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Mt John Observatory

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wolfbrother
wolfbrother
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Breathtaking Views of Earth and Sky

  • December 22, 2008
  • Rated 4 of 5 by wolfbrother from Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Breathtaking Views of Earth and Sky

Mount John rises majestically over Lake Tekapo Village. It's an easy hike to the top from the car park at the Alpine Spa hot pools, down by the lakeshore. Just before you reach the car park there's a sign that leads you up into the woods. It's a clear path, well marked and well maintained, so there's no need for special equipment. You can manage it in trainers if you need to.

The hike takes about 45 minutes and you come out at the top to stunning views right out over the basin in every direction. It's an amazing view of Lake Tekapo in all its turquoise glory, with the counterpoint of Lake Alexandrina in the distance. There's also a cafe up the top which serves an excellent cup of coffee and - by reputation - the best ham sandwich in New Zealand (although it does cost $11, so it would want to be good).

If you'd rather not walk, of course, you can drive up although be warned that it's a very windy, pretty steep drive and they close the road in the evening, so you can't drive up after dark.

Speaking of after dark though, the Observatory that sits up top of Mt John runs stargazing tours every night. They pick you up from the centre of village in a bus and drive you up, then give you a guided tour of the facilities and the constellations. The skies above Lake Tekapo are famously clear, so if you're a stargazer then you're in for a treat, whether you do the tour or not.

The Earth & Sky tour is pretty costly at about $70, but there is an alternative for under $10 that's offered by a local woman - though this latter tour does not offer a tour of the telescopes and observatory itself, just a guide for the constellations.

From journal The Turquoise Tranquility of Lake Tekapo

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