Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki are two of the most stunning alpine lakes in the Canterbury region, each showcasing that unreal South Island turquoise glow. At Lake Tekapo, we were lucky to catch the lupines in bloom, painting the shoreline in pinks and purples. At Lake Pukaki, we dipped our feet into icy glacier-fed water for the first time – a refreshing shock and a perfect way to take in the sweeping views toward Aoraki/Mount Cook.

📸 Summary

Lake Tekapo

I was really excited to visit Lake Tekapo in the summer to see the lupine blooms. They were beautiful in mid-January, even at the end of their optimal flowering season. There weren’t as many as expected, and were actually a little difficult to find as they are much smaller than most pictures portray them. The trick is to make them the focal point in the foreground, like the great shots Scott took.

Lake Pukaki (Lake-town)

Lake Pukaki was absolutely stunning with its blue, glacial water. It is the film location for Lake-town in The Hobbit. We weren’t able to make it up to the Tasman Downs Station where the set was built so just took a picture on the south end of the lake next to a pine tree with the mountains in the back (similar to the below Legolas scene). The Lake Pukaki lookout on the western coast offered clearer views of the mountains.

Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park (Minas Tirith)

The drive along the western shore of Lake Pukaki to Mount Cook National Park offers remarkable views of the lake and mountains. See our Minas Tirith blog for more on getting to this LOTR filming location.