Lake Tekapo – The Road to Mount Cook

Traveling from Christchurch towards Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, along this route lies one of the most scenic lakes in the MacKenzie region – Lake Tekapo. A most spectacular sight the visitor will encounter is the beautiful turquoise colour of the lake. The lake is fed by waters from the glacier melt of the surrounding mountain range, the Southern Alps. It is the very fine sediments suspended in the glacial waters that give the lake its colour.

I have been at Lake Tekapo in autumn, spring and winter and each visit has been a new experience seeing various shades of colours ranging from turquoise to blue, even grey! I was fortunate to have seen the vivid turquoise colour on my first visit in autumn. Too bad, I only have the photos of the first visit on negatives and prints. Someday I will convert them into digital copies.

Below photo was taken on a winter noon day in Aug 2006. The colour is not quite turquoise but you get an idea of the vivid hue that makes the visitors go “Wow!” at Lake Tekapo.

(click for larger photo)
Turquoise colour of Lake Tekapo
Tekapo, Aug 2006
Across the lake lies the Southern Alps. In the centre of the photo, the distant mountain peak directly beneath the noon sun is Aoraki, Mount Cook!

New Zealand, "Land of the Long White Cloud"

New Zealand, called Aotearoa, “Land of the Long White Cloud” by the Maori, is a breathtakingly beautiful country. It is a land of majestic snow-capped peaks, pristine lakes, glaciers descending to rainforests, fiords, geysers, volcanoes, .... etc. Few countries can compare to having such geographical diversity.

The Wikipedia lists various explanations how the name Aotearoa came about but whatever legends or modern explanations, it is a land of such stunning natural beauty that the Kiwis (not the bird) refer to it as God’s own country !

Known also as sheep country, there are as many as 10 or more sheep for every person in New Zealand. With a population of about 4.1 million people, it is one of the world’s least crowded countries.

Stunning views, easy access, recreational activities, friendly people, clean and safe environment, .... whether you are seeking adventure or relaxation, all these are ingredients to a great vacation! I thoroughly enjoyed New Zealand and am certain you would too.

(click above for larger photo)
Land of the Long White Cloud
Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, June 2005
Let me welcome you to the “Land of the Long White Cloud”.

My New Zealand Vacation

My favourite holiday destination is New Zealand !

The first time I had visited New Zealand was in April 1999 and it was autumn then. The wide expanse of land, crisp fresh air, rugged natural beauty ...... it was so pure, so beautiful that my senses took all of that into my being and I was left spellbound!

That first vacation turned out to be very special and it really never ended! Over the years, I have returned to New Zealand many times.

(click for larger photo)
Church of the Good Shepherd
Lake Tekapo, Aug 2006
On this blog, I will share about the beautiful places in New Zealand and I hope you will find my information useful for planning your own vacation too.

Enjoy My New Zealand Vacation !

Links & Resources

NZ Travel Information
Visit New Zealand, Pure By Nature - Welcome to the largest resource on travel and tourism on New Zealand.

BBNZ New Zealand Travel Guide - backpacker hostels, job listings, activities and much more!

Christchurch Farmstay - A unique New Zealand farmstay just 20 minutes from Christchurch airport. A magical setting with sweeping lawns and gardens set on a beautiful stream boundary.

Aurum Hotel, Queenstown - Scenic Circle Aurum Hotel & Suites boasts one of Queenstown’s most favourable hotel sites. Located on Stanley Street it’s less than five minutes’ walk to the busy town centre, yet the hotel’s elevation allows it to capture spectacular views of the lake and mountains.

Pure Glenorchy Overland Tours - Explore the magnificent Glenorchy area. This truly remarkable place hosts some of the worlds most breathtaking scenery, flora and fauna. A journey you'll never forget.

New Zealand Hiking and Photography - Read articles written by New Zealand hikers. View photography of NZ scenery in our forum and photo galleries.

Adventure Tours New Zealand - We have a wide selection of tours with many exclusive features, catering for any budget. We offer the best selection, the best quality, the best value for money AND a 100% money back guarantee if not fully satisfied with your tour


NZ Photos
New Zealand Photographer - Photos of New Zealand


NZ Property Investment & Immigration Information
When Good Things Start - New Zealand offers attractive opportunities in property investments

Nukiwi - An Insider's Guide to New Zealand Immigration, Investment, Employment & Lifestyle

KoruKoru - A Personal Journey of Moving To New Zealand


Directory / Search Engine

NZ Search - New Zealand Web Directory & Search Engine

NZ Pages - Everything New Zealand!

Worldjump - the portal and guide directory


Other Travel Information
The Travelnet Dot Org - Welcome to our world of exploration and travel.




.