THE LAKES TEKAPO AND PUKAKI

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The problem of traveling through New Zealand is that, not only does it leave the bar very high, it is that it accustoms you to dreamlike landscapes that seem to be taken out of a fairy tale. The first time you freak out. The second you are amazed. The third one you like. The fourth smile. The fifth has become 'normal'.

There is a place that, however, regardless of the times you visit it, will always leave you speechless: the lake area. Already. Because it is not a lake, there are two (technically there are 3 although Lake Ohau is a bit ugly duckling). Of course, between one and the other there are a few km distance (enough to recover from the binge of Stendhal Syndrome that has given you in the first before succumbing again in view of the second). Anyway, if you're lucky enough to go to visit the Tekapo and Pukaki lakes Keep reading the post (and know that we hate you a little).

LAKE TEKAPO
Surely you saw the typical image of a beautiful lake, blue, immense, with a few pink and purple flowers ... it is Lake Tekapo. It's prettier even live and direct. Damn objective beauty! We are tired of falling in love with places (baaah we really love it but let me put some drama on the matter!)

As if the picture was not beautiful enough, suddenly you come across a special corner: the church is that of the Good Shepherd, built in 1935 and one of the most beautiful and requested places to get married (really want to say yes I want even the most determined single in the world).

Just beyond is the bronze statue of a Shepherd dog (In 1968 he was placed there to pay homage to the dogs of the Collie breed for the work they performed in livestock).

Ahem, no. This is not the dog, it is Rober. We didn't take any pictures because it was full of crazy Japanese surrounding the puppy.

Lake Tekapo they say, is one of the best astronomical observation points in New Zealand and the world. A very famous astronomical observatory rises on Mount John: the nights of Lake Tekapo give great views of the Milky Way, if you have the possibility spend at least one night there. (As a curiosity to tell you that the name Tekapo, of Maori origin, means 'mat under the sky').

LAKE PUKAKI

Insuperable. Lake Pukaki is possibly the prettiest we saw in New Zealand! The lake looks like an immense slush of anise: that blue color is due to glacial fluoride particles that lie in the rocks at the bottom; the feeling is that someone has put some dye on him but no, everything is natural ... how wonderful!


The temptation is to throw and swim (although common sense reminds you that the water is so palatable). Surely Joan has stuck a few dips, this guy is an amphibian. However, we were satisfied, turning around and enjoying the magnificent views it gives.
Because I have not told you but it is that Mount Cook rises to the bottom of the lake. Seriously, point 'Lake Pukaki' in your bucket list and you won't regret it!

USEFUL INFO

How to get: we arrived from the campsite of Chamberlains Ford Recreation Reserve, near Lincoln in Christchurch. Here we leave the route.

Where to sleep: On Lake Tekapo there is no possibility to sleep for free, so we decided to spend the night at Lake Pukaki where there is a free campsite (for self and no-self contained). The bathroom is scary but hey ... it's free! It is just before the bridge that overlooks the i-Site. There is a mountain on the right and a few dirt roads that reach it, just take some of them to get there. There are two areas, facing the lake (where we stay and where it is really worth it) and another on the other side of the hill (more sheltered and with faster access to the bathroom).

If you have thought visit the Tekapo and Pukaki lakes... enjoy 🙂

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