Things To Do in Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo, New Zealand, is known for the bright turquoise colour of its glacial water and the tiny Church of the Good Shepherd on its shore. Stay after dark and you'll see why this South Island town is part of an International Dark Sky Reserve.

Tekapo is small, so you don't need days to get around the village. What you will find are short walks, hot pools, alpine views, and stargazing on clear nights. Below are the top things to do in Lake Tekapo, how to get there, how long to stay, and where to eat.

Where Is Lake Tekapo and How To Get There

Lake Tekapo sits in the Mackenzie Country, the high, open inland basin between Christchurch and Queenstown. Working out how to get to Lake Tekapo is simple: it's on State Highway 8, around three hours' drive from both Christchurch and Queenstown. As you come into the basin, farmland gives way to tussock country, views of snow-capped mountains, and the kind of South Island scenery that makes you want to pull over every ten minutes.

The roads into Tekapo town are sealed, but winter can bring snow and ice, so check road conditions with the NZTA and our tips for driving in New Zealand before setting off.

On the way to or from Queenstown, you'll pass Lake Pūkaki around 60 km from Tekapo. Stop at the lookout at its southern end for the view up the lake to Aoraki/Mount Cook, then either turn onto State Highway 80 for Aoraki/Mount Cook Village or carry on to Twizel to refuel. 

Photo Credit: Localista New Zealand

How Long To Spend in Lake Tekapo

Planning how long to stay in Lake Tekapo comes down to what you want to experience. If you're stopping for the lake, the Church of the Good Shepherd and a few photos, a couple of hours can be enough. 

We recommend staying for a night if you can. You'll have time for a longer walk or a soak in the hot pools, then some stargazing once it gets dark. Two nights make sense if you want to slow down or use Tekapo as a base for a day trip to Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park. Aoraki/Mount Cook Village is about 100 km away, roughly an hour and a quarter's drive without stops. 

Lake Tekapo's Attractions and Activities

You’ll find plenty of things to do around Tekapo, especially if you’re a nature lover! Most daytime Lake Tekapo activities are close to the village, so it's easy to fit several into one day.

The Church of the Good Shepherd is the best-known of the Lake Tekapo tourist attractions and probably the most photographed spot in town.

Walks are another popular Lake Tekapo activity. The lakeshore track runs from the main road bridge through the village to Tekapo Springs. It's one of several short walks around the village, and families will find a lakefront playground with a flying fox along the way. The Lake Tekapo Regional Park on the eastern shore offers 165 hectares of forest, with 24 km of shared walking and biking tracks.

Venture up Mt John for incredible views of Lake Tekapo, the Mackenzie Basin and the Southern Alps. The track to the Mt John summit starts beside the hot pools complex. Wear decent hiking shoes, as it climbs steadily.

If you'd rather drive up and take the shorter circuit at the top, the summit road is privately maintained, open during the day only, charges a small per-vehicle fee and can close in bad weather, so check the hours before you go. The summit is also home to the University of Canterbury's Mt John Observatory and the Astro Café.

Photo Credit: My Queenstown Diary

Stargazing and Night-Time Activities in Lake Tekapo

If you're deciding what to do in Tekapo at night, stargazing is the main drawcard. Tekapo sits within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, where low levels of light pollution keep the night sky dark enough to see the Milky Way, planets, and Southern Hemisphere constellations such as the Southern Cross on a clear night. Grab a warm jacket and find a dark spot away from the village lights, or join a guided tour for a closer look through telescopes. 

Dark Sky Project runs summit tours to the Mt John Observatory, departing from its base on the lakefront. Book ahead, as tours can fill up. Tekapo Springs also runs guided stargazing sessions where you soak in the hot pools while a guide shares stories about the southern sky, so you can finish the day floating under the stars. 

Photo Credit: Tekapo Adventures

Seasonal Lake Tekapo Things to Do

What To Do in Lake Tekapo in Winter

Come winter, there's snow on the surrounding mountains, the days are crisp, and the nights are long. Much of what to do in Tekapo in winter centres on Tekapo Springs, which opens an ice rink and snow tube park alongside its hot pools. Both are seasonal and weather-dependent, so check before you go. 

If you're visiting Tekapo in winter and driving yourself, cold, clear mornings can leave ice on shaded stretches of road, so allow extra time and read our tips for driving on black ice. Omega customers can request snow chains when they book. They're sized to the vehicle, and you fit them yourself.

What To Do in Lake Tekapo in Summer

Make the most of the long daylight hours with a walk up Mt John, a bike ride on the regional park tracks or a chilled evening by the lake. Late spring and early summer also bring the lupins that draw the crowds, although flowering times vary each year. Swimming is possible on warmer days, but the glacial water stays cold year-round. 

Rainy Day Activities in Lake Tekapo

If you find yourself visiting Tekapo on a rainy day, check out the Dark Sky Project's indoor astronomy experience. The 45-minute Dark Sky Experience combines Māori astronomy with the science of the Milky Way through hands-on and multimedia exhibits, plus a historic Brashear telescope. It's a good pick for families and it runs during the day. The Dark Sky Diner is in the same building, so lunch with a lake view is only a few steps away.

Tekapo Springs has more on offer than its outdoor pools, too. Book a treatment at the day spa, or add time in the sauna, steam room, and cold plunge pool. Make sure to reserve ahead during busy periods. 

If you're on the road heading to Aoraki/Mount Cook Village and the weather turns, the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre at The Hermitage Hotel has a museum, a 3D theatre, and a planetarium.

Photo Credit: Tourism New Zealand

Lake Tekapo Cafés and Restaurants

Planning what to eat in Lake Tekapo is easy enough, but the better-known spots can fill up quickly. If you visit Lake Tekapo during school holidays or another busy period, it's a good idea to book ahead.

For breakfast or coffee, The Greedy Cow is a popular option, and Astro Café on Mt John is a great spot for views across the Mackenzie Basin. It's open during the day only, and you'll need to drive up or walk the summit track. If you’re coming from Christchurch, Fairlie Bakehouse is about 35 minutes before Tekapo and a good excuse to pull over for a pie.

For dinner, you've got everything from burgers and casual pub-style meals to Japanese and contemporary Kiwi food. Dark Sky Diner at Dark Sky Project's base and TLV Restaurant & Bar both make the most of the lakefront setting, while Kohan is a long-running favourite for Japanese food.

Photo Credit: Tourism New Zealand

Make the Most of Your Lake Tekapo Visit

Tekapo is easy to fit into a South Island road trip. From here, you can continue on to Lake Pūkaki and Aoraki/Mount Cook, or keep heading south to Queenstown. With your own car, you can stop to stretch your legs whenever you like, change plans around the weather and stay longer wherever you fancy.

Starting in Christchurch? Read our road trip guide from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo, which details plenty of reasons to take your time on the drive in. 

Pick up an Omega rental car from Christchurch Airport and drop it off at Queenstown Airport with no one-way fee (a minimum hire period may apply). When you're ready for the next leg, our New Zealand road trip itineraries are full of ideas for where to point the car.