Things to do in Lake Tekapo

freezing cold but got to see the stars, got hot chocolate and blankets, complementary red light, and photos with the Milky Way in the background. great tour by george with the telescopes and the much needed mashmellow campfire and heater. photos taken with iphone night mode.

This was my first stargazing tour, and it was even cheaper than the official website. The service was excellent; you don't have to worry about not having warm enough clothes, as they provide one-piece down jackets. It seemed like they had four or five sizes! The only downside was that we attended on the 15th day of the first lunar month, which was a full moon. This affected the stargazing, making it a bit less impressive than I had imagined. For the "Dark Sky Project," they transport you from the base of the mountain to the observatory reserve, where a specialist explains various astronomical phenomena. They also ask if anyone has questions about astronomy. If you're not familiar with the twelve planets and some specialized astronomical English terms, it might be a bit challenging to understand. However, they do offer an earlier session in Chinese. They also use the observatory's super-large stargazing telescope, which was my first time experiencing something like that, and I found it incredibly amazing and a rare opportunity! But if your visit falls around the new moon or full moon, I would advise against participating, as you might be disappointed.

The stargazing experience was beautifully organized and exceeded our expectations. Being surrounded by the peaceful night sky and seeing so many stars with our own eyes was simply breathtaking. The atmosphere was calm, magical, and incredibly relaxing — a wonderful escape from the busy city life.

The 45-minute guided tour at the Tekapo petting zoo is a fun and interactive experience, especially since entry includes one box of feed per person. The animals—including Merino sheep, alpacas, KuneKune pigs, and calves—are incredibly cute, friendly, and affectionate as you hand-feed them. Just make sure to listen carefully to the guide's instructions at the start for everyone's safety. The only downside is that the tour groups can get quite crowded, sometimes reaching up to 20 people at once.

must-try experience to go for despite being on the pricier side. Got to see breathtaking views of Mount Cook. We were lucky to be the first one on at 10am, you will need to arrive earlier at 9.45am and go through a safety briefing. the landing on the snow was done very safely and smoothly, snow was still knee deep. Overall 10/10 experience.

The Stargazing experience was not that great according to me. It could have been much better. The Hot Pools was a good session on the other hand, very relaxing.

Director Andy was humorous and patient, which added a lot of fun to the experience. The entire activity was very educational, especially suitable for those with no prior knowledge of celestial bodies. There were down jackets available in various sizes for loan, so there was no need to worry about being cold, and they were all very clean. The only two downsides were that you couldn't lie down to stargaze, only stand and look up; and even with the super telescope, you could only see tiny glowing dots. However, overall, it was a very enjoyable experience, and we were also very lucky to see a bit of the aurora and even capture some photos.

It was the safest bus tour we’ve ever had! A huge thank you to our two drivers on the journey from Queenstown to Mt Cook, and to our transfer driver from Mt Cook to Christchurch. Your professionalism, safe driving, and friendly service made us feel comfortable throughout the trip. You made our holiday in New Zealand truly unforgettable. We highly recommend this company to anyone looking for a safe, scenic, and enjoyable long-distance tour. Thank you for the wonderful experience! 😊

Klook pass does really save you some money and it's easy to also book the attractions. Just be warned that the standalone package dates and time availability is different from the klook pass