Proudly powered by WordPress | This is hands down one of the best drives New Zealand’s South Island has to offer. It's signposted off the southern side of State Highway 8 and there is a designated car parking area. I'm a 27 year old English gal with a love for travelling, photography, marketing and good coffee. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). Lake Tekapo gets its intense milky-turquoise colour from the fine rock-flour (ground by glaciers) which is suspended in the water. Church of the Good Shepherd On the shores on the lake you'll see the beautiful Church of the Good Shepherd, where the altar window frames a perfect view of the Southern Alps beyond the lake. Aside from checking out Lake Pukaki, there are also a few small tarns along the road that make for awesome reflection photos of Mount Cook. There are a few different hiking trails around Lake Pukaki where you can take in the stunning scenery. Sat on the southern bank of Lake Pukaki, Mount Cook Alpine Salmon is the place to go for the best freshwater salmon on the South Island. At the farm’s lakefront shop/cafe, you can buy fresh Salmon Sashimi to eat in or to go as well as other salmon portions to take away too. We belive you won’t have a problem to Whilst the more challenging 13km Lake Pukaki Track leads you to beautiful views of the lake and Mackenzie Basin beyond. Find things to do and places to stay Lake Pukaki area Was this information helpful? For a shorter walk, the Pukaki Kettle Bowl Track or Markers Bay Track both take less than an hour. Don't miss out on great deals for things to do on your trip to Christchurch! The Milky Way as seen from Mt Cook National Park, NZ The Mount Cook National Park is not too far from Lake Pukaki and has plenty of good hotels and B&B’s. NZ Alpine Lavender Farm is the largest organic lavender farm in the Southern Hemisphere. Lake Pukaki Short Walks Pukaki Kettlehole Track Duration 1 hour, 4km loop track How to get there This walk starts just east of the Pukaki River Spillway. Location: Braemar Station on the eastern shore of Lake Pukaki Address: PO Box 62, Lake Tekapo Phone: +64 3 6806844 Fax: +64 3 6806845 Email: brae-mac@xtra.co.nz Description: Cross golf with rugby and you have golf cross. … Hit Lake Pukaki in a Hovercraft Get on one of the South Island’s most picturesque lakes in a unique mode of transport: by hovercraft. It costs $5 to enter the fields and take some great photos of the lavender with the Southern Alps in the background. Submit Great - thanks for your feedback. One of the best things to do in Lake Tekapo is to hit the slopes. At the farm’s lakefront shop/cafe, you can buy fresh Salmon Sashimi to eat in or to … And the Retreat is located on Lake Pukaki ... aka as Laketown in the Hobbit movies! 3 top things to do at Lake Pukaki Let's start with my choice of the 3 best things to do at Lake Pukaki. Lake Tekapo is seen as a good place to stop for a few hours but the truth is there are plenty of things to do in Lake Tekapo and we've found 13 of them! Things to do Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo & Omarama Home / Things to do Mount Cook, Lake Tekapo & Omarama Located in the centre of New Zealand’s South Island Lake Tekapo is a place of exceptional beauty and clarity, the second largest of three parallel lakes running along the northern edge of the Mackenzie basin. Your email address will not be published. Here is the list of things to do in Pukaki and tourist attractions in city. Starting at the southern end of Lake Pukaki, this scenic road takes you all along the lake’s western shore and up to Aoraki/Mount Cook itself before winding further into the mountainous national park. Not only does it have New Zealand’s highest mountain, Mount Cook, on its northern shore, but it’s also the largest lake in the Mackenzie District, these are the top things to do at Lake Pukaki.The top things to do at Lake Pukaki. Lake Pukaki Track – This is a great walk for everyone as you can walk as far as you like along the lake and then turn back when you’ve had enough. Theme: Head Blog. Enjoy 40 minutes gliding across the blue waters of Lake Pukaki with H2 Hovercraft. Pukaki is a smaller but beautiful upcoming tourist destination that is worth a visit. THINGS TO DO IN LAKE TEKAPO There are so many things to do in Lake Tekapo village, that every type of traveler will be easily able to choose from the wide range of activities. Your email address will not be published. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand on Tripadvisor: See 9,279 traveller reviews and photos of Lake Tekapo tourist attractions. All accommodations features stunning lake and mountain views. Learn how your comment data is processed. Lake Pukaki: Lake Pukaki might offer less “to do” compared to Tekapo but we think as a lake its actually much more impressive than Tekapo with the views it offers and is usually a little quieter too offering a much more serine visit. Lake Pukaki Information Centre, SH8, between Tekapo and Twizel, Pukaki 7999, New Zealand, Things to do in Mt Aspiring National Park. City & Destination Guides | Travel Itineraries & Routes | Travel Photography, Set in the heart of the Mackenzie District, Lake Pukaki is a true natural wonder. The route ends at the Aoraki/Mount Cook village where I would recommend staying for a few days to explore the area. You will be surprised by some of the unique things to do and places you can explore at this hidden destination. All things to do in Canterbury Region Things to do near Lake Pukaki Red Cat Biplane Flights - Aviation Adventures Mt. Tekapo Springs is one of the most popular things to do in Lake Tekapo and is suited to pretty much any kind of tourist. This popular viewpoint lies on the southern banks of Lake Pukaki and offers sweeping views up the lake. For many visitors, it happens at Pukaki. Things to do near Lake Pukaki on Tripadvisor: See 120,371 reviews and 1,045 candid photos of things to do near Lake Pukaki in Canterbury Region, New Zealand. Lake Tekapo is a dark sky reserve, meaning there is little to no light pollution – stargazing in New Zealand won’t get much better than this. Although it sounds simple, this is literally one of the best things to do in Mount Cook! The most popular things to do in Lake Tekapo with kids according to Tripadvisor travellers are: Lake Tekapo Mount John University Observatory Mount John Summit Circuit Track The Church of the Good Shepherd Air Safaris $ Lake Pukaki Lake Tekapo Village Twizel All Destinations Highlights Aoraki/Mount Cook Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve Church of the Good Shepherd Lake Alexandrina As a bonus, here is the drive from Lake Pukaki to Lake Tasman, which is just outside Mount Cook Village. Check out the best tours and activities to experience Lake Pukaki. Have you ever visited a new place and felt ‘wow’ about it? Lake Tekapo is home to not one but two ski fields! Although it’s often overlooked, and wrongly so, in favour of the neighbouring Lake Tekapo, Pukaki has a few things that make it truly unique. You will be surprised by some of the unique things to do It offers stunning views of the lake and of Aoraki Mt Cook in the distance. Required fields are marked *. Located in Lake Pukaki area and Ruataniwha Conservation Park in the Canterbury region Explore the area around Lake Pukaki on these short walking tracks. Mount Cook Alpine Salmon Sat on the southern bank of Lake Pukaki, Mount Cook Alpine Salmon is the place to go for the best freshwater salmon on the South Island. There’s a nice cafe up there (try the coffee with ice cream) and at the right time of year (winter pretty much) you can do some ice skating. As it’s also on Route 80, it’s well worth stopping by on your way to Aoraki/Mount Cook. If you have plans to visit New Zealand and are not sure if Pukaki should be included in your itinerary, keep reading. Pukaki may not be as popular as other cities in New Zealand, but don’t let that fool you. On a clear day, you can even see Aoraki/Mount Cook on the opposite shore in the far distance. Top Things to Do in Lake Tekapo, Mackenzie District: See Tripadvisor's 9,245 traveller reviews and photos of 17 things to do when in Lake Tekapo. How can we improve the information? Search for restaurants, hotels, museums and more. Yes No Page-level feedback Sorry about that. In this list, we have put together some of the things to do in Pukaki and around. You might wish to revisit it someday again, to take a break and relax at Pukaki. Reserve your spot today and pay when you're ready for thousands of tours on This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Find … Located on the cliffs overlooking Lake Pukaki, Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat offers free WiFi, a hot tub and free daily breakfast and dinner. Here, powder blue waters stretch for as far as the eye can see, surrounded by the backdrop of the Southern Alps. We have a hunch that if you include this city in your travel plans, you will be thrilled you did so. The farm is best visited when the lavender is in bloom (summer months). Welcome to my blog where I share my travels from around the world to help inspire and plan your next trip! Pukaki may not be as popular as other cities in New Zealand, but don’t let that fool you. Winter Adventures Tasman Glacier skiing, heli-skiing, heli-biking or heli-hiking with experienced guides and in one of the world's most untouched mountain environments. There are a car park, toilets and access down to the pebbly beach, making it a great place to stop for lunch. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in December. Subscribe to … You’ll pass by a Hobbit filming location, the isolated Morgan’s Island and with ever-present sights of Aoraki Mt Cook. During the winter months (June to August) the Roundhill Ski Area and Mt Dobson Ski Fields crank on the tow bars and become a skiers’ paradise. They also sell a selection of soft drinks to accompany your sashimi, and not forgetting a stunning view of the lake that’s 100% free. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Peter’s Lookout is partway down Route 80 and offers a beautiful view of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Lake Pukaki from the western shores. This art installation in the heart of Perth is a s, Copyright © 2020 collectingotherplaces.com. There’s plenty of places to safely stop along the way to take in the views and some photos, so make sure your camera is at hand and your memory card is empty. There’s also a shop there that sells oils and soaps as well as some lovely lavender flavoured ice cream! This is also one of the spots where you can stargaze in Lake Tekapo.Tours start from town and take you up the hill where (assuming the sky is clear) you’ll get front row seats to the galaxy. Visit top-rated & … You can also get various massages or burn up in the sauna or steam room. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Admire the view of Mount Cook and the color of the lake - Shore Walk & Lookouts Whatever the weather it is fascinating to walk a little on the South shore of Lake Pukaki. You might also like: Best places to the visit in the Mackenzie District, New Zealand. We have reviews of the best places to see in Lake Tekapo. From here you can also see Route 80 winding into the distance parallel to the water, making it a particularly dreamy spot for landscape photographers. Pukaki is a smaller but beautiful upcoming tourist destination that is worth a visit. Cook Alpine Salmon Shop New Zealand Alpine Lavender Farm Peter's Lookout New Zealand Alpine Lavender Discover Lake Pukaki, New Zealand with the help of your friends. 3. Take a break and relax at Pukaki in your travel plans, you can see. Fool you Aviation Adventures Mt gets its intense milky-turquoise colour from the western shores soaps as as. On Lake Pukaki area and Ruataniwha Conservation Park in the Mackenzie District, New Zealand, but ’! 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