Things to Do in Lake Tekapo (without a car)
- margauxgathy6
- Sep 20
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 21
Lake Tekapo was one of my favourite stops on my New Zealand South Island trip. It is so beautiful and there is so much to do. Lake Tekapo is the 10th largest lake in New Zealand and is famous for its blue colour and shoreline of lupins. I spent 3 nights here, but 2 is enough if you don’t do a day trip to Mt Cook - more on that below! You can get to Lake Tekapo by Intercity bus, and if you are looking for more on how to get around New Zealand without a car, check out my full guide here.
Head down to the Lakefront
This lake honestly blew me away. I spent so long sitting down by the lake admiring the blue of the water and the snow-capped mountains in the distance. The lupins start coming out in November, so I was lucky to see them as well. But don’t expect the huge fields of lupins that you have probably seen on social media! It’s more of a few little clusters and everyone is standing right in front of them for that perfect photo. I found there to be more on the lakeshore to the left, walking clockwise around the lake. It is still absolutely gorgeous though, and I’d love to go in the winter to see it all snowy too. If you can head down to the lake for sunrise, you will be treated to something special. The sunset is also incredible.
The lakefront is also home to the famous Church of the Good Shepherd, so take a walk to see that too.
Hikes Around Lake Tekapo
Mt John Hike
The Mt John hike isn’t too long or strenuous but provides great views of the lake. It starts uphill but then flattens out and is mostly downhill after the summit. It goes past the observatory and down over the other side, where you get views of Lake Tekapo and the smaller Lake Alta next to it. The trail doubles back along the lake shore and takes you back to the starting point near the edge of town. The whole big loop will take you about 3 hours.
There is another trail on the opposite side of the lake to Mt John. It is a flat path right along the shoreline which is equally stunning and completely deserted. I didn’t go the whole length of the trail but from what I saw, it keeps going for a good while!
Star Gazing
Lake Tekapo is known for its exceptional stargazing opportunities. You can opt to go to one of the observatories in the area for a large fee, which has the advantage of using the powerful telescopes and having a guide to explain the night sky to you. However, if these experiences are out of your budget (as they were for me), you can’t go wrong just heading down to the lakefront and looking up. The stars are absolutely stunning.
Day Trip to Mt Cook National Park
If you have an extra day, I highly recommend doing a day trip to Mt Cook. I booked this on Get Your Guide as I didn’t rent a car. The tour stopped by Lake Pukaki, the lake which features on many photos of New Zealand’s South Island with Mt Cook at the end of it. This view was breathtaking. We then drove to the National Park to hike the famous Hooker Valley Track. Although busy, this trail was unreal. It is not strenuous at all, and takes 2-3 hours depending on your speed and how long you spend at Hooker Lake at the end of the trail. It crosses rivers and has incredible views of Mt Cook itself. Definitely up there with the most stunning hikes I have ever done.
If you have your own car or have more days and can take the Intercity bus, I would spend a few days in Mt Cook National Park itself. There is a brand new YHA hostel in Mt Cook village to stay in, and there are plenty more hikes in the region to fill your days with. Be prepared though, because there are no supermarkets in the village, so stock up beforehand. It’s very remote!
I hope this gives you a good overview of the best things to do in Lake Takapo and that you enjoy it as much as I did. Please keep in mind that this is a really beautiful slice of nature, so look after it. Don’t litter, don’t take anything from it, and as always, only leave your footprints behind :)
Comments