Lake Tekapo was a small town on the southern edge of Lake Tekapo. The place had first been found by the Maori people and they had named the lake. The whole area was also called the Mackenzie Basin after a Scottish man who had discovered it in 1855.
8 Things That You Can do in Lake Tekapo on a Day Trip
It was one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand and I had a lot of plans about how I would spend a day there. There were so many things to see and do!
I first started the day with a good, hearty breakfast. I wanted to eat enough food so that I would have energy to roam around the whole day. So I went to a cute little café called The Greedy Cow Café to have my breakfast. It was one of the most popular cafes in the small town and it was already full.
I ordered the eggs benedict and salmon with toast. It was served with crisp slices of toast and creamy Hollandaise sauce. Everything was perfectly cooked.
I also ordered the beef hotpot. It was served in thick gravy that was full of flavor. They also gave me warm slices of toast with fresh butter.
Lake Tekapo Hotel Recommendations Based on My Own Stay
🔹 Peppers Bluewater Resort Lake Tekapo
I also ordered a cappuccino. I had heard that the coffee at The Greedy Cow Café was famous and had even won awards. And it really was very good.
2. The Church of the Good Shepherd Day Time
Once I was finished with breakfast, the next thing that I did was walk over to the Church of the Good Shepherd. The Church was located on the shores of Lake Tekapo and I had to walk across a short, wooden bridge to get there.
The Lake Tekapo Footbridge was built in 2015. It was built over the lovely Tekapo River and it was meant to specifically connect the Church of the Good Shepherd with the rest of the town.
The Church of the Good Shepherd had been built as a memorial to the Scottish pioneers who had first settled in Mackenzie County, where Lake Tekapo was located. It had opened in 1935 so the church was almost 100 years old.
The Church of the Good Shepherd was a small stone church with a bell tower in one corner. The designs for it had been drawn by a local artist called Esther Hope and it had been built by a Christchurch architect named R.S.D. Harman. It was one of the most popular tourist spots in Lake Tekapo and everyone who visited the town simply had to stop at the church.
I even decided to go inside the small church and look at the interiors. It was cozy and the wooden pews were all very neatly arranged.
There was snow on the ground as I walked all around the church and decided to take some pictures from all the sides.
3. Mackenzie Sheep Dog Statue Day Time
Just a little distance away from the Church of the Good Shepherd was the Mackenzie Sheep Dog Statue. That was my third stop for the day.
The Mackenzie Sheep Dog Statue was dedicated to all the sheep dogs that had worked for the Scottish farmers in the area. They were the only reason that all predators had been kept away and the farmers had managed to cultivate the Mackenzie Basin.
The sheep dog statue looked very realistic and lifelike. I had read that the sculptor, Innes Elliot, had used an actual sheep dog as a model while making it.
There was a sign that told visitors about the importance and history of the statue.
Once I had finished sightseeing, I decided to go and eat a simple lunch at the Astro Café.
The café had a lot of different dessert options.
It had glass walls on all sides and there were even some tables outdoors so that visitors could enjoy the sun and the brilliant views of the lake and mountains.
I enjoyed my cups of coffee outdoors. The coffee had designs of Saturn on it and looked very pretty.
Once I was finished with lunch, I decided to go for a walk around Lake Tekapo. I wanted to take advantage of the blue skies to see more of the views and take pictures.
Clouds were beginning to roll in and the lakeside was pretty cold. There was snow on the ground and I had to be careful not to slip and fall.
But the walk was completely worth it. The lake was a pale, clear blue color and there were snowcapped peaks surrounding it on all sides.
There wasn’t a lot to do in the town but the view and the atmosphere around the lake was worth a visit.
I walked around to keep warm and admired the statue of a lady’s head on the banks of the lake. I was waiting for sunset. Taking pictures of Lake Tekapo in the sunset was also on my itinerary. I just knew that it would be beautiful!
Soon, the clouds started to turn orange and gold. It was reflected in the water of the lake and I couldn’t wait to see how the pictures would turn out.
I captured some lovely shots of sunset on the lake before heading back to the town for dinner. Since I had eaten very little for lunch, I was hungry.
6. Mackenzies Café Bar & Grill
The next thing on my list was dinner at the famous Mackenzies Café Bar and Grill. They were famous for both their European and their Kiwi food. I was excited to try their stone grilled meats.
It was still quite early so the restaurant was empty. Like every other place in Lake Tekapo, the restaurant had views of the lake.
I ordered two separate dishes, both stone grilled meats. One came with French fries and ketchup on the side. I could cook the meat to my liking.
The other came with a side of salad. By the time I finished my food, I was very full. But I still had some things left on my itinerary (and before I forget, you can also try the Blue Lake Eatery & Bar which is also located in this area).
7. Dark Sky Project Summit Stargazing Experience at Mt John Observatory
One of the things Lake Tekapo was most famous for was the stargazing experience.
I went to the Mt John Observatory for the Dark-Sky Project. I could see the Milky Way clearly. It was one of the loveliest sights I had ever seen.
8. The Church of the Good Shepherd and Mackenzie Sheep Dog Statue Night Time
Then I went back to the Church to get some night pictures.
The Church of the Good Shepherd looked striking in the darkness. It stood alone on a hill with clouds gathering behind it.
There were some lights from the town in the distance. But otherwise the whole place looked dark and deserted. It was really very cold but the sight was so beautiful that I didn’t mind. I had dressed warmly because I knew I would be out late at night.
Even in the darkness, the water of the lake reflected the snowcapped mountains.
Finally, I finished up my itinerary for the busy day with a last visit to the Mackenzie Sheep Dog Statue. This also looked very strange in the dark. It looked like a real dog was standing on top of a rock.
It felt like the sheep dog statue was guarding the small township of Lake Tekapo and was keeping the people safe.
I started back towards my hotel. It had been a busy day and I had had a wonderful time.
