Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Lake Tekapo?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Lake Tekapo?

Many visitors spend one to two days in Lake Tekapo during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This town offers a number of attractions to explore, including the hiking, the beautiful scenery, and the small town charm.

Lake Tekapo is a small town that sits on the southern edge of Lake Tekapo. The town is very simple with a few restaurants, tour operators, and some motels. There are hot springs as well as hiking trails and beautiful stargazing in the evening.

Do you have one or two days to visit Lake Tekapo? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Lake Tekapo?

With only one day, you might feel a bit pressed for time to explore the mountains and scenic town here. After all, Lake Tekapo, a small town offering numerous sights and attractions, is fairy popular with visitors. To fully embrace Lake Tekapo, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to allocate one to two days to discover the nearby hiking trails, admire the wonderful scenery, and wander through the small town. Nevertheless, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your visit.

How to spend a day in Lake Tekapo

Known for it's hiking, Lake Tekapo sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. There are many beautiful hikes in the area with some of the most popular being the Mount John Summit Track, the Richmond Trail, and Cowan's Hill Walkway.

Lake Tekapo is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. You really want to get out of town and explore the area's stunning natural beauty.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Lake Tekapo?

A weekend in Lake Tekapo is often considered ideal, as many tourists spend about one to two days to explore the scenic town and beautiful mountains. A weekend should give you enough time to discover the nearby hiking trails, admire the wonderful scenery, and wander through the small town. Further down, you'll find our recommendations to kick off your journey.

Lake Tekapo, New Zealand Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

How to spend 2 days in Lake Tekapo

With a weekend (two to three days) in Lake Tekapo, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the town has to offer.

Perhaps the most famous place in Lake Tekapo is the Church of the Good Shepherd, so don't miss it. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Lake Tekapo, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

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