A day in Lake Tekapo

Today I am joining Sofia and Wilma, two Swedish girls, to walk the Hooker Valley Track. The weather is looking fine. But the first thing to do is book another night.

I ring reception and extend everyone’s stay. We are all staying in a self-contained cabin with lounge, kitchen, bathroom, 2 bunk rooms and a double bedroom. Booked as a dorm.
$34 NZD$34 NZD per night, just have to pay later today.

After some toast and peanut butter for breakfast, we pack up and head out. We are travelling in the girls’ rental car, a Toyota Yaris. It’s about an hour’s drive to the national park from Lake Tekapo.

Listen to some tunes, chat, and look at the stunning scenery.

We arrive at the start of the Hooker Valley track. Parking is free and so is entry to National Parks in New Zealand.

It’s about 11 when we set off. The path is easy-going, wide and gravelled. Good thing, as the views are so amazing. Needless to say, we still kick the odd larger stone while looking at the view.

Stop for photos.

And of course more photos. Sof has a good camera.

We climb a rock for our lunch break and get to see an avalanche! You hear it and then see the plume of snow (photo below).

It’s just after 1pm when we are greeted by a lake view – with ice!

It’s a perfect day. We are hemmed in by snow covered mountains, and spoilt for where to look.

We take many photos and stay for an hour without even trying.


Time to head back 🙁

We are aiming to get back in time for the hot pools, Sofia and Wilma bought cheaper tickets on bookme.co.nz, but are supposed to be on time for 4pm.

The views are just as amazing on the way out, but we really hit the perfect window for light and warmth.

We witness two more, even bigger avalanches.

And pick up 3 hair ties, a scrunchie, and a lost woolen hat.

The drive back requires a stop to photograph sheep with mountains.

These sheep are a little shy however.

We stop at Lake Pukaki for some more photos and realise we won’t make the hot pools by 4pm.

So we go to the supermarket first, then pay for our beds. They don’t seem to know if our booking is paid or not, but we are good and pay for our outstanding night.
$34 NZD$34 NZD

Next we walk the 100 metres from our lakeside cabin to the hot pools. There’s also an ice rink, but the pools are expensive enough.

They get in fine with their $16 NZD$16 NZD tickets, it’s a new person on the counter so they might have got lucky.

I pay full price.
$27NZD$27NZD

There was entry for $18.90 NZD$18.90 NZD on grabone.co.nz a couple days ago, but no longer available.

We start at the 35 degree pool. Sof gets some photos on her waterproof camera.

The sun goes down, but we can barely see any stars.

We move on to the 37 degree and try the 38. Settle on the 37 degree pool. We give each other foot massages, float on our backs, and relax. Sof and Wilma are Swedish, so technically a Swedish massage?

Once sufficiently pruned we shower and walk back.

I am satisfactorily impressed with the spinners at the hot pools to dry your wet togs. (Togs are swimmers or your bathingsuit in Kiwi).

I cook a cheap $2.99 NZD$2.99 NZD supermarket pizza in the oven, but add extra toppings: feta, tomato, mushroom and carrot. I also make a salad. About $10 NZD$10 NZD all up.

After dinner I convince the others to come stargazing. We take my car (a 2004 Ford Mondeo station wagon I bought for $1800 NZD$1800 NZD). We head out of town for maybe 10mins and turn down a street towards the observatory.

Away from the city lights, we park off the road and gaze at the stars. It’s slightly windy and cold, but we are wrapped up warm and lie on the ground on the sunvisor.

The sky is full of stars and clear (was so cloudy the previous night). We see multiple shooting stars.

And all wished up we head home for bed.

Total spent:  $86.73 NZD$86.73 NZD