Travel Guide of Tekapo in New Zealand by Influencers and Travelers
Lake Tekapo is a small town located at the southern end of the lake of the same name in the inland South Island of New Zealand. It had 369 residents according to the 2013 census, being one of five settlements in the sparsely populated Mackenzie Basin. SH 8 runs directly through the township – 227 km from Christchurch and 256 km from Queenstown. Daily shuttle services link Lake Tekapo to Christchurch and Queenstown. The lake is a popular tourist destination, and several resort hotels are located at the township. Lake Tekapo Airport is located 5 km west of the town. Chartered flights are available at locally based Air Safaris. Twizel lies 60km south of Lake Tekapo via Lake Pukaki and Burkes Pass lies 21km west along state highway 8.
The Best Things to Do and Visit in Tekapo
TRAVELERS TOP 10 :
1 - Lake Tekapo Township
Lake Tekapo is a small town located at the southern end of the lake of the same name in the inland South Island of New Zealand. It had 558 residents according to the 2018 census, being one of five settlements in the sparsely populated Mackenzie Basin. SH 8 runs directly through the township – 227 km from Christchurch and 256 km from Queenstown. Daily shuttle services link Lake Tekapo to Christchurch and Queenstown. The lake is a popular tourist destination, and several resort hotels are located at the township. Lake Tekapo Airport is located 5 km west of the town. Chartered flights are available at locally based Air Safaris. Twizel lies 60km south of Lake Tekapo via Lake Pukaki and Burkes Pass lies 21km west along state highway 8.
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2 - Lake Alexandrina
6 km away
Lake Alexandrina is a lake located in the Mackenzie Basin of New Zealand's South Island. It lies immediately to the west of the much larger Lake Tekapo and further to the east of Lake Pukaki, located to the north of Lake Tekapo township.
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3 - Safaris in Lake Tekapo
Explore Tekapo's backcountry wilderness on a Scenic 4WD Tour, offering private access into some of The Mackenzie's most beautiful High Country Stations. Discover the best scenery & landscapes within Lake Tekapo & Lake Pukaki / Mackenzie area. You'll explore impressive natural beauty beyond Tekapo lakefront for unique photography opportunities, educational commentary and an incredible High Country experience situated in the heart of New Zealand's iconic scenery. • Remote Backcountry 4WD High Country Station Tour through Braemar Station • Stunning and unique views of Mt Cook & Mt Tasman, The Main Divide & Lake Pukaki & The Ben Ohau Mountains • Breathtaking scenery of New Zealand’s most impressive landscapes • Educational information on the area’s unique landforms & species & ecology within The Mackenzie • Feed farm animals such as Sheep, Angus Cattle & Red Deer • Refreshments & Snacks
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4 - Church of the Good Shepherd
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5 - Mount John
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6 - Peppers Bluewater Resort
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7 - Lake Tekapo
14 km away
Lake Tekapo is the second-largest of three roughly parallel lakes running north–south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin in the South Island of New Zealand.
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8 - Fairlie-Tekapo Road
15 km away
Timaru is a port city in the southern Canterbury region of New Zealand, located 157 kilometres southwest of Christchurch and about 196 kilometres northeast of Dunedin on the eastern Pacific coast of the South Island.
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9 - Lake Pukaki
27 km away
Lake Pukaki is the largest of three roughly parallel alpine lakes running north–south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin on New Zealand's South Island. The others are Lakes Tekapo and Ohau.
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10 - Southern Alps
41 km away
The Southern Alps / Kā Tiritiri o te Moana is a mountain range extending along much of the length of New Zealand's South Island, reaching its greatest elevations near the range's western side.
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11 - Aoraki/Mount Cook
46 km away
Aoraki / Mount Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. Its height, as of 2014, is listed as 3,724 metres. It lies in the Southern Alps, the mountain range which runs the length of the South Island.
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12 - Hooker Valley track
46 km away
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13 - Hooker Lake
48 km away
Hooker Lake is a proglacial lake that started to form in the late 1970s by the recent retreat of the Hooker Glacier. It is in the Hooker Valley, in the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park in New Zealand's South Island, just south of Aoraki / Mount Cook.
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14 - Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
50 km away
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is in the South Island of New Zealand, near the town of Twizel. Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain, and Aoraki/Mount Cook Village lie within the park.
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Pictures and Stories of Tekapo from Influencers
3 pictures of Tekapo from Stas Kulesh, Pakata Goh, Sarah Evans and other travelers
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Why should you visit Tekapo ?
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🏖️ Ocean ⛰️ MountainLearn More about Tekapo
Lake Tekapo has all the things you could want from a holiday - great hotels, good restaurants and lots of great activities - so you'll never get bored. What's more, the scenery is spectacular. Lake Tekapo is one of the most beautiful towns (and lakes) in New Zealand. For such a small town, there is so much to do on Lake Tekapo. The picturesque town has a population of only 500 and is one of the most popular stops on the road between Christchurch and Queenstown. The picturesque Lake Tekapo has grown over the years to become a popular holiday destination. As a result, there are more and more activities to do in Tekapo. Some of our favourite things to do in Tekapo include stargazing in the hot pools of New Zealand's only Dark Sky Reserve and taking photos of some of the most beautiful churches you'll ever see. Lake Tekapo's renowned night sky is astonishing and offers the best chance to explore the wonders of the stars and night sky. Tekapo is for sure one of the best places to go stargazing in New Zealand. But the adventure doesn't stop there. Whether you're a thrill-seeker, a romantic or just want to enjoy the view from above, there's something for everyone.
Where to Stay in Tekapo
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More Travel spots to explore around Tekapo
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Discover more travel spots to explore around Tekapo
🏞️ Reservoir spots ⛰️ Highland spots 🏞️ Loch spots ❄️ Tundra spots 🏰 Church spots 🌊 Ocean spots 🏖️ Shore spots ⛰️ Mountain range spots 🏖️ Beach spots 🌲 Plain spots Recreational fishing spots 🏖️ Coast spots 🏞️ River spots 🛣️ Road trip spots 🌲 Ecoregion spots ⛰️ Mountain spotsTravel map of Tekapo
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