Lake Tekapo is the region's best-known stop, and for good reason: a turquoise glacial lake, one of the most photographed small churches in the country, and dark skies protected by international reserve status. It's compact enough to see on foot in an afternoon, but worth staying the night for.
What to do here
Church of the Good Shepherd
A small stone church on the lakeshore, built in 1935 — one of the most photographed buildings in New Zealand.
Mt John Observatory
Daytime tours and night-sky sessions inside the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve.
Tekapo Springs
Outdoor hot pools with a direct view across the lake to the mountains.
Lakeside walking and cycling
Flat trails along the lake edge, connecting into the wider Alps 2 Ocean network.