Explore Lake Tekapo & Mt Cook: Ultimate 2-Day Self-Drive Tour Guide NZ South Island
Day 1️⃣
🍑 Breakfast at Fairlie Bakehouse: salmon sushi pie and creamy chicken pie, both delicious, crispy, and tasty. The shop also has desserts, coffee, and a rich menu.
There is a supermarket next door with plenty of parking spaces in front.
🍑 Mt John
Hike the Mt John Summit Circuit Track to the observatory, where you can see distant snow-capped mountains and lakes, as well as an overview of the entire town.
The hike takes about two hours, with a steep uphill path that requires a lot of physical effort. 🚗 You can drive directly to the top, or turn back after reaching the first viewing platform and then drive up.
The lakeside is suitable for drone photography, and horse riding is also available.
🍑 Punatahu Visitor Center & Mt Cook Alpine Salmon Shop: A popular salmon store and photo spot.
🍑 Lake Tekapo (view of the snow-capped mountains)
Church of the Good Shepherd
🍂 Benches by the shore + golden tree shadows, but it’s windy by the lake.
Location: Lake Tekapo Motels & Holiday Park
🍑 Lake Pukaki (milk lake) (be cautious 🚓)
📷 Lake Pukaki viewpoint
📷 Peter’s lookout
✨ Stargazing spots
– Cowans Hill Walk
– Lake Alexandrina (reflection of the Milky Way on the water)
🍑 Dinner in Omarama town at Boots and Jandals P11
The town is a 40-minute drive from Lake Pukaki, with relatively cheaper accommodation.
There are three restaurants in town. This one serves local cuisine; ask the front desk for the menu and order. The fish and chips, salmon, and steak are good, with generous portions at reasonable prices.
7️⃣ Stay at Mount Cook on the 15th
Mount Cook
🕹️ Navigation: Hooker Valley Track 🚗 1h
The round trip hike takes 3.
5 hours, passing through three bridges, each 25 minutes apart. After the third bridge, walk for another 15 minutes to reach the glacial lake.
🍑 Tasman Glacier Trail (glacial lake)
Navigation: Tasman Glacier Car Park, Tasman Valley Road, Mount Cook National Park 7999
Turn right for Tasman Lake and River, a 40-minute round trip, or left for a panoramic view of the glacier.
Twizel town has excellent Indian food at FishTail restaurant and bar, which is always busy, and many people take out.
The supermarket next door is open until 8 PM, with a wide range of products, making it very convenient.
That sounds like an amazing trip! I especially love how detailed the guide is, from the breakfast spot to the hike up Mt John—those views must be incredible. I’m adding this route to my travel bucket list for sure!
J’ai adoré ce guide, surtout la suggestion de déjeuner à Fairlie Bakehouse – la tarte au saumon et la tourte au poulet étaient incroyables ! La randonnée jusqu’à l’observatoire sur le mont John est également incontournable pour les paysages époustouflants.
That sounds like an amazing trip! I especially love how detailed the guide is, from the breakfast spot to the hike up Mt John—it makes planning so much easier. I’ve always wanted to see those snow-capped peaks and the view from the observatory.
J’ai adoré cette guide, surtout les détails sur la randonnée jusqu’à l’observatoire de Mt John. Les photos sont incroyables, ça donne vraiment envie d’explorer la région !
The salmon sushi pie at Fairlie Bakehouse sounds amazing! I especially love how the article breaks down the hike to Mt John Observatory, those views of snow-capped mountains and lakes must be breathtaking.