Popular Attractions in Lake Tekapo (2025)

Located high on the shores of Lake Tekapo, the Church of the Good Shepherd was built in 1935 and named after a sculpture of a shepherd dog. Made entirely of rock blocks, this church is a classic postcard view of Lake Tekapo. At night, the church under the stars is even more beautiful, and it is also an excellent location for shooting star trails. 1. The appearance of the church is primitive and simple. Although it is not big, it has a unique flavor. The area of the church is only 20 to 30 square meters, which is very small. There is a small stone cross on the north roof, a small bell tower on the west side of the south roof, and a small bronze bell hangs in the arched wall hole. The outer wall of the entire church is a random combination of the original dark gray, light gray, cyan and brown of the rock, while the roof is a black stone piece. Such a primitive and rustic appearance makes it special in this open lakeside wilderness. Harmony and harmony. Although the church is small, it is very famous. During the day, there will be buses with tour groups arriving one after another. At night, you often encounter people who bring professional photography equipment to take pictures of the stars. Walking into the church, there are five or six rows of benches on the left and right sides. From the middle aisle to the pulpit by the window, a cross ten centimeters high stands in front of the glass window, against the light, outside the window is the blue sky and white clouds and the lake water. Great view, with views of Mount Cook in the distance. 2. Bronze statue of a shepherd dog next to the church A towering bronze statue of a shepherd dog can be seen not far from the church. It is used to commemorate the contribution made by the shepherd dog to protecting the flock. The statue is also engraved with "No Shepherd". Dogs, there would be no small town today" and other words. 3. Look up at the starry sky and watch the unique astronomical scene. If you plan to go here in the middle of the night, you need to check whether the weather is fine in advance. When you lie on a bench by the lake and look up at the stars, you can see unique astronomical sights that can only be seen in the southern hemisphere, such as the Southern Cross constellation, the Magellanic Cloud and the Milky Way satellite galaxies, etc. If you are lucky, you can even see meteors passing by night sky. With the exception of the Church of the Good Shepherd, the entire Lake Tekapo area is a good spot for stargazing as long as you stay away from street lights. Of course, if the budget is sufficient, you can also sign up for the stargazing cluster on Mount John.

Lake Tekapo is located between Christchurch and Queenstown, in the heart of the Mount Cook Basin and MacKenzie. There is a small town on the south side of the lake, sparsely populated, and the mountains in the distance are covered with snow, like a paradise. 1. The mysterious beauty of Lake Tekapo Lake Tekapo is famous for the mysterious beauty of the color of the lake. Due to the melting of the glaciers in the Southern Alps into the lake, the rocks in the glaciers are broken into fine powder, so the color of the lake appears A navy blue with a creamy white. 2. Surrounding attractions can take a walk along the lakeside trail, breathe fresh air, feel the embrace of nature, and enjoy the beauty of the lake. There is a small Shepherd's Church by the lake, which is a complete stone church overlooking the entire Lake Tekapo. It was built in 1935 to commemorate the pioneers. Sitting in the church, you can overlook Lake Tekapo and the Southern Alps in the distance through the window. Not far from the church, you can see a statue of a shepherd dog, which is a tribute to the faithful friends of the highland shepherds. 3. One of the best places to watch the stars The area around Lake Tekapo is one of the best places to watch the Southern Cross. Every year, a large number of starry sky lovers go to watch the stars at night or shoot star trails. There are mysterious southern hemisphere stars that tourists from the northern hemisphere cannot see, especially in winter, and there is a high chance of witnessing the aurora. So if time permits, you might as well choose to spend a night on the shores of Lake Tekapo to enjoy the wonders of the stars. 4. The surrounding supporting services are complete. There are several cafes and casual restaurants nearby, and tourist souvenir shops are also indispensable. After playing, you can have a cup of coffee or have a casual light meal with the beautiful scenery, accompanied by a fairyland-like lake view, it can’t be better.

Tekapo Chinese Stargazing is an activity offering Chinese-guided stargazing tours in the Lake Tekapo region of New Zealand's South Island. Located in the central part of the South Island, Lake Tekapo is renowned as one of the world's premier stargazing destinations. Its pristine and transparent skies, with minimal light pollution, create ideal conditions for observing the stars. The Chinese stargazing activity at Lake Tekapo provides a convenient stargazing experience with Chinese-language guides.

Tekapo Springs is located on the shores of Lake Tekapo in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. It is a unique resort that combines natural beauty with leisure and entertainment. As a geothermal hot spring Attraction, it not only provides a comfortable hot spring experience, but also attracts all kinds of tourists with its magnificent natural scenery and rich activity options. The thermal area features several hot spring pools, rich in minerals that soothe the body and mind. Visitors can enjoy a peaceful moment in the pools while taking in the views of the surrounding Alpine mountains and Lake Tekapo. In addition, the thermal area also offers water slides and children's play facilities to ensure that families can have a good time. Tekapo Springs is not only an ideal place to relax, but also a starting point for exploring nature. The Souvenir trails are suitable for hikers, providing opportunities to get close to local flora and fauna. At night, it becomes a paradise for stargazers. Tekapo is known as one of the best stargazing spots in the world. Visitors can watch the dazzling southern hemisphere stars under the guidance of professional Guide. Whether seeking tranquility or adventure, Tekapo Springs can provide every visitor with an unforgettable experience.

Mount John is the commanding height of the town of Lake Tekapo. From the top of the mountain, you can overlook the panoramic view of Lake Tekapo and the town. There is a famous star-gazing point MtJohnUniversityObservatory on the top of the mountain, and you can experience the world-famous starry sky of Tekapo at night.

With extremely low light pollution and clear atmospheric conditions, Tekapo Galaxy Stargazing Attraction provides visitors with a unique opportunity to have close conversations with the Milky Way and nebulae, making the starry sky a poetic existence within reach. The Attraction provides a variety of ways to stargaze. Professional guides operate large-aperture telescopes to observe celestial bodies such as the Magellanic Clouds and Alpha Centauri, which are unique to the southern hemisphere, and Guide the Maori myths behind the constellations. On special reclining chairs, you can use your naked eyes to identify the dust belts and star clusters in the core belt of the Milky Way and feel the primitive charm of starlight. Visitors can use the simple equipment provided by the Attraction to capture images of the night sky with star trails and auroras intertwined. There are also many activities during the day: along the Tekapo Lakeside Trail, you can observe the unique landforms formed by glacial erosion and understand the spatial and temporal relationship between the starry sky and geology; the guide Guide how local plants adapt to high-altitude environments, such as the cold-resistant characteristics of silverleaf grass; on the lawn in front of the Shepherd's Church, listen to the sound of the lake lapping against the shore to prepare for the night's stargazing trip. There are also Maori elders telling the legend of the Southern Cross, navigation, and seasonal changes. You can also learn to use natural pigments to draw Maori patterns with starry sky themes and create your own starry sky stories.

The lupine season is from November to December every year. The most beautiful attractions include Lake Tekapo, Mount John, Lake Hawea, etc. When the lupine blooms all over the mountains, the scenery is more dreamy than any other flowers. Don't miss these check-in attractions on the road. Lake Tekapo is probably the most famous place to enjoy lupines in New Zealand. Around Lake Tekapo, when the lupine blooms, the colorful flowers shine in the sun. Next to the green Lake Tekapo, there are large areas of lupines. Like a rainbow covering the hillside, the breeze blows, and the sea of flowers ripples, like a picture of nature. Lake Tekapo is located in the highland area. Many people will go to see lupines around Christmas. The best viewing point is along Highway 8 from Lake Tekapo to Mount Cook Park in the South Island of New Zealand.

Earth and Sky at Lake Tekapo is a unique astronomy experience located on the shores of beautiful Lake Tekapo in New Zealand's South Island. The stargazing opportunities here are exceptional. Lake Tekapo is an International Dark Sky Reserve, with minimal light pollution and clear air, making the night sky a dazzling painting. Earth and Sky takes advantage of this to offer visitors unforgettable astronomy tours. Visitors can observe distant galaxies, stars and planets through professional telescopes. Experienced astronomers serve as guides, who not only guide visitors to appreciate the beauty of the starry sky, but also explain astronomy knowledge in simple terms. Whether it is the identification of constellations or the discussion of the evolution of galaxies, you can find the answers in their explanations. In addition to stargazing activities, Earth and Sky also provides some astronomy-related science exhibitions and activities. Visitors can learn more about the formation and development of the universe through interactive exhibits and multimedia displays in the indoor exhibition hall.

Mount Cook Helicopter Experiences take you soaring over Mount Cook National Park, offering breathtaking aerial views of vast glaciers and snowfields. Feel the majestic embrace of towering mountains from high above as your helicopter navigates through narrow ridges before landing on alpine terrain, where you'll marvel at the park's spectacular scenery. During this unforgettable journey, you'll witness natural wonders like the Tasman Glacier and Hooker Valley from above, experiencing the awe-inspiring beauty of glacial landscapes and snow-capped peaks. Under the guidance of professional pilots, you'll enjoy low-altitude flights for close-up observations of glacial crevasses and ice caves while learning about glacial formation processes. More than just a visual feast, Mount Cook Helicopter Experiences offer a profound spiritual awakening amidst nature's grandeur.

Lake Pukaki is located between the lofty mountains in the Canterbury region. It is a larger lake flowing from north to south in the northern part of the Mackenzie Basin. , known as the "Blue Milk Lake", and is deeply loved by tourists. 1. A good place to look at the majestic Southern Alps. Lake Pukaki is more than 500 meters above sea level, with an average depth of 47 meters and a deeper depth of 70 meters. The sky blue lake water is like sloping fragrant milk. The intoxicating blue color of the lake is mainly due to the presence of rock particles and minerals in the lake, which reflect the attractive blue color. And the shores of Lake Pukaki is a good place to overlook the majestic and majestic Southern Alps. 2. The filming location of the movie scene Peter Jackson has used this area as the filming location for the main scenes in the film three times in the film "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" trilogy. The pure and unique light, the breathtaking turquoise color of the lake, and the rugged mountainous terrain are all what made the producer so fond of it.