Lake Tekapo - Mt John [14/04/2017]
near Lake Tekapo, Canterbury (New Zealand)
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Trail photos
Route from the village of Lake Tekapo to Mt John, through the Visitor Information Center, the western part of Mt John Walkway, and the Mt John Observatory on the outward journey, and on the east side of Mt John Walkay (near the Lake Tekapo) on the way back.
The route begins at one of the first car parks in the village of Lake Tekapo, located just south of the same lake. Before going to Mt John, go through the Visitor Information Center to collect information about the route, and then take the direction of the Domain Road, parallel to the shores of the lake. Immediately Lake Tekapo is observed and some birds scourge the earth. At the beginning of the route, a thick fog makes the guitza and prevents to see Mt John and the extension of the same lake. However, the route continues with some informative sign on the Lake Tekapo Power Station, which uses water, and a beautiful pine forest between Lake Tekapo Holiday Park and the lake. Continuing along the asphalted track, you immediately reach the Tekapo Springs, a recreation center with hot water pools. In this point there are some informative posters on the routes of the area, and also a poster that indicates the beginning of the Mt John Walkway, which is circular. The posters also indicate the hours of the Astro Café, the coffee that is on the top. Taking the detour of the left, then, passing through the Tekapo Springs, the climb to Mt John begins, which is done only by careful paths. It does not take long to get the first height view of the village of Lake Tekapo and the same lake, still in the fog, fortunately. At this point, the path goes to the left for a giragonsa and is basically dedicated to climbing the summit, making a steep climb. When arriving to the top, a first sign indicates the fork of the path that turns into a small circuit that surrounds the top. By taking the path on the left you reach the cafe and the top car park, as indicated by a second poster later. Near the parking lot, a sign informs you about the routes, fauna and flora of the area, and another indicates that here is also the Mt John Observatory, an astronomical observatory of the University of Canterbury. Although the initial fog has become a thin rain that blends clothes and blurs the landscape, still some interesting elements of the observatory can be observed, such as a sundial and a carved compass on the stone that indicates the directions from various places in South Island of New Zealand. At the top of Mt John, then, he decides to stop while waiting for rain to flow.
Seeing that the fog does not stop making the guitza, it is decided to continue the route advancing by the Mt John Walkway. Before completing the small summit circuit, there is an informative poster on the Maori legend that explains the creation of Lake Tekapo by Rākaihautū, but just where the circuit is completed are other indicative and informative posters about how it was actually created Lake Tekapo and Lake Alexandrina (on the other side of the Mt John) from the melting of glaciers, as well as how the effect of the successive ages of ice also sculpted the same Mt John. A few meters from this point, however, the fog spreads a little and it seems that the shape of the Lake Tekapo is guessed to the right. Even with little hope, it is going on until, at a point where you have to jump a fence on a small scale, the fog seems to be completely dissipated and a magnificent landscape is opened in front. You can see the whole extent of Lake Tekapo (still with low clouds that disappear), the summit of Mt John, and even Lake McGregor in the north. Taking advantage of this gift, it is decided to temporarily return to the summit of Mt John to observe, now, the magnificent surroundings, including the town to the south, the background mountains, and Lake Alexandrina to the northwest, which was previously not visible. Returning to the point where it has dropped, you reach the northern end of the Mt John Walkway, where the views of the Lake Tekapo are more central, and where the Motuariki Island is clearly seen, inside the lake, and the Two Thumb Range range, including Mt Edward, which is just at this height perpendicular to the length of the lake. From here, the route is much closer to the shores of the lake while the eastern part of Mt John Walkway is being researched, finding some indicative sign. When arriving again near the Tekapo Springs, the circular route ends, not without first being able to get close to the lake to enjoy the views of the water, including the beach of stones and some birds that The feet are soaked, such as what are probably a pair of Paradise Shelduck, some ducks that are characterized by the different color of the head depending on their genus (white females, black males). As the light falls, the lake images with the silhouettes of birds look like a postcard. Now, from here and without fog, the view of Mt John, or that of Lake Tekapo in lull with the Two Thumb Range background (even observing the Sibbald Range, much more to the north) are much clearer and more visible . Finally, you reach the car park where the car was left, the starting point of this route.
It is a simple and well-indicated route, where the only difficult point is perhaps the beginning of the climb, which has a strong slope. Aside from this rising stretch, which is quite shady, the rest of the route passes through peat areas. The route has height views from Mt John, where there is a cafe where they sell drinks and snacks, as well as views of the lake, since half of the route passes near the shore. In short, if the weather conditions do not prevent it, as has been the case in this case, the route allows you to enjoy spectacular views of the Lake Tekapo environment, with the mountainous landscape typical of the area, and with the calm They always offer the waters of a calm lake. The fact that an astronomical observatory of the University of Canterbury has also been established at Mt John John John makes us think that the area must be really quiet, and that from that point on, the stars must do a great deal of joy.
The route begins at one of the first car parks in the village of Lake Tekapo, located just south of the same lake. Before going to Mt John, go through the Visitor Information Center to collect information about the route, and then take the direction of the Domain Road, parallel to the shores of the lake. Immediately Lake Tekapo is observed and some birds scourge the earth. At the beginning of the route, a thick fog makes the guitza and prevents to see Mt John and the extension of the same lake. However, the route continues with some informative sign on the Lake Tekapo Power Station, which uses water, and a beautiful pine forest between Lake Tekapo Holiday Park and the lake. Continuing along the asphalted track, you immediately reach the Tekapo Springs, a recreation center with hot water pools. In this point there are some informative posters on the routes of the area, and also a poster that indicates the beginning of the Mt John Walkway, which is circular. The posters also indicate the hours of the Astro Café, the coffee that is on the top. Taking the detour of the left, then, passing through the Tekapo Springs, the climb to Mt John begins, which is done only by careful paths. It does not take long to get the first height view of the village of Lake Tekapo and the same lake, still in the fog, fortunately. At this point, the path goes to the left for a giragonsa and is basically dedicated to climbing the summit, making a steep climb. When arriving to the top, a first sign indicates the fork of the path that turns into a small circuit that surrounds the top. By taking the path on the left you reach the cafe and the top car park, as indicated by a second poster later. Near the parking lot, a sign informs you about the routes, fauna and flora of the area, and another indicates that here is also the Mt John Observatory, an astronomical observatory of the University of Canterbury. Although the initial fog has become a thin rain that blends clothes and blurs the landscape, still some interesting elements of the observatory can be observed, such as a sundial and a carved compass on the stone that indicates the directions from various places in South Island of New Zealand. At the top of Mt John, then, he decides to stop while waiting for rain to flow.
Seeing that the fog does not stop making the guitza, it is decided to continue the route advancing by the Mt John Walkway. Before completing the small summit circuit, there is an informative poster on the Maori legend that explains the creation of Lake Tekapo by Rākaihautū, but just where the circuit is completed are other indicative and informative posters about how it was actually created Lake Tekapo and Lake Alexandrina (on the other side of the Mt John) from the melting of glaciers, as well as how the effect of the successive ages of ice also sculpted the same Mt John. A few meters from this point, however, the fog spreads a little and it seems that the shape of the Lake Tekapo is guessed to the right. Even with little hope, it is going on until, at a point where you have to jump a fence on a small scale, the fog seems to be completely dissipated and a magnificent landscape is opened in front. You can see the whole extent of Lake Tekapo (still with low clouds that disappear), the summit of Mt John, and even Lake McGregor in the north. Taking advantage of this gift, it is decided to temporarily return to the summit of Mt John to observe, now, the magnificent surroundings, including the town to the south, the background mountains, and Lake Alexandrina to the northwest, which was previously not visible. Returning to the point where it has dropped, you reach the northern end of the Mt John Walkway, where the views of the Lake Tekapo are more central, and where the Motuariki Island is clearly seen, inside the lake, and the Two Thumb Range range, including Mt Edward, which is just at this height perpendicular to the length of the lake. From here, the route is much closer to the shores of the lake while the eastern part of Mt John Walkway is being researched, finding some indicative sign. When arriving again near the Tekapo Springs, the circular route ends, not without first being able to get close to the lake to enjoy the views of the water, including the beach of stones and some birds that The feet are soaked, such as what are probably a pair of Paradise Shelduck, some ducks that are characterized by the different color of the head depending on their genus (white females, black males). As the light falls, the lake images with the silhouettes of birds look like a postcard. Now, from here and without fog, the view of Mt John, or that of Lake Tekapo in lull with the Two Thumb Range background (even observing the Sibbald Range, much more to the north) are much clearer and more visible . Finally, you reach the car park where the car was left, the starting point of this route.
It is a simple and well-indicated route, where the only difficult point is perhaps the beginning of the climb, which has a strong slope. Aside from this rising stretch, which is quite shady, the rest of the route passes through peat areas. The route has height views from Mt John, where there is a cafe where they sell drinks and snacks, as well as views of the lake, since half of the route passes near the shore. In short, if the weather conditions do not prevent it, as has been the case in this case, the route allows you to enjoy spectacular views of the Lake Tekapo environment, with the mountainous landscape typical of the area, and with the calm They always offer the waters of a calm lake. The fact that an astronomical observatory of the University of Canterbury has also been established at Mt John John John makes us think that the area must be really quiet, and that from that point on, the stars must do a great deal of joy.
Waypoints
Information point
2,369 ft
Cartell informatiu sobre la Central Elèctrica del Lake Tekapo
Cartell informatiu sobre la Central Elèctrica del Lake Tekapo
Information point
2,405 ft
Cartells indicatius i informatius sobre rutes
Cartells indicatius i informatius sobre rutes
Panorama
2,694 ft
Vista del poble de Lake Tekapo per sota la boira
Vista del poble de Lake Tekapo per sota la boira
Information point
3,360 ft
Cartell informatiu sobre rutes, fauna i flora
Cartell informatiu sobre rutes, fauna i flora
Information point
3,327 ft
Cartell informatiu sobre la llegenda maori de la zona
Cartell informatiu sobre la llegenda maori de la zona
Intersection
3,350 ft
Cartells indicatius i informatius sobre el paisatge
Cartells indicatius i informatius sobre el paisatge
Photo
3,412 ft
Panorama
2,825 ft
Vistes del Lake Tekapo des de l'extrem nord de la Mt John Walkway
Vistes del Lake Tekapo des de l'extrem nord de la Mt John Walkway
Panorama
2,625 ft
Fauna
2,359 ft
Panorama
2,336 ft
Vista del Lake Tekapo amb ocells a la riba
Vista del Lake Tekapo amb ocells a la riba
Panorama
2,372 ft
Vista del Lake Tekapo amb el Two Thumb Range de fons
Vista del Lake Tekapo amb el Two Thumb Range de fons
Panorama
2,392 ft
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