While only about 3 hours away, Tekapo is a world away from Queenstown, in good and bad ways. When wandering through the streets, it can feel like everyone else has disappeared, and the lakeside is deserted, making it easy to feel like you're in the middle nowhere here. There's practically no shopping here (maybe an outdoor shop or two), and even less nightlife. And all the while, you're looking up the lake at the stunning two thumbs range. They're not quite of the same caliber as Mt Cook, but it's still pretty special, and the stars here are magnificent.

Of course, though, Tekapo has come a long way in the last decade. The tiny holiday town has expanded rapidly, and there's new accommodation seemingly popping up overnight. It's all been done well, though, and while the buildings all look quite modern, they haven't taken away the charm of Tekapo, and there's still a huge amount of high level budget options. There are 6 or 7 quality restaurants (but I really recommend that you get a reservation here), a fish & chip joint, and etc. There are also a handful of options for days when you're not on the slopes, like cross country skiing, star-gazing, heading to the hotpools, and Mt Cook heliski (NZ's finest) is barely an hour away.

The actual resorts at Tekapo might not live up to Treble Cone or the Clubbies, on paper. The four resorts reasonably close to Tekapo are Roundhill, Mt Dobson, Fox Peak, and Ohau. Roundhill and Dobson both seem very beginner/family oriented, they pack some punch. Roundhill has a ropetow with 700m of elevation that accesses a huge area of ungroomed steeps, and Dobson has some epic touring opportunities. Ohau is a great resort for families as well, while still accessing great snow and terrain, but I'd recommend staying at the Ohau lodge instead of at Tekapo. Fox Peak is incredibly basic, with just 3 ropetows, and only opens on weekends. When the snow is on, though, Foxies has some of NZ's best sidecountry, but all of these resorts have the potential to be really fun for everyone, snowpack dependant.
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Lake Tekapo is beautiful and absolutely worth a visit.
The Town is most famous for the Church of the Good Shepherd that sits almost on the Lake and is probably the most photographed Church in NZ and it's Hot Pools which also sit next to Lake.
The Ski Fields immediately around it aren't anything overly amazing but the town is still worth a visit or even just an overnight stop in to rest up if you are travelling from Christchurch to Wanaka or vice versa.
The Tekapo Hot Springs are right on the Lake and are a great place to relax after dining at one of the handful of decent restaurants that dot the main street and also features snow tubing and an ice skating rink. There are 3 different pools with different temperatures that are shaped like the 3 local lakes Ohau, Pukaki and Tekapo.
There are quite a few accommodation options around Tekapo but my friends and I always get a couple of Tourist Cabins at the Holiday Park that sits Lakeside and is right next door to the Hot Springs.
It has Motel Units, Tourist Cabins with Ensuite's, Motorhome berths and Camping facilities and never disappoints. There are more upmarket options in town but for value for money it can't be beaten.
Roundhill & Dobson are the closest Ski Fields and are cheap and cheerful and don't get the crowds that their Queenstown and Wanaka counterparts get but are still fun if the conditions are right.
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Lake Tekapo is a quiet village (bordering on a town) that has a classically friendly and relaxed New Zealand vibe. The backdrop of the gorgeous lake and surrounding mountains is just beautiful, so you can’t help but feel relaxed when in Tekapo. Many of the activities around Lake Tekapo are focussed on making the most of appreciating the beauty of the place.

Lake Tekapo makes a great base to visit a few ski areas during winter. These ski fields are utterly uncrowded and provide potential opportunities for powderhounds. Mt Dobson, Ohau and Roundhill are also great for families or skiers and boarders who are learning. All three ski areas are dirt cheap, as is some of the accommodation in Tekapo.

Whilst the serenity of Lake Tekapo is a huge plus for the town, some may find that it’s too quiet. If the weather’s not great, there isn’t a large range of activities on offer, and the nightlife is somewhat sedate. Come to Tekapo to relax!
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