Activities in Lake Tekapo
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Alpine Springs & Spa
Open all year round, with hot pools scattered amid quickly growing native trees. Private pools and saunas ($26 per hour) are also available, and spa packages start at $120. ‘Skate and Soak’ combo deals are available at the adjacent Winter Park. There’s a good cafe (snacks $5 to $10, open 10am to 7pm) for coffee and cake, or a snack and something stronger.
reviewed
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A
Air Safaris
Does 50-minute ‘Grand Traverse’ flights over Mt Cook and its glaciers (adult/child $325/215), taking you up the Tasman Glacier, over the upper part of the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, and by Mts Cook, Tasman and Elie de Beaumont. A similar flight goes from Glentanner Park, but with higher prices (adult/child $375/265).
reviewed
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B
Tekapo Helicopters
Has five options, from a 25-minute flight ($195) to a 70-minute trip taking in Mt Cook and Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers ($500). All flights include icefield landings and views of Mt Cook.
reviewed
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Lake Tekapo Winter Park
At the western edge of the lake, the Lake Tekapo Winter Park at the Alpine Springs complex features a year-round skating rink and a winter mini-snow slope for gentle snow-tubing action. Loads-of-fun tubing is even available in summer on a specially constructed artificial slope.
reviewed
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Mackenzie Alpine Horse Trekking
Organises high-country equine explorations. Overnight camping trips ($350) are also available.
reviewed
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Earth & Sky
Thanks to clear skies and its distance from any main towns, Lake Tekapo has top-notch stargazing, and the area is known as one of the finest spots on the planet to explore the heavens. Departure times vary, so check when you book. On some night tours visitors can use their own cameras to delve into astrophotography with local photographer Fraser Gunn (www.laketekapo.cc). Forty-minute daytime tours (adult/child $50/25) of the University of Canterbury observatory also operate on demand from 10am to 4pm.
reviewed
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Cruise Tekapo
Fishing and lake cruises from 25 minutes to two hours
reviewed