Just three hours outside of the urban center of Ōtautahi Christchurch is a beautiful turquoise lake fed by glaciers in New Zealand’s (NZ) Southern Alps. It is nothing short of magical.
We stopped by Lake Tekapo en route from the Canterbury Region of NZ as we headed west on our two-week NZ trip (blog post forthcoming). We couldn’t wait to see blue lakes surrounded by snowcapped mountains and were lucky enough to catch it at a time where the lupins were in bloom.
This beautiful glacier lake town was a great spot to stop with our toddler. All activities, food, and lodging are located in the most beautiful scenery and are kid-friendly, just like most of NZ. Here’s what we’d recommend:
Lake Tekapo, known by the Maori as Takapō, is on the traditional lands of the Maori.
COSTS TO CONSIDER
- Gas & transportation from Ōtautahi Christchurch
- Accommodations: ~$70-$125/night/room
- Meals: $25/person/day
Add-Ons:
- Shopping and souvenirs
DESTINATION: Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
AGE OF OUR KID: 16 months
LENGTH OF STAY: 5+ hours
TIME OF YEAR: December – March (NZ’s summer)
Top 3 things to do at Lake Tekapo with your kids
~30-60 minutes
This is a beautiful stone church you can’t miss, with windows that frame the snowy mountains surrounding the lake. It is picturesque, and a great first stop in Tekapo Town to stretch your legs.
The Church of the Good Shepherd is open for visitors unless there is a service going on at that time. Go inside to explore the history or the views. Our toddler had fun stumbling around the rocks surrounding the church, and I had fun taking photos!
~2-3 hours
Oh, the lupins around the lake were glorious! Their vibrant colors were a stark contrast to the pale blue of the glacier lake and the white mountains.
Follow the short Lake Tekapo Walkway trail from the Church of the Good Shepherd to head west over the bridge. We hiked towards the Mt. John Summit Loop Trail, which is a 5.1-mile loop.
We only hiked about half of the trail before our kiddo started getting restless in the pack and I made an executive decision to turn back towards our car. It was a beautiful and easy trail with stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains.
~30-60 minutes
Are you looking for some gifts for family and friends back home?
Aotea Gifts is located right in Tekapo Town between a few restaurants and has all of gifts you could need—from tacky t-shirts to NZ-made beauty products.
We picked up a few things for family and friends there, as well as a stuffed sheep, because…you know…NZ.
Where to Eat
Imagine eating deliciously warm wood-fired pizza on a chilly afternoon, sitting on a picnic table overlooking the lake.
Are you salivating? Because you should be.
If you don’t mind eating outside in the possibly chilly weather, Dolce Pizza is a great lunch option for families. Our toddler loved the Margherita.
The restaurant is open Weds-Sunday. Pizzas are about NZ$29. Check out their Facebook page for specials and to call ahead.
Kohan Restaurant
We were hoping for some delicious salmon since we were so close to the lake.
We decided to try Kohan Restaurant. Sushi? Yes. Yummy? Eh.
Despite its almost-five-star rating on Google, the sushi at Kohan was just acceptable, and the ambiance was cheesy and touristy.
The servers brought our toddler a little gift (choking hazard, but still sweet), and when she needed to stretch her legs I was able to walk her to the adjacent Aotea Gifts for some shopping therapy.
Where to Stay
Although you could see a lot of Lake Tekapo in a few hours, it is a great place to stay a night to experience the dark sky if you can.
We stayed in an Airbnb in Fairlie, just 30 minutes away from the picturesque Lake Tekapo.
Our visit to Maree’s Farmsm Stay was the first time we stayed in an Airbnb which was a private room in someone’s home.
I was a little wary about sharing space with someone, especially with a toddler, but it ended up being AMAZING! The host was very welcoming and was a grandma so her house was stocked with toys, a highchair, kid-friendly plates and food. It was great! We had two rooms to ourselves and a porch to view the stars from at night.
She also took us on a tour of her farm where we fed and pet our first sheep, named Pinkie, and met a bunch of cows—which are way larger in person than I was expecting. The stay also included a yummy homemade breakfast.
It was a great first experience renting a room in a home through Airbnb. I would definitely recommend it!
Lake Tekapo is a place you cannot miss. It is a little bit of a trek from the larger cities, three hours from Ōtautahi Christchurch, and two hours from Queenstown, but it is magical.
It is also recognized as an International Dark Sky Reserve, so bring your binoculars!
The beautiful blue glacier waters, the bright purple lupins, the snow-capped mountains, and the little stone church – everything at Lake Tekapo is a photographer’s dream. You could spend a few hours here or stay overnight if you have the time.
Have you been to a glacier lake? Share in the comments below!
This post is part of a series of posts about visiting the South Island of NZ with kids. Continue the adventure with us here:
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
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