors looking to get in a bit of a workout

Zoom down an icy slope on a snow tube

For a quick adrenaline hit without having to drive up to the ski fields, head to Tekapo Springs and follow the sound of uncontrollable laughter to reach their snow tube park, where you can fly down the 150m slope on a giant inflatable ring before riding the magic carpet back up and doing it all over again.

💰 Cost: One hour for $34NZD adults and $23NZD kids (3-15)
⏱️ Time required: An hour
📆 When: May to October (weather dependent)
⭐ Best for: The young and young at heart (minimum height is 1m though)

Explore on horseback

Some landscapes are worth slowing riiiiight down for, and horse riding is the perfect way to take them in. Mackenzie Alpine Horses whisks you away from the crowds onto a working high country station where you’ll enjoy the scenery from a saddle.

They’ve got a range of treks to choose from for all levels, from 30 minute kid-friendly trails to half day adventures for experienced riders.

💰 Cost: From $99 for 30 minutes up to $450 for half a day
⏱️ Time required: 30 minutes to 4 hours
🗓️ When: Warmer months only, in 2026 they reopen at the end of September
⭐ Best for: Slow travellers and animal lovers

See Lake Alexandrina

Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki get all the glory, but the quieter Lake Alexandrina is just 20 minutes from the township with a mountain backdrop and no tour buses in sight.

💰 Cost: Free
⏱️ Time required: A quick photo stop or stay longer for a picnic
⭐ Best for: Peace and quiet, views without the crowds, birdwatchers

Take a day trip from Tekapo

Lake Tekapo makes an epic base for exploring the wider Mackenzie Country and beyond, with a number of worthwhile side quests within an hour and a half’s drive.

Lake Pukaki

25 minutes further along SH8 from Tekapo is an even bigger and bluer body of water, the impossibly vivid Lake Pukaki.

Pull into this viewpoint carpark for the famous photo angle with Aoraki / Mount Cook standing tall in the background, or continue five minutes to Mt Cook Alpine Salmon to pick up some fresh sashimi and then head back to the lookout for lunch with a view.

⏱️ Time required: 1-2 hours for photos and a picnic
⭐ Best for: Iconic vistas and the bluest lake you’ll ever see

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

If you hook a right after Pukaki and take SH80 as far as it goes (about 45 mins), you’ll end up right amongst the Southern Alps in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park.

The tiny village at the base of the mountains is mostly just a service centre for alpine tourism and adventurers, but there’s plenty of hikes, lookouts and glacier-based activities to fill a day trip itinerary.

Some Aoraki must-dos:

• The Hooker Valley Track is the long-reigning king of short walks in New Zealand 👑 The full thing takes about three hours with magnificent scenes at every turn, but it’s currently under maintenance so you can only get to the Kakiroa/Mount Sefton Lookout (1h return, still beautiful views) until the new bridge opens, which they’re expecting to be in late July/August 2026.
• If you’re up for a more intense hike there’s the Sealy Tarns Track (3-4h return) or the Mueller Hut (3-5h one way, day hike-able in summer if you’re experienced and fit)
• The Tasman Glacier View track is a 30 min walk to see NZ’s largest glacier, with an easy optional detour to the stunning Blue Lakes
• A glacial lake cruise gets you even closer to the Tasman Glacier, or this top-rated heli-hike will let you set foot on it (well, set crampon on it!)

⏱️ Time required: A full day for enjoying the drive and an activity or walk once you’re there
⭐ Best for: Hikers, a magical scenic drive, total Southern Alps immersion

Twizel and Lake Ohau

An hour south of Tekapo, Lake Ohau isn’t as bright as its two siblings but it does provide a much less touristy and more local-feeling vibe than you’d find right off the highway, with lakefront walks and more demanding hikes on offer.

Twizel is a little hydro town you’ll drive through en route, it’s more of an alternative base to Tekapo if you’re wanting cheaper accommodation (rather than a day trip), but Mint Folk & Co is diviiiiine for a brunch stop and High Country Salmon makes the best salmon pate I’ve ever had.

There’s also a bunch of unique glamping-style spots dotted around the area if you’ve got time for an overnight detour, like the cosy High Country Cabin or glass-ceilinged SkyScape (both of which I’ve stayed at and adore!).

⏱️ Time required: Half day or more
⭐ Best for: Better value cafes, fewer crowds

Clay Cliffs at Omarama

After all the glacial lakes, tussocked plains and braided rivers, when you see the Clay Cliffs you’ll think you accidentally stepped through a teleportation portal!

They’re about 1h 15m south of Tekapo just a short drive off the main highway, with the final 3km on a private gravel road and no cellphone reception or bathrooms (or literally anything apart from the rocks). Entry is $10 per car or $20 per camper either by bank transfer (info here) or cash on arrival.

And before heading back to Tekapo, book a private tub at Hot Tubs Omarama for a steamy soak with brilliant views.

⏱️ Time required: 4+ hours, the Clay Cliffs walk takes about an hour return from the carpark
⭐ Best for: Something different!

Best restaurants in Tekapo

Just to manage expectations, Tekapo’s food scene is certainly lagging behind most other South Island hot spots, but there are some definite gems hidden amongst the tourist traps.

Better Batter is my go-to for a hearty casual feed you can tuck into at a picnic table or in a carpark, you’ll find their cute little food truck in the parking area at the start of Lakeside Drive.

Greedy Cow Cafe is the best café in town but be warned, it gets busyyyy and there’s often a line out the door in peak season. If you’re early enough (or patient enough) to get a table then I highly recommend the halloumi toast, it’s 🤌🏼

Tekapo’s Four Square deserves a shout out as the best Four Square in New Zealand (I will fight anyone on this 🙃), it’s well-stocked with a decent range of fresh foods, bakery stuff, dairy and pantry staples, with plenty of self-serve checkouts so you never have to wait too long to pay and go.

Prices are elevated as you’d expect in any small town so do a proper shop at Pak’n’Save before you leave Christchurch or Queenstown, but for last minute things and snacks it’s fab.

The Four Square also stocks Fairlie Bakehouse Pies, my favourite pie in the South Island, from a bakery about 40 minutes before Tekapo if you’re coming from Christchurch. I rate the creamy chicken and pork belly ones.

25 Degrees Burger Bar serves up tasty burgers and milkshakes, Ramen Tekapo is a well-rated option for a winter warmer, and Morelea Lakeside is a homemade pavlova specialist for an authentic Kiwi sweet treat.

Where to stay in Lake Tekapo

Whether you’re looking for something cheap and cheerful, a touch of luxury or somewhere equipped for a longer stay, you’ll find accommodation in Lake Tekapo (and nearby) for all types of travellers.

There aren’t many traditional hotels here, so most of the decent options are holiday parks, hostels, self-contained apartments, holiday homes and some higher end lodges.

Here are my top recommendations from my own trips, as well as top-rated options that other travellers rave about.

A heads up though: affordable accommodation in Tekapo is extremely limited, and summer/school holiday pricing can be crazy, as in hostel dorm beds for $250NZD+ per night (and I’m not exaggerating!). If you’re on a tight budget then avoid summer, take a tent to pitch at the holiday park or extend your search to Twizel for lower priced options.

Best camping in Tekapo: Lakes Edge Holiday Park

Lakes Edge Holiday Park is one of my favourite campgrounds in the South Island, there’s nothing like waking up to this right outside your door!

They’ve got powered and non-powered campsites for tents and vans, as well as backpacker dorms (not the $250 one haha), basic cabins and motel rooms, plus a few gorgeous tiny home huts sitting high on the hill with luxe interiors and dreamy outdoor baths.

Their holiday park amenities blocks are brilliant, super spacious with fridge/freezers, microwaves, toasters, hot water and cooktops, they aren’t equipped with cookware (quite common at major holiday parks in NZ) but if you need something specific just check with the front desk and they’ll probably be able to lend you some stuff.

This place is extremely popular year-round, front row sites sell out weeks in advance and during peak season or school holidays the whole place often reaches capacity, so you do need to book ahead if you’re hoping to camp in Tekapo.

Freedom camping within Lake Tekapo’s township is strictly prohibited and closely monitored, so if you’re looking for free camping spots you’ll need to head further out. You can use the Rankers app to find all the info on campsites in NZ.

Best hostels in Tekapo

• Haka House Hostel is the one with insane prices in summer, but winter prices are as low as $59 for the exact same dorm bed. It’s probably the best located hostel in the country, right on the lake with exceptional views and just down the road from the Four Square I was raving about, with a full kitchen and comfy common areas for meeting other travellers. I’ve stayed here and enjoyed it, if you can get a decent price it’s totally worth it but there’s no way in hell I’d ever pay $250 a night to share a room with strangers 🙃 (8.4/10 on booking.com from 3300+ reviews)
• Tailor Made Tekapo is another hostel with private rooms and shared bathrooms (8.30/10 on booking.com from 1000+ reviews)

Best mid-range accommodation in Tekapo

The best mid-budget options in Tekapo are holiday homes and apartments, these are the top-rated ones:

• The Mackenzie Suites (9.5/10 on booking.com from 670+ reviews)
• Roto Cottage (9.8/10 on booking.com from 70+ reviews)
• The Mackenzie Apartments (9.4/10 on booking.com from 420+ reviews)
• The Quarters (9.3/10 on booking.com from 130+ reviews)
• Skyrim Lodge (8.6/10 on booking.com from 1180+ reviews)
• Lot 7 Apartments (8.8/10 on booking.com from 900+ reviews)

Best luxury accommodation in Tekapo

• My mum and I stayed at Alpine Lodges at the Cairns and it was a dream, a beautifully designed cosy lodge with plush beds, a fireplace and a mini petting zoo on site! Some lodges have wood-fired hot tubs too. (9.4/10 on booking.com from 390+ reviews)

• If you’re travelling with family or a group of friends and want somewhere ultra-special, Bunker House is a private retreat that looks like it should be on the cover of Architectural Digest. (9.7/10 on booking.com from 30+ reviews)
• Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat (4.8/5 on Google reviews from 80+ reviews)
• Lakestone Lodge (9.4/10 on booking.com from 50+ reviews)
• Grand Suites Lake Tekapo (9.4/10 on booking.com from 500+ reviews)

Unique accommodation near Tekapo

• SkyScape Twizel is one of the best places I’ve stayed in New Zealand, it’s a transparent pod in the middle of nowhere with glass walls and a glass ceiling for maximum Milky Way views, plus an outdoor bath, kitchenette, breakfast supplies provided and expansive views across to the mountains. Highly, highly recommend for star-chasers, just be sure to time your trip with the new moon! (9.8/10 on booking.com from 75+ reviews)

• High Country Cabin is another one of my favourites, a super stylish rural getaway where sheep roam your backyard while you get cosy in front of the fireplace. Away from the crowds but with all the amenities you’d need. It’s not on booking.com, you can book direct here.

Plan your trip to Lake Tekapo

So you know what you want to do in Tekapo, now it’s time to finetune the logistics of your trip.

Where is Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo sits in the heart of Mackenzie Country in the middle of the South Island, and the tiny township is right on State Highway 8 (SH8), part of the main driving route between Christchurch and Queenstown.

It’s pretty much halfway between those two major hubs (3h-3h 30m either side without delays or photo stops) which is why so many road trippers make a pit stop here.

How to get to Lake Tekapo & where to stop on the way

Tekapo doesn’t have a domestic airport or a train station, so your options are driving yourself, catching a bus or joining a tour.

• 🚗 By car: Easily the best way to get to Tekapo and to explore the surrounding region or tackle any day trips I mentioned above.
• 🚌 By bus: InterCity (NZ’s national bus network) runs daily services between Christchurch and Queenstown that stop in Tekapo in both directions.
• 🚐 By hop-on hop-off bus: Kiwi Experience is a hop-on hop-off bus famous in the backpacker space, with flexible bus passes that lets you follow the well-trodden South Island loop but at your own pace. Tekapo is one of their stops and you’re guaranteed to meet other travellers heading there too, so it’s ideal for solo travellers or budget explorers looking to make friends.
• 📢 By tour: Plenty of group and private tours alike include Tekapo in their South Island itinerary, I haven’t done any myself because I don’t need a guide for my own country haha but I love G Adventures for small group tours, and you can check TourRadar for the top-rated South Island tours.

Stops between Christchurch and Tekapo:

• Rakaia Gorge is a bit of a detour but well worth it if you’ve got extra time, there are some seriously impressive lookouts and an easy 10km walk
• Geraldine for a snack break at Barker’s Foodstore, famous for their jams and sauces
• Fairlie Bakehouse for an award-winning pie
• Burkes Pass, a roadside rest area with vintage vehicles and signage that looks straight out of middle America

Stops between Queenstown and Tekapo:

• Lindis Pass viewpoint to see the highway cutting through rolling hills
• Omarama for the Clay Cliffs and a hot tub soak like I mentioned in the day trips section
• Lake Ohau for a peaceful lakeside walk
• High Country Salmon or Mt Cook Alpine Salmon for, you guessed it, salmon!
• If you’re not going all the way to Aoraki / Mount Cook, at least head to Peter’s Lookout for the most incredible view of the road winding towards NZ’s tallest peak
• Lake Pukaki lookouts

➡️ I’ve got a full Queenstown to Christchurch road trip itinerary (with a route via Tekapo as well as a route via the West Coast) if your Tekapo stop is part of a bigger trip.

How long to spend in Tekapo

I’d recommend setting aside at least two nights for experiencing the best of Tekapo with a weather buffer for safety.

Two full days (or a full day and two half days) gives you time for an astro tour with a back up night, a big adventure like a 4WD tour or horse trekking, and some downtime at the hot pools too, plus you can explore the lakefront and church before the hordes of daytrippers rush in from 9am or after they leave.

One night in Tekapo lets you see the main viewpoints and maybe one organised activity but leaves no room for inclement weather, and if you just do a day stop then you’re missing out on the night sky which is one of Tekapo’s highlights!

Three nights is best if stargazing is a non-negotiable (timed for dark skies of course) and four or more is ideal if you’re using Tekapo as a base to explore further afield.

Best time to visit Tekapo

Tekapo is a totally different destination in summer and in winter, so your ideal time to visit comes down to what you actually want out of it.

I think winter here is unbeatable, with the Milky Way putting on the best show and lots of blue skies between heavy snow dumps, but lupin season is admittedly pretty magic if you can afford the splurge.

Personally, outside of lupin season, I avoid summer in Tekapo for anything longer than a Four Square run for a Fairlie pie and a turn on the flying fox at the playground 🙃 As a solo traveller I just can’t justify the accommodation prices and the crowds are suffocating. March onwards is much, much more enjoyable.

Here’s a quick year-round breakdown.

☀️ Summer (Dec-Feb)

• Long daylight hours and late sunsets (after 9pm), so you can pack more into each day
• Lupins bloom from late November to early January, peaking in early December
• Peak tourist season and Kiwi/Aussie school holidays so you MUST book in advance and be prepared for maximum capacity
• The stars are still beautiful on a clear night but the bright core of the Milky Way isn’t visible and the nights are short
• I’d recommend booking self-contained accomm so you can cook your own meals, because all the eateries are paaaacked with people

🍂 Autumn (Mar-May)

• Crowds start to dissipate and prices come down (but temporarily rise for Easter and school holidays)
• Low single digit temps common at night, early snow dumps can happen
• Beautiful contrast of golden trees, the blue lake and white-dusted mountains in the background
• Wintery experiences like the ice skating rink and snow tube park open later in the season

❄️ Winter (Jun-Aug)

• Tekapo at its best if you ask me 😍
• Long, dark nights with peak Milky Way viewing
• Best chance of seeing the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights), though this is rare and can’t be planned for in advance, it’s just a huge bonus if a display coincides with your trip!
• Ski fields open, hot pools are a must
• Some activities shut up shop (like horse trekking) or run on reduced schedules

• Generally the cheapest time for accommodation
• School holidays, the new moon and Matariki (the Māori new year, based on the lunar cycle) will still be busy with inflated prices
• Icy roads and alpine passes and cause delays or closures, drive carefully and always check conditions before setting off
• Weather tends to jump between heavy snow dumps and crisp sunny skies, these two photos below are from the exact same place TWO hours apart in August 😲 Stay longer than you think you’ll need because activities can be cancelled.

🌷 Spring (Sep-Nov)

• Shoulder season so still quieter and cheaper than summer
• Mountain snow lingers on the surrounding peaks well into October, so the air can still be pretty chilly
• Late snow dumps aren’t unheard of so be prepared for cold regardless
• Days get longer so more time for exploring, but less time for night sky viewing
• Late November is when the earliest lupins miiiight start popping up

Lake Tekapo FAQs

Final thoughts on Lake Tekapo

Though the Gatorade-coloured lake is what pulls people off SH8, the mix of actual things to do for all types of travellers is what makes Tekapo worth blocking out proper time for.

Whether you’re here for Milky Way magic, steamy hot pools, an off-road backcountry adventure, a mission to capture the lupins or a cheaper-than-Queenstown snowy getaway, this lakeside village might be small in stature but it’ll fill your camera roll and your itinerary for days.

If you’ve got any Tekapo questions I haven’t answered, or a favourite spot I’ve missed that you want to share with other travellers, drop a comment below!

MY GO-TO TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES

Flights ✈️ I use Skyscanner to find the best flights for my trip and then I’ll always book direct with the airline to protect myself from having to deal with dodgy third parties if anything goes wrong.

Trains 🚂 If I’m travelling through Europe, I try to travel by train wherever possible! For an extended trip (2+ weeks) I’ll calculate if a Eurail Pass is worth it, or I’ll book point-to-point tickets through RailEurope or the local train operator.

Accommodation 🛎️ I book almost all of my accommodation through booking.com, they have a user-friendly website + app and many of their options are free cancellation, easily cancelled with a simple click of a button.

Activities 🗽I use GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator to look for activities in the places I visit, or I just Google ‘things to do in [city]’! P.S. If you book anything on Klook you can use the promocode FINDINGALEXXKLOOK to get 10% off

Travel cards 💳 I’m a Wise gal through and through, they’ve been my chosen travel card for more than five years now. You can easily top up your card from your bank account or through Apple Pay, convert your money to local currency, and spend money with minimal fees and the best exchange rates around.

Travel insurance 🩺 I use Cover-More NZ travel insurance for my own trips, I have a comprehensive policy and I’ve only had good experiences with them. Cover-More also has an Australian company, but if you’re from elsewhere then two popular insurance options for global travellers are SafetyWing (cheaper policy, lower coverage) and World Nomads (more expensive but significantly better coverage).

Luggage 💼 I travel with Samsonite Cosmolite suitcases, one 75cm check in bag and a 55cm carry on bag, and I absolutely adore them and will never travel with anything else! They are SUPER lightweight (2.8kg and 1.9kg respectively) so I have much more space for my actual stuff.

Camera gear 📸 I use a iPhone 15 Pro Max for phone photos/videos, and my camera kit includes a Lumix S9 (incredible lightweight full-frame camera, a game changer for travel creators!) with a 20-60mm lens, a Lumix G9 with an 8-18mm and 12-60mm lens, a DJI Mini 3 Pro drone and a GoPro Hero 10. I do all my writing and editing on my ASUS Zenbook 14, it’s lightweight but powerful enough for photo editing and intense blogging sessions.