When you think of New Zealand, the image of a pastel blue-colored lake and colorful fields of purple lupins probably comes to mind. That is Lake Tekapo, a small lakeside town by the lake with the same name located near the famous Mt. Cook National Park along the Queenstown to Christchurch main road.
With beautiful mountain vistas, a clear night sky, and its proximity to Mt. Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand, Lake Tekapo, as well as Mt. Cook National Park, offers plenty of things to do.
From stargazing at the Church of the Good Shepherd to hiking the famous Hooker Valley Track, here is a complete travel guide on things to do for solo travelers, where to stay, and how to get to Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook. Without further ado, let's begin with a map of all the best things to do around Lake Tekapo.
- Lake Tekapo Things & Mt Cook Things to Do Itinerary Map
- 8 Things to Do in Lake Tekapo & Mt. Cook
- More Lake Tekapo Activities
- Where to Stay in Mt Cook?
- Where to Stay in Lake Tekapo?
- New Zealand Travel Video
- When to Visit Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook?
- How to Get to Lake Tekapo?
- How to Get Around Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook?
- How Many Days Should I Spend In Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook?
- How Much Does It Cost To Visit Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook?
- What to Pack for Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook?
- Further Reading for Backpacking in New Zealand
Lake Tekapo Things & Mt Cook Things to Do Itinerary Map
8 Things to Do in Lake Tekapo & Mt. Cook
1. Admire the colors of Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo is probably one of the most colorful lakes in New Zealand, with its pastel blue-colored water, purple lupin fields against a stunning snowy mountain backdrop, and the blue sky. It just doesn't get any better than this.
The moment you arrive in Lake Tekapo, the first thing you should do is go for a stroll along the shore of Lake Tekapo. You will find these beautiful purple lupin flowers all around. Be sure to take the opportunity to get that money shot of yourself and the colorful lupin field photo while you are here.
You can even go on and do the entire Lake Tekapo walkway if you have the time. The trail will take you along the shore and under the night sky, with the option to go up to the Mt. John Observatory on the mountain behind the lake. It is a nice walk that will allow you to see and truly appreciate the landscape around Lake Tekapo.
- Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo & Tasman Glacier(Small Group Day Tour From Christchurch) (13 hours)
- Mt Cook Full Day Tour via Tekapo From Christchurch (Small Group) (13 hours)
- Queenstown to Christchurch Via Mt Cook & Lake Tekapo Small Group Tour (14 hours)
2. Go Stargaze at The Church Of The Good Shepherd
One of the most photographed star photos in Lake Tekapo is of this little stone church called the Church of the Good Shepherd. The church itself is small and not as impressive, but what makes this church so popular is its location.
Due to the clarity of the sky in this area during the summer (so much so that an observatory has been built here), the Church of the Good Shepherd, located right at the shore of Lake Tekapo, makes for a great foreground to capture magnificent Milky Way photos.
You will find many photographers out in the freezing night taking photos of the night sky in its full glory, with the church and the landscape around it as a foreground. If you decide to come out at night, be sure to pack layers as it can get really windy sometimes.
3. Visit Lake Pukaki
Another beautiful lake located between Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook is Lake Pukaki, a stunning glacier lake that is as bright blue as it can get. Since it is located between the two most popular tourist attractions in the area, Lake Pukaki makes for a great stop along the way.
If you are traveling by the Cook Connect Shuttle Bus from Lake Tekapo to Mt. Cook, on the Twizel to Mt. Cook leg, they will also stop at Lake Pukaki for you to take some photos for about 10 minutes before they drop you off in Mt. Cook, so be sure to have your camera ready.
Tours & Tickets You Might Like
If you are looking for more activities to do here, be sure to check out some of the available tours and day trips:
4. Drive the Scenic Road to Mt. Cook National Park
The road from Lake Pukaki to Mt. Cook is as scenic as it comes and one of the most photographed locations of Mt. Cook that people like to visit is along the Mount Cook scenic road where you will be able to see Mt. Cook looming behind while the straight road goes straight to the mountain.
If you have your own car, I highly recommend that you stop at this scenic road photo spot before you continue to Mt. Cook. Just make sure you park your car legally and do not park in the middle of the road as some tourists do.
5. Hike the Hooker Valley Track
One of the best hikes you should consider that offers an unmatched view of Mt. Cook is the Hooker Valley Track, a 10 km return track that goes through the grassland in Mt. Cook National Park, passing alpine streams and glaciers while Mt. Cook towers over you.
The Hooker Valley Track is very easy, with few ups and downs, and it takes about 3 hours to complete the round trip from Mt. Cook Village to the end of the trail.
The Hooker Valley trail begins along the main road, passing Mt. Cook Village for about 3 km (30 minutes' walk), where the trail turns right into the Hooker Valley. The trail is flat throughout this section.
From there, you will arrive at the Lake Müller Lookout, where you will be able to see Muller Lake and a suspension bridge that you will have to cross to go into the valley.
You will be crossing another suspension bridge before you arrive at an opening where the trail goes through the wetland on a wooden walkway. This is another popular photo spot where you will be able to capture the wooden walkway going through the wetland with the unobstructed view of the peak of Mount Cook looming behind.
After passing the wetland, you will arrive at the third and last suspension bridge where the trail turns east towards the end of the Hooker Valley Track. By this point, it should have been 1.5 hours since you started the hike from Mt. Cook Village.
From the third suspension bridge, it should take you around 10 minutes before you arrive at the end of Hooker Valley Track, where you will be able to see an expansive view of Hooker Lake with Mount Cook looming behind, front and center.
This is by far one of the best views you can get of Mt. Cook and requires minimum effort. The trail is very easy (I did it twice in less than 24 hours) and anyone with any level of fitness can complete it in 3 hours.
I highly recommend hiking the Hooker Valley Track in the early morning when the weather is a little more stable. I went once in the evening, and I couldn't see Mt. Cook due to clouds. So, I went again in the morning, and there it was, the stunning face of Mt. Cook finally came out to greet me.
6. Hike to the Kea Point
Photos by Krzysztof Golik
Another hike you can do together with the Hooker Valley Track is the Kea Point trail, where instead of turning right toward the Hooker Valley, you continue straight along the Kea Point trail up the cliff edge. You should be able to see another stunning view of Mt. Cook with the Mueller Lake below.
The hike to Kea Point trail takes around a 1-hour roundtrip from where the main roads end, so it will take around 2 hours in total from Mt. Cook Village to Kea Point and back. It is an easy hike with only a 130 m elevation gain along the 3km track, and anyone can do it.
7. Enjoy the Scenic Helicopter Ride Over Mt. Cook
If you are looking for a clearer view of the true scale of Mt. Cook, you can't go wrong with a scenic helicopter ride over the mountain itself. With the Mount Cook and The Glaciers Helicopter Flight, you will be taking flights over Mt Cook National Park and its vast glaciers and snowfields.
They will also allow you to walk on top of this beast of a mountain for about 5-10 minutes before they take off again and traverse the length of the Tasman Glacier, the longest glacier in New Zealand. Here, you will be able to get a glimpse of the formidable Franz Josef and Fox glaciers before completing the trip.
The helicopter flight tour will cost you around 450 USD per person (there are also cheaper helicopter tours) and takes approximately 1 hour. They will pick you up and drop you off at your accommodation in Mt. Cook if you go with the tour. To book this tour, click the link below:
Book the Helicopter Scenic Flight over Mt. Cook
8. Warm Yourself Up at the Bar at The Hermitage, Mt. Cook
Last but not least, after a full-on adventure the entire day at Mt. Cook, it is time to warm yourself up with a fireplace and a glass of wine or a pint of beer in hand at The Hermitage Hotel Bar. Its cozy wooden interior and the fireplace make for a nice stop to hang out with friends before you end your day and your trip at Mt. Cook and Lake Tekapo.
Where to Stay in Mt Cook?
Where to Stay in Lake Tekapo?
When to Visit Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook?
The best time to visit Lake Tekapo is during the shoulder seasons between September to November and March to May, when there will be considerably fewer travelers. During this time, most accommodations will offer discounted prices, making your trip way more cost-effective than the peak season (November to March).
That said, the weather can change pretty fast in this part of New Zealand throughout the year, especially at Mt Cook National Park, so be sure to prepare layers and raincoats for your trip.
How to Get to Lake Tekapo?
Lake Tekapo is located halfway between Christchurch and Queenstown, and to get there, you can either fly into Christchurch International Airport and catch the bus to Lake Tekapo from there.
From the US, there are no direct flights to Christchurch, so you will have to rely on transit flights from airlines like Qantas, which often transit in Fiji and take about 19 hours.
From Europe, you can fly from most popular European hubs like London, Paris, or Frankfurt via Lufthansa, Qatar, Emirates, or Singapore Airlines. You will then have to transit through their headquarters to get to Auckland or Christchurch before you can continue on to Lake Tekapo. The flight will take over 24 hours, so gear up and prepare for a long ride.
From Asia, there are several airlines offering various routes from many hub cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Jakarta, Bangkok, and Hong Kong that will fly you to Christchurch or Auckland. Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand, and Singapore Airlines are great options to travel this route, with the fastest flight time being 9 hours.
To find a cheap flight to New Zealand, I would recommend that you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
Getting from Auckland to Lake Tekapo
By Air: Christchurch and Queenstown are the closest cities to Lake Tekapo, and they both have airports that you can fly into. Jetstar and Air New Zealand often fly from Auckland to Queenstown around 7 times a day. The journey should take around 2 hours and cost around 67 USD.
Jetstar and Air New Zealand also operate the Auckland to Christchurch route around 6 times a day. The journey will take 1 hour 20 minutes and cost only 37 USD. This route is the recommended way to get to Lake Tekapo as the road is easier to drive from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo, and the flight is cheaper than flying into Queenstown.
You can book your flight here.
Once you arrive in Christchurch, you can take a bus to Lake Tekapo following the instructions provided under the "Getting from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo" section.
Getting from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
By Bus: Once you arrive in Christchurch, you can travel to Lake Tekapo by buses operated by Intercity. They have one bus per day leaving from the Intercity Bus Stop in Christchurch at 8:15 AM every day except Saturday.
The bus journey from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo will take around 3.5 hours and cost 41 NZD per person. You can book the bus to Lake Tekapo here.
If you are planning to travel longer in New Zealand via buses, I recommend you get the Flexipass where you buy hours, and you can travel any route in the country depending on how long the bus is. It is a great way to hop around the country without having to pay a ton of money.
For more information about Flexipass, please visit the official Intercity Flexipass page here.
By Car: If you are looking for a more comfortable way to travel to Lake Tekapo, you can also rent a car from Christchurch Airport and drive there in about 3 hours, costing you around 25 USD per day. To rent a car, click the link below.
Getting from Queenstown to Lake Tekapo
By Bus: If you are in Queenstown, you can travel to Lake Tekapo by buses operated by Intercity as well. They have 1 bus leaving from the Intercity Bus Stop in Queenstown at 8:05 AM on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
The bus journey from Queenstown to Lake Tekapo will take approximately 4 hours and cost 55 NZD per person. You can book the bus to Lake Tekapo here.
Again, I highly recommend you get Intercity Flexipass if you are planning to travel around New Zealand for a longer period with buses. They are cheaper than buying separately and are quite handy for spontaneous trips.
By Car: You can also rent a car from Queenstown Airport and drive to Lake Tekapo in about 3 hours, which will cost you around 25 USD per day. To rent a car, click the link below.
Getting from Lake Tekapo to Mt Cook
By Cook Connect: Cook Connect Shuttle Bus runs between Mt. Cook and Lake Tekapo every day from October to May with self-transit at Twizel. The bus leaves from Lake Tekapo to Twizel at 10:30 AM, where you arrive in Twizel at 11:30 AM. From Twizel, you can then catch another Cook Connect bus to Mt. Cook at 2:30 PM, where you will arrive at 3:45 PM.
Each transit will cost you around 30 NZD per person, so you will be spending 60 NZD to travel from Lake Tekapo to Mt. Cook. As you can see, if you travel by bus, it will take you the entire day to move between the 2 towns, so make sure you do not plan anything else during that day. You can book the Cook Connect's transfer service here.
By Car: You can't rent a car in Lake Tekapo or Mt. Cook, so it is best that you rent it from either Christchurch or Queenstown and drive to Lake Tekapo yourself. That way, you get to travel between Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook on your own schedule.
Rent a Car in Queenstown/Christchurch
How to Get Around Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook?
By Walk: Most of the attractions I listed here for both Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook are easily reachable on foot. It's the transfer between Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook where you need other means of transportation.
By Cook Connect Shuttle Bus: As mentioned earlier, you can use the Cook Connect Shuttle bus to travel from Lake Tekapo to Mt Cook and vice versa via Twizel, and it will cost you around 60 NZD for a one-way transfer. You can book the Cook Connect Shuttle Service here.
By Car: You can also explore Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook by car, so you can visit all these attractions at your own leisure. However, you will have to drive from either Christchurch or Queenstown to Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook yourself. To rent a car, you can click the link below.
How Many Days Should I Spend In Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook?
For this itinerary, I recommend that you stay one night at Lake Tekapo and 2 nights in Mt. Cook National Park, so you can spend some time hiking around Mt. Cook without rushing it. Here is a rough itinerary for Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook.
Day 0: On the day you arrive in Lake Tekapo, take a walk along the shore of the lake and spend the night stargazing at the Church of the Good Shepherd before staying overnight in Lake Tekapo.
Day 1: Travel to Mt. Cook National Park, visit Lake Pukaki along the way, and spend the night there.
Day 2: Hike the Hooker Valley Track, visit Kea Point, take a scenic helicopter tour, and relax at the bar in The Hermitage Hotel.
How Much Does It Cost To Visit Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook?
With the rough itinerary above, we can calculate approximately how much you will be spending on this trip as follows:
Accommodation: For 3 nights at Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook, you will be spending around 83 USD on accommodation.
Food: An average meal in New Zealand costs around 10 USD, so you will be spending around 60 USD on food for 2 days.
Transportation: From Lake Tekapo to Mt. Cook and back, you will be spending around 60 NZD (44.60 USD) on transportation.
Activities: All the things listed here are free except the helicopter ride, so you can expect to pay 0 NZD for activities. The helicopter ride will cost around 450 USD.
Total budget for 3 days at Lake Tekapo and Mount Cook: 187.6 USD (252.54 NZD) without the helicopter ride | 637.6 USD (858.42 NZD) with the helicopter ride.
What to Pack for Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Lake Tekapo, New Zealand:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Down Jacket: In freezing temperatures, a down jacket is essential. The Columbia Men's Lone Fir Hooded Jacket (for women) is my choice. They are warm, lightweight, and available in various colors.
- Wool Beanie: A wool beanie is perfect for keeping your head and ears warm.
- Wool Gloves: I always have wool gloves handy to keep my hands warm in cold weather.
- Wool Socks: Don't forget to keep your feet warm with wool socks.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Backpacking in New Zealand
I've spent 5 weeks backpacking in New Zealand, and I have written a ton more about my journey traveling throughout New Zealand from the North Island to the South Island that might help you in your trip planning.
Here's a selection of articles about New Zealand:
- Looking for a complete backpacking itinerary for New Zealand? Check out One Month Itinerary for New Zealand.
- Don't have one month in New Zealand? How about spending 2 weeks visiting all the highlights of New Zealand on the South Island? Check out our 2-Week Itinerary for the South Island, New Zealand.
- Want to visit New Zealand but not sure what to pack? Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for New Zealand.
- Planning a trip to New Zealand? Here are the 12 Best Places to Visit in New Zealand.
- New Zealand has a special place in my heart. It is one of the most memorable trips I have ever done, and here are 10 things I love about New Zealand.
- If you are planning to travel from North to South in New Zealand, Rotorua is a great place to start your journey from Auckland. Here are the 7 Best Things to Do in Rotorua.
- Did you know that you can climb Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings in real life? Check out: The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Tongariro Crossing.
- Planning to travel across Cook Strait from Wellington in the North Island to Picton in the South Island? Here's How to Get from Wellington to Picton.
- Nelson is one of the most laid-back and sunny cities in New Zealand, making it a great place to relax and enjoy the abundant sunshine. Here are the 7 Best Things to Do in Nelson.
- Did you know that you can do parts of New Zealand's Great Walks in one day? The Abel Tasman Track offers a wide range of hiking trails to choose from. Here's The Ultimate One Day Hiking Guide to the Abel Tasman Track.
- Want to do a road trip along the Great Coast Road in New Zealand? Better start in Westport. Here are the 5 Best Things to Do in Westport, New Zealand.
- Wanaka is a must-visit lakeside town full of incredible nature and wonderful mountains waiting for you to explore. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Wanaka.
- Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world, and whatever extreme activities human bodies can endure, they probably have them in Queenstown. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Queenstown.
- Queenstown is also one of the best places in the world to go skydiving. Here's my experience skydiving with NZONE in Queenstown.
- The Milford Sound is one of the most popular attractions in New Zealand, and it would be a shame to miss it when you are in New Zealand. If you want to visit the Milford Sound, check out: A Day Trip from Te Anau to the Milford Sound.
- One of the best Great Walks in New Zealand is the Routeburn Track, and if you have to pick one Great Walk to do, make it this one. Here’s The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Routeburn Track.
- Dunedin has so much to offer for nature lovers. From the sight of the world's largest birds to the beautiful cliffs of Tunnel Beach, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Dunedin.
- Not convinced by my words about New Zealand? Come follow me, and I’ll show you New Zealand in 70 photos.
- You can see all my New Zealand travel guides and related articles on my New Zealand Travel Guide page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
4 Comments
Excellent post! Very helpful. Deciding whether I should visit Mount Cook and Tekapo during my two week trip to New Zealand in March.
Thanks
Where did you stay at Mount Cook? Was the Hooker Valley within walking distance from where the bus drop you off/the hostle?
Hey Brianna, highly recommended! Lake Tekapo color is straight out of Disney cartoon. Pink, blue all the way. :)
Hi Meck,
I stayed at the YHA Aoraki Mt Cook Backpackers. Yes, it is in walking distance. It should take around 2 hours to get to the lake where you can see Mt Cook in its gloriousness. :)