Day 9: Lake Tekapo
The break of dawn was cold & gray – which was a major buzzkill, especially when we looked at the weather forecast. Lindsay had planned the visit to Lake Tekapo – an International Dark Sky Reserve – around the new moon; unfortunately, that careful planning was ruined by a rainy forecast for that evening, and for the next several days. Boo.
Gray skies over Lake Alexandrina / Lake Tekapo
Church of the Good Shepard – Lake Tekapo
Monument to the honorable sheep-herding dogs of New Zealand & Lindsay chasing a hare.
We made the best of the day by hiking up to the Mt. John Observatory to check out the (daytime) views from the top of the mountain, and enjoy a leisurely hike along the lake before heading south back toward Te Anau.
Walking trail from Tekapo Springs up to Mt. John Observatory, back along the lake. 3hr roundtrip – gorgeous views!
Nearby Lake Alexandrina, where we camped the night before.
Sheep grazing along the trails, leading to a lovely look-out.
Turquoise-blue Lake Tekapo. Igor made Lindsay leave the trail to get a closer look. Lindsay doesn’t like to leave the trail.
On the return route to Te Anau, Lindsay finally took the driver’s seat and drove on the left-side of the road for the first time in her life! As the clouds rolled in, we pulled over just south of Queenstown in a nearly-deserted Kingston for another cozy night.
Lindsay driving on the left side of the road! Rain clouds rolling in on Lake Wakatipu.