From Queenstown, we decided to do a bit of a round-trip drive around the South Island. We will be sharing our favourite things to do in Lake Tekapo with the family to help you create unforgettable memories on your South Island road trip.
Is Lake Tekapo worth visiting?
Absolutely! Although Lake Tekapo is a small town, its breathtaking scenery makes the drive well worth it. We found it to be the perfect place for our family to slow down and take a break from our busy everyday lives.
If your itinerary allows, we highly recommend staying for at least two nights so you can truly experience everything this beautiful destination has to offer without feeling rushed.
You might also want to check out our guide to worth-it stops along the Queenstown to Lake Tekapo drive, especially if you’re travelling with kids and want to make the most of the journey.
Why is Lake Tekapo so blue?
One of the first things you’ll notice about Lake Tekapo is its incredibly bright blue colour. Out of curiosity, I had to look it up! It turns out, the colour is partly thanks to tiny particles called glacial flour, created when glaciers grind rocks into a fine powder.
As the glaciers melt, these tiny particles are carried into the lake, where they scatter sunlight and contribute to its stunning turquoise colour.
Seeing it in person was something else. The colour of the lake against the snow-capped mountains was just stunning, and honestly, our photos don’t quite capture how beautiful it really is. It’s one of those places you have to see for yourself!
Lake Tekapo Accommodation
During our visit, we stayed at Lake Edge Holiday Park, and it was the perfect choice for our family with kids.
We booked one of the Kiwi Bach accommodations, which had everything we needed for a comfortable stay, including a fully equipped kitchen, dining and living area, patio and free Wi-Fi.
Our bach also had its own private BBQ area with outdoor seating right outside the cabin, making it the perfect spot to enjoy a delicious barbecue, share stories, and have a good laugh together after a day of exploring.
One of the best parts was the location. The beautiful lake was right across from our accommodation. The holiday park also has two playgrounds, and our kids spent hours bouncing on the trampoline, which quickly became their favourite activity.
They were especially excited to spot rabbits hopping around the grounds, making our stay even more memorable.
Waking up to lake views and spending our evenings outdoors made our stay even more special. We highly recommend staying here for two nights if you’re visiting Lake Tekapo with kids.
Things to do in Lake Tekapo with Kids
Here are our favourite things to do in Lake Tekapo on our 2-day trip.
Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd
One place you definitely shouldn’t miss is the Church of the Good Shepherd. It’s probably the most popular spot in Lake Tekapo. It sits right by the lake, with snow-capped mountains as the perfect backdrop.
The view just takes your breath away.
Make sure you come early, as this place is very popular. When we arrived, there were fewer people around, but as the hour passed, more and more people started coming in, and it quickly got busier.
Walk Across the Lake Tekapo Maclaren Footbridge
From the church, you can walk across the nearby bridge which connects to the town centre. This is probably the most stunning bridge walk I’ve done. We could never get enough of the amazing views.
Make a Wish at the Wishing Well
Right across the footbridge is the little wishing well. Don’t forget to stop by, drop a coin in and make a wish.
Let the kids have some fun with it. It’s just a quick stop, but the kids loved making their wishes, and who knows, maybe one of them will come true!
Picnic by the Lake with a Beautiful Backdrop
One of our favourite things to do in Lake Tekapo was simply setting up a picnic by the lake. It was such a privilege to sit down for lunch with the family, and with those million-dollar views of the lake and mountains.
And the best part? It was completely free!
Enjoy a Warm Cup of Coffee while Taking in All of Lake Tekapo’s Beauty
If we’re going to keep warm in Lake Tekapo’s chilly weather, we might as well do it with a hot cup of coffee and a beautiful view! Find a cosy spot, grab your favourite warm drink and just take in the stunning lake and mountains.
Honestly, it was the best way to keep ourselves warm!
Take your Time at the Playgrounds
One thing we’ve noticed about New Zealand is that even the playgrounds come with beautiful views! That’s one reason playgrounds are always a favourite stop for our kids. They get to play, and we get to enjoy the scenery.
There’s a lovely playground right by the lake in the town centre of Lake Tekapo, so of course we had to stop and let the kids play. When we got back to our accommodation, they even had another playground to enjoy.
Early Morning Walk by the Lake
There’s something special about an early morning walk by Lake Tekapo. It was quiet and peaceful, with hardly anyone around, giving us the chance to slow down and really savour the beauty of the place.
It was also a lovely opportunity to just talk to each other and enjoy each other’s company. No phones, no distractions, just us and nature.
Connect with Nature
Sometimes the simplest things keep the kids entertained! We spent some time by the lake throwing rocks into the water and building little rock towers together.
They even had so much fun carving their names on the rocks!
No screens, no toys, just kids, nature and a bit of imagination. It was a simple way to slow down, enjoy the surroundings and have some fun together without spending a dollar.
Petting Zoo
We were supposed to visit the Petting Zoo after lunch, but we ended up spending much longer than expected just walking around the town centre and enjoying the beautiful scenery.
We eventually decided to skip it, as we wanted to keep our trip slow and relaxed, without rushing from one place to another.
But if we had a few more days in Lake Tekapo, we would definitely have visited this place! It looks like such a fun way to spend some time with the kids, especially for little animal lovers.
Lake Tekapo Hot Springs
The Lake Tekapo Hot Springs is one thing we really wish we had made time for! Especially since it was so close to our accommodation.
This was in our itinerary; however, after a full day of exploring, we were completely exhausted and chose to stay in our little cabin, put our feet up, and just be lazy for the rest of the evening.
Looking back, it would have been lovely to unwind in the hot pools while taking in the beautiful mountain views. Definitely one for our next Lake Tekapo trip!
The Wrap-Up: Best Things to Do in Lake Tekapo with Kids
There are so many beautiful things to do in Lake Tekapo, and while we didn’t get to do everything we wanted, we honestly didn’t mind. We really enjoyed our short trip.
What we’ll remember most is simply taking in all its beauty and enjoying quality time together as a family. The slow walks, the kids playing, the conversations and the quiet moments by the lake made the trip so special.
What we’ll remember most isn’t the places we managed to tick off, but simply taking in all of Lake Tekapo’s beauty and having that precious time together as a family.
