Arrived at Lake Tekapo last night after a long drive. The stretch after Birdlings Flat down to beyond Ashburton was relatively uninteresting landscape wise. Flat farming land for miles and miles. As we turned inland though things got really interesting. Mountains rising in the distance en route through Geraldine and then Fairlie where we stopped for a quick refuel and re stock.
The view approaching Tekapo was absolutely stunning. Snow capped mountains in the distance and road lined with tons of Lupins either side.
Got settled in to Tekapo Motel and camping ground. Huge but you wouldn’t necessarily know it. Yeah there were lots of vans, but also lots of nice clean facilities.
Ducks roaming around everywhere, unafraid and on the scavenge. Some would say a bit kamikaze as more than one almost ended up under the wheels of some campervan or other.
Watched the sun go down over the lake then got stuck into making dinner.
I seem to have completely lost my aversion to cooking… the answer may be to just live in a campervan when I eventually get home…
Woke this morning to a stunning view of the lake just looking out the back door of the van. Moral of the story, book early! I can recommend power site #25 if you’re ever in the area.
Though there wasn’t really any need to move from the van, move we did for an early morning stroll around the lake and we were not disappointed.
Time for another one of my famous breakfasts, a long day of walking ahead of us…
And what an amazing walk it was. Set off around 11am along the track above and along the lake shore to Mt John Summit in beautiful hot sunshine. The lake shimmered in the sunlight, an unbelievable shade of milky turquoise (the lake not the sunlight which was its usual yellow).
Snow covered peaks a bit closer now added to the already seriously picturesque scene.
Stopped off a couple of hours or so later of gradual climbing to have a bit of lunch before taking on the steeper climb to the summit.
Every step seemed to afford another photo opportunity. Hardly anyone else around. We passed a couple of other walkers (technically they passed us…), a small group of horse trekkers and that was about it till we got to the summit and the observatory café. Bit busier here with the folk that had cheated by driving up leaving us to feel very virtuous if somewhat knackered.Â
Stopped a while to taking in the amazing view and have a nice cold drink – we’d earned it! Then back down the other side of the summit through cool, pleasant smelling pine wood and back to camp an hour or so later. Awesome day!
