Lake Tekapo

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.

Lake Tekapo is a popular tourist destination, and several resort hotels are located at the township. The lake's outflow into the Tekapo River is close to the town.

Located in the centre of the South Island of New Zealand lies Lake Tekapo. This highland lake and settlement at 710 meters (2300 feet) is in the heart of the Mackenzie District, close to Aoraki Mt Cook National Park and surrounded by a vast basin of golden tussock grass.

The lake is at the upper end of the Waitaki hydroelectric scheme, and as such, several dams and artificial canals are found near its outflow, linking it with Lake Pukaki.

The name Tekapo derives from Maori words Taka (sleeping mat) and Po (night). Finely ground rock in the glacial melted waters give Lake Tekapo a beautifully unique turquoise colour.

Lake Tekapo's geographical and central location is protected from rough coastal weather by the Southern Alps in the west and the Two Thumb Range to the east. This allows this highland location to enjoy some of New Zealand's highest sunshine hours and lowest average wind speeds. Rainfall is just 575 millimeters (23 inches) annually.

Summer or winter, snow-covered or golden yellow, the surrounding mountains and turquoise lake make a spectacular backdrop for the Church of the Good Shepherd.

The unforgettable night sky reveals why Lake Tekapo has a reputation for clear air, Late Tekapo is the base for the Mount John University Observatory due to clear atmosphere, large number of clear sky nights, and lack of light pollution.

Lake Tekapo  is served by regular bus/coach operators providing regular daily services to Queenstown, Dunedin, Mt Cook and Christchurch.

There are regular schedules air services to and from Lake Tekapo.

There are no passenger train services from Lake Tekapo to Mt Cook, Queenstown, Twizel, Dunedin, Invercargill, Methven, Timaru, Oamaru or Christchurch.