The South Island—Lake Tekapo, March 3-6, 2025

Lake Tekapo, March 3rd

The drive to Lake Tekapo from Queenstown was mostly pretty easy. There were a few windy roads between Queenstown and Cromwell, but we took our time, stopping along the way to take in some view points, so it wasn't that taxing.

Lake Tekapo is part of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve and considered one of the best stargazing locations in the world. A bonus is the walks along the lake, and if we feel up to it, we can drive up to Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park and do one of the many walks there. We'll see. 

Upon arrival we checked with the folks at The Dark Sky Project and found out that Wednesday, our last night, should be clear and perfect for stargazing. The person we talked to said we could also download a free stargazing app and walk to the lake shore and look up on our own if we didn't want to spend $145 (US) to have someone tell us to look up into the night sky. I took her advice and downloaded an app, and Lake Tekapo is right in front of us, so I'm pretty sure we'll enjoy ourselves—for free.

Roaring Meg is about 40 minutes outside Queenstown.

Rehabilitating the native flora is important and ongoing in the Otago Region.

This area of Central Otago is the stone fruit capital of NZ,

We stopped in Cromwell for a bathroom break and...

...this car was parked opposite us. Don't know where the rest of the elk is. Probably at the butchers.

An hour from Cromwell, we came to Lindis Pass.

There's a lot of "nothing" in large swaths of NZ, but...

...at least it's pretty.

Of course, there are stretches like this too.

Lake Pukaki isn't far from our destination. This lake...

 ...provides irrigation for range land and hydroelectricity.

Couldn't resist capturing the color of this glacial lake. 

Haka House Lake Tekapo is new and modern. Hostels have come a long way!

We took our usual orientation walk, but there's...

...not much to explore except the lake and mountains,...

...this bridge to the Church of...

...the Good Shepherd, and...

...the village, which is one street lined with cafes and restaurants.

This is the same shot I took 3 hours earlier after the clouds lifted.

And an hour later, the sun broke through, and...

...I couldn't resist following it.

I think Lake Tekapo is one of those places that...

...enchants throughout the day, and on clear nights,...

...because Lake Tekapo is part of Aoraki/Mt. Cook Mckenzie International Dark Sky Reserve. Stargazing is the primary reason we came here.

I took this video and the 5 previous pictures from our room.

Lake Tekapo, March 4th

Today we slept late (7:30AM) and took our time before heading over to The Greedy Cow for flat whites and a scone. It was cool and cloudy this morning so we took our time before eventually making the Lakeshore Walk, logging 5.9 miles by 2PM. It was sunny and warm by 3PM, and even though the temperature was reported as 60, it felt much, much warmer. It's the UV exposure that gets folks in NZ so you need to be careful. Use sunscreen and hydrate even (or especially) in the mountains. 

 

Sign on the wall at The Greedy Cow Cafe.

These are worth enlarging and reading.

The actual intake.

This is another option to walking the Lakeshore track.

We've seen signs like this in the Otago region too.

Looking back toward the village and the Good Shepherd Church.

No one was around and the slalom buoys weren't out.

The Dark Sky Project observatory isn't real, but its dark sky excursions are.

Doesn't matter where you are here, wait an hour and the light changes.

Concrete pillar from the Old Road Bridge.

Without border collies, the Mackenzie Valley would be empty.

See what I mean? Couldn't resist yet another picture.

 

We're going to walk to the lake shore tonight after it's dark and do some stargazing. We're hoping 9:30PM will be late enough. If not, we'll set our alarms for 1AM and join the folks Marie saw this morning when she woke up and looked out the window.

Lake Tekapo, March 5th

9:30PM last night was perfect for stargazing; the sky was clear and, of course, lit up with stars. I used the free app on my phone to identify constellations, but mostly, we sat on a flat rock at the lake shore and gazed at the heavens. The Milky Way was prominent and it was fun using the app to zoom in on it.

We made a really lovely 4.3 mile roundtrip walk to Cowan's Hill and beyond today. The pictures will speak for themselves. 

Tekapo River feeds the lake, and as you...

...can see, it's being damned upstream for now.

Close up of Mt. Cox.

This 360 panorama at the top of Cowan's Hill said it all. The Lions Clubs International civic group erected a bench where walkers can sit can gaze out over Lake Tekapo and the Southern Alps.

The South Island—Queenstown, March 1 & 2, 2025

Queenstown, March 1 & 2, 2025

March 1st was a long day. We rose at 4:30AM to step out on deck of the Navigator so we could listen to the quiet and eventual morning song of Doubtful Sound. When the cruise was done and we traveled by motor coach over the Wilmot Pass to Lake Manapouri's West Arm Harbor where we boarded another boat to Manapouri, we walked up to Murrell's Grand View B&B and drove our car to Te Anau for the two hour Glowworm Caves excursion, boarding another boat to cross Lake Te Anau to the caves. 

And then we drove two hours north to Queenstown, arriving at Absoloot Hostel at 7:30PM. The hostel is on the lake, but it's also in the middle of shops, restaurants, pubs, and bars. Our lovely suite overlooks the lake, The Remarkables mountain range, and unfortunately, the wharf that takes people on jet boat rides, rents jet skis, and also overlooks the lakeside promenade where buskers competed with one another and nearby bars blast out music. After the peace of Doubtful Sound and solitude of the Glowworm Caves, the throngs of tourists crowding the promenade and shared car/pedestrian/bike outdoor mall just outside our hostel door, was overwhelming. Add to all of this, there wasn't any public parking, and when I finally found paid and secure underground parking....it was frustrating. I'll just put it that way, but there's a story about this.

So today, March 2nd, we felt better, because Sunday was quieter and we walked the park and lake promenade, and enjoyed a good linner.

Skyline Queenstown Gondola dominates the city.

"Hold on, I'm coming."

Lake Wakatipu is NZ's 3rd largest lake and its longest. It is 1,380ft/420m at its deepest point.

The gondola is prominent from everywhere.

Beach along downtown promenade.

The walk around the Queenstown Gardens.

Huge boulder dropped by a glacier a gillion years ago.

 

Close up the boulder.

This is the 12th tee for frisbee golf in the park's forest.

Mountains surrounding Lake Wakipitu are stunning.

 

This range is called The Remarkables. Aptly named.

These are the kinds of activities competing with the lake and mountains.

Marie, of course, is dwarfed by this Sequoia.

Red Rock Cafe on the lake next to Queenstown Gardens.

Red Rock Cafe crown indicates NZ Commonwealth membership.

 Most walk through WWI Memorial Arch on their way to Queenstown Gardens.

Seagulls and pigeons have a way of introducing humility.

Queenstown harbor. Note the water's clarity.

Close up of all the shops and restaurants on the harbor.

There are some lovely shade trees along the lake.

We stopped here for a midday snack and refreshments after making a 3 mile loop around the gardens.

This refrigerator door to toilets is hilarious.

Kiwi sculpture with friend.

What's left of our pork belly snack.

Looking out our suite window. This boat is a bar.

The Remarkables Ski Area is 10 min. from this view from our room.

Today we're off to Lake Tekapo for three nights. It's part of the Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve and it's primarily why we're going there. We checked the weather and the sky should be clear Wednesday night, our last night at Lake Tekapo.