The village of Lake Tekapo is located on State Highway 8 just three hours drive from Christchurch International Airport. Queenstown is a further three hours drive to the South. From Christchurch, travel on State Highway 1 to Orari, then turn inland to Geraldine and continue towards Fairlie on State Highway 79.
Thereof Can you fly into Mount Cook? Fly in a ski plane or helicopter to enjoy an unforgettable experience of Aoraki/Mount Cook! One aircraft will take you for your Tasman Glacier landing and an alternative aircraft will be your return flight backu2026
Can you fly from Christchurch to Mt Cook? Mt Cook & The West Coast Glaciers
Fly from Christchurch over the Southern Alps, via Mt Cook National Park and then see the glacier ice falls from the air.
Similarly, How do I get from Auckland to Lake Tekapo?
There is no direct connection from Auckland to Lake Tekapo. However, you can take the train to Puhinui Train Station, take the walk to Stop A Puhinui, take the bus to Stop A International Airport, take the walk to Auckland airport, fly to Timaru, then take the drive to Lake Tekapo.
Is Lake Tekapo worth visiting?
Tekapo is a great base for trips into Mount Cook National Park, one of New Zealand’s most striking mountain areas. There are several short hikes (1-3 hours), including the Hooker Valley, Tasman Glacier, Red Tarns and Kea Point or the much tougher hike up to Mueller Hut.
How many days do you need in Lake Tekapo? While there are not a load of Lake Tekapo activities, there are enough to easily fill 2 or 3 days, or more if you enjoy outdoor activities.
Where should I stop between Lake Tekapo and Queenstown?
14 Best Stops Between Queenstown and Lake Tekapo
- Lake Hayes. Mirror-like reflections at Lake Hayes! …
- Arrow Junction Lookout. Just one of the views at the very start of Crown Range Road at a pull over bay. …
- Crown Range summit. …
- Cardona Hotel. …
- Bradrona. …
- Wanaka. …
- Lindis Pass Lookout. …
- Hot Tubs Omarama.
Should you stay in Lake Tekapo? I think Tekapo is in a lovely setting as well but there is also not much accommodation there so it might also be relatively expensive. If it is much more affordable for you to stay there then it would be so bad, but you definitely should include at least a day at Aoraki in your itinerary.
What is special about Lake Tekapo?
Lake Tekapo is known for its beautiful watercolor as well as its proximity and access to the Southern Alps. The town is close to Mount Cook National Park and home to lots of great attractions including one of New Zealand’s only Dark Sky Reserves.
Can you stay at Mount Cook? Accommodation in the Mount Cook Village is limited, in fact, there are only 7 accommodation options. They include 5 hotels, 1 hostel, and 1 DOC (Department of Conservation) campground. Mount Cook Village is also home to a museum, café, a few restaurants, airport, visitor center, rental shop (Alpine Guides), and museum.
Is it safe to drive from Christchurch to Queenstown in winter? This part of New Zealand is worth a visit all year round! In winter you will need to drive more carefully as some roads can be icy, and snow chains may also be required.
Is it easy to drive from Christchurch to Queenstown? The Christchurch to Queenstown drive time is approximately 5-hours non-stop. But we recommend taking extra time to rest, grab a delicious bite to eat, and see some amazing views and detours.
What is there to do between Wanaka and Haast?
Makarora, at the northern tip of Lake Wanaka, is a launching point for several multi-day walks in Mount Aspiring National Park. A number of shorter walks begin at the highway’s edge between Makarora to Haast. Favourites include walks to the Blue Pools, Fantail Falls, Thunder Creek Falls and Roaring Billy.
Is it worth staying a night in Lake Tekapo?
I think Tekapo is in a lovely setting as well but there is also not much accommodation there so it might also be relatively expensive. If it is much more affordable for you to stay there then it would be so bad, but you definitely should include at least a day at Aoraki in your itinerary.
Can you swim in Lake Tekapo? Lake Tekapo is a popular high country lake, located near the Tekapo township. The lake is surrounded by a gravel beach with trees and grassy areas further back and is a popular recreational area for boating and swimming in summer, as well as the picturesque views in winter.
Who owns Tekapo? The Tekapo Power Scheme has been owned and operated by Genesis since 1 June 2011. The 190MW hydro scheme is located at the head of the Waitaki Valley in the Mackenzie District of the South Island.
Are there eels in Lake Tekapo?
The lakes were well known for eels and weka.
Why is Lake Tekapo so blue? The blue (turquoise) colour is due to fine silt particles, or glacial flour, in the water. This is a result of glacial erosion. … This leaves the blue-green wavelengths to be scattered back to our eyes, so we see the lake as a blue/green colour.
Should I stay in Mount Cook or Lake Tekapo?
Lake Tekapo is an interesting short stop, but Mt Cook is an absolute highlight. My choice would be Aoraki/Mt Cook. If the sky is clear the views are stunning. You can stay in the Hermitage Hotel or there are less expensive options.
Do you need a 4WD to drive in snow? Make sure you have a vehicle that CAN handle the snow.
You don’t need all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive. … You would be better of with a front-wheel-drive car, with the weight of the engine over the drive wheels. AWD and 4WD are better — but they’re also no guarantee that you won’t get stuck.
Do you need snow chains in Queenstown?
The Queenstown Lakes District Council recommends that you carry snow chains as a precaution in winter, no matter where you plan on travelling in the area. … If you ignore signs saying you need to fit snow chains, you risk being fined.
Can you fly from Greymouth to Queenstown? The quickest way to get from Greymouth to Queenstown is to fly which costs $130 – $470 and takes 5h 44m. … The distance between Greymouth and Queenstown is 353 km. The road distance is 523.3 km.
Where should I stop between Wanaka and Christchurch?
CHRISTCHURCH TO WANAKA ITINERARY
- JUCY Christchurch Airport.
- Castle Hill.
- Arthurs Pass.
- Lake Brunner Motorcamp.
- Hokitika.
- Okarito Camping Ground.
- Glacier Guides’ Base in Franz Josef.
- Franz Josef Top 10 Holiday Park.
What is the Haast Pass road like? Is the Haast Pass dangerous? It’s a difficult road, with uncountable curves and bends making passing quite difficult. The road features a few one-lane bridges along the way, with speed limit for heavy vehicles. And there’s slip hazard which can have terribly fatal consequences.
Is Franz Josef or Fox Glacier better?
Fox has a gradual decent, whereas Franz Josef drops steeply from the Southern Alps to near sea-level. The steeper incline forces dramatic movement of ice, making Franz Josef Glacier the fastest commercially guided glacier in the world, with ice moving up to 5m per day!
What is there to do between Westport and Greymouth? Listed below are 8 of the best things to do in Greymouth and the close by area!
- Monteith’s Brewery. …
- The TranzAlpine. …
- Visit Pancake Rocks. …
- Shanty Town Greymouth Heritage Park. …
- West Coast cycle journey. …
- The Heaphy Track. …
- Buller Gorge and swing bridge. …
- The Croesus track – Blackball.
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