Here's my 9 great walks around Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo is a stunning area for walking & hiking with huge mountain views and pretty lakes. Colourful lupins flower everywhere in the summer and snow-capped mountains in the winter, it’s spectacular.
Hopefully, you’ll get a nice day to do one of these walks in the Lake Tekapo area. It can be known to be rainy and wet a lot of the time. It’s best to go in the summer if you can, as winter is really cold.
Several walks start from right in Lake Tekapo town, which is handy. These walks are free and don’t require bookings.
After your walk on a cold day, take a soak in the lovely Lake Tekapo hot pools, what a way to end the day!
There is no particular order to these walks, hope you get out and enjoy one or two of them.
List of all my walks in Lake Tekapo
Click into any of the walks below to get the full track details with maps and everything you need to know.
Cowan Hill Walkway Loop
Lake Alexandrina and Lake McGregor Walks
Lake George Scott Loop Walk
Lake Tekapo Peninsula Walk
Lake Tekapo Walkway
Mt John Summit Circle Track
Mt John via Lakeshore Walk
Pines Beach Walk and Church of the Good Shepherd
Richmond Trail
See more of my walks in Southland
Hiking in Lake Tekapo as a solo traveller
Since I sometimes venture out on solo adventures, I always make sure to keep someone informed about my whereabouts. It’s a simple step, really. I just shoot a quick text saying something like, “Heading off to conquer the Mt John Summit track!” Then, once I’m back safe and sound, another text goes out saying, “Made it back home now.” This little routine gives me peace of mind knowing that if anything were to happen, someone would have a clue about where I should be.
When I’m out and about, I also like to check in with the local information centres to see if any spots might not be the safest for solo hiker. Luckily, the hikes I’ve taken around Lake Tekapo have been considered very safe.
When it comes to hiking in general, here are a few tips I always swear by:
Make sure you’ve got the basics covered:
- A first aid kit
- Plenty of water
- Layers of clothing. New Zealand weather can be quite unpredictable, so it’s best to be prepared for anything.
- Keep an eye on the weather forecast and be ready to adjust your plans accordingly.
- Have a map handy, or better yet, use a map app on your phone that works offline. Personally, I’ve been using maps.me for years. It’s super handy because it can even show you the elevations of your route, expected walking times, and where you are on the map. Just remember to download the region you’re heading to before you set off, as it can use up quite a bit of data otherwise.
I can’t say enough about how cool exploring the hiking trails around Lake Tekapo is.
I see many people breeze through Tekapo, snap a quick pic of the iconic church, and zoom off to their next stop. But let me tell you, this awesome little town is bursting with hidden gems.
From biking to hiking, and indulging in spa treatments to delicious meals at cozy cafes, bars, and restaurants, Lake Tekapo has something for everyone.
Trust me on this: stay longer. Not only will you get to marvel at the breathtaking night sky, but you’ll also uncover even more of Tekapo’s great walks.
Ok, so the Church of The Good Shepherd (pictured above) is worth stopping for, but go for a walk too while you’re in Lake Tekapo!
