[2025 Tekapo Attraction] Travel Guide for Mt John Observatory View Point (Updated Oct)

Tekapo is truly magical at any time of the year but exceptional during winter! Snow everywhere, a picturesque lake, and a lovely small town that gives that warm feeling. Lucky to be here when the snow settled in and get to see the magic Tekapo has! Places I recommend visiting in the area: *Mount John Observatory* -The perfect viewpoint of Lake Tekapo, the town, Lake Alexandrina, and the surrounding mountain ranges. Only a few minutes' drive from the town and you only need to pay $8 entrance fee. There is a cafe at the top to enjoy some coffee and snacks. You can book a separate fee for the Observatory for late-night stargazing. Tekapo truly has one of the clearest skies for stargazing. *Tekapo Spring* - What better way to enjoy the snow and view than to soak in a hot spa?! I had a lovely time relaxing at Tekapo Springs while enjoying the view of the mountain full of snow. It's only $39 for the hot spa and they have a lot of other activities to enjoy. Located right in town. *The Church of the Good Shepherd* - Such an iconic church adds to the beautiful view of the lake. There is no entrance fee, but it's closed at certain times. Please pay respect. *Dark Sky Project* - They have such a lovely cafe with a view of the lake. So many souvenirs to choose from. The highlight is their Observatory. *Town Village* - Such a lovely town, with so many cafés in the area. You won't run out of your daily coffee needs. Everything is close by and only a walking distance. Cafes, grocery stores, restaurants, and shops. *Lake Tekapo* - I highly recommend walking or biking around the lake, it's such a refreshing feeling. So much to do in the area, there are two ski fields nearby for those who want to ski or snowboard. There are many hiking trails as well, some are dog-friendly. Overall, Tekapo is a must-visit in New Zealand! #newzealand #Tekapo #winter #laketekapo #travel #holiday #winterholiday #filipina #NZ

#Natural Landscape #100 Ways to Travel #University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory, a must-see attraction for self-driving in New Zealand's South Island, is located on the highest point of Mt John next to Lake Tekapo. It overlooks the vast and unparalleled view. The lake is as blue as a gem and the opposite mountain is covered with snow, which is as beautiful as a painting. We visited in early spring, and the snow on the mountaintops had not yet melted, providing a perfect background for beautiful photos. There are several huge rocks on the grass behind the observatory. The angle for taking photos when sitting on them is really good. It looks like you are climbing on a huge rock several meters high! In fact, it is very low. You can just stride up there. You can take deceptive photos, but the photos you take will turn out to be incredibly beautiful. If you live near Lake Tekapo, you can consider joining a night stargazing tour and use a professional telescope to see the Milky Way in the southern hemisphere in an environment without any light pollution. However, it is windy and cold here at the observatory, so you have to wear warm clothes, otherwise you will freeze to death. Also, stargazing is very dependent on the weather, and the full moon is the biggest light pollution! There is also a view cafe Astro Cafe next to the observatory. In the glass house made of light steel frame, you can order a cup of hot American coffee. This is the most unforgettable cafe recommended by Lonely Planet! #NewZealandFreeTravel #MountJohnObservatory #LakeTekapo #newzealand #mtjohnobservatory #laketekapo #astrocafe

Climbing at Lake Tekapo, New Zealand: The "stupid things" and beautiful scenery of Mt John Astronomical Mountain Earlier when I went to Lake Tekapo in New Zealand, the most anticipated thing was climbing Mt John (Astronomical Mountain) - I had long heard that this mountain not only offers beautiful lake views, but also has a super strong astronomical status. After doing a little homework beforehand, I learned that Mt John has two routes up the mountain: one is flat, it takes two hours to walk slowly, and the other is steeper, but takes an hour or so to the top. However, like most tourists, I first thought of “taking the shortcut” – driving to the “Lonely Planet Cafe” on the hill. Remember! Be sure to start early. This mountain road is really difficult to drive. It's a hairpin bend all the way. If you turn slowly, you're afraid of the car behind you. If you turn fast, you're afraid of turning the wheel. Novices really need to be careful. When I parked my car at the cafe, I thought I could walk directly from the neighborhood to the top, but I changed my mind: I drove back to the foot of the mountain first, and then climbed up from the steep road. As a result, after climbing for an hour, I was out of breath and couldn't recover. Finally, I reached the top of the mountain and realized - Huh? The road here, isn't it connected to the cafe near it? In other words, I went in a big circle! At the moment, I really wanted to pat myself on the head: "You're stupid! I knew not to be so fancy." In fact, the summit of Mt John is really worth coming. First of all, I have to mention its astronomical status - this is a super famous astronomical observation point in the southern hemisphere, because the light pollution around Lake Tekapo is extremely low, the air is clean, there is also Mount John Observatory on the top of the mountain, you can see the Milky Way and stars at night. As for the scenery, it really can’t be beat! Standing at the top of the hill and looking down, the water of Lake Tekapo is a super unique milky blue color, like a gem laid in the middle of the grass, and you can see the small figure of the Shepherd’s Church in the distance, the mountain wind blowing through, the whole person is loose. Later, I sat on the top of the mountain and reflected, thinking that the ideal route didn't have to be that complicated at all: drive to the lake early in the morning, get some snacks and sit down to enjoy the lake view, then slowly walk up to the Lonely Planet Cafe, drink a cup of coffee and then hike down, comfortable and not have to go around. However even after doing the "stupid thing", I was glad to climb this mountain - the beautiful scenery and special experience of Mt John will really be remembered for a long time. Next time if a friend goes, I will definitely advise him: don't follow my example and play slowly along the scenery is the right way to open Lake Tekapo and Mt John!

Exclusive to Mount John, New Zealand: Savor the romance of the milky blue lake and stargazing at the Lonely Planet Café About the Lonely Planet Café Located atop Mount John, New Zealand, the Lonely Planet Café, featured in Lonely Planet magazine, is a must-see destination. No one visiting Lake Tekapo, New Zealand, can escape the allure of Mount John—and the mountain's ultimate destination is undoubtedly the Lonely Planet Café atop. Tucked away at nearly 1,000 meters above sea level, it's not only a stunning café, hand-picked by Lonely Planet, but also a magical haven where you can immerse yourself in the romance of scenery and astronomy. To reach the café, you first have to drive. The drive up the mountain is a thrilling series of hairpin turns, so tight and tight that the wheels practically hug the roadside, making it easy for novice drivers to develop sweaty palms. Remember to leave early in the morning: there's less traffic in the morning, allowing you to slowly adjust to the curves. More importantly, you'll be able to snag a prime seat outside the cafe—next to the floor-to-ceiling windows, with a view of Lake Tekapo's milky blue waters and even the spire of Shepherd's Church visible in the distance. Sipping your latte feels like taking in the scenery. The cafe itself isn't large, but it's filled with thoughtful touches: astronomy-themed trinkets decorate the interior, even the coasters are printed with Milky Way motifs. After all, Mt. John is a premier astronomical observatory in the Southern Hemisphere, and at its base lies the International Dark Sky Park, where at night, the Milky Way fills the sky. Sitting in the cafe during the day, sunlight filtering through the glass onto the table, hot coffee in hand, gazing out at the lake view, you'll suddenly understand why this place earned a spot in Lonely Planet: the "solitude" here isn't desolate, but rather a tranquility embraced by the scenery. The best part is the connection between the cafe and the hike. Many people assume you need to finish climbing Mt John before coming for coffee, but it's actually more enjoyable the other way around: drive to the café, grab a cup of coffee and a muffin, then walk down the trail from the summit—the path is gentle, offering views of Lake Tekapo from various angles. It takes only half an hour to reach the base, eliminating the need for a strenuous "climb." I later learned that many tourists, like me, took a detour to find this place: some climbed the mountain before discovering the café, while others missed the turn and had to backtrack. But there's no need to rush. The beauty of this café is meant to be savored slowly—order a Flat White, watch the wind whip the clouds across the lake, and listen to the tourists at the next table chat about the Milky Way at night. You'll understand: coming to Mt John isn't just about a cup of coffee; it's about capturing the romance of the lake, the mountain breeze, and the stars—all captured in this moment. If you visit Mt John in the future, don't rush. Drive up the mountain first and sit in the Lonely Planet Café, and you will find that the best scenery is always when you "slow down".

#August2025 Location: Mount John University Observatory Getting there: The summit carpark is a 15-minute drive from Lake Tekapo. The scenery is breathtaking, but the winding roads require careful driving. My Take: Climbing Mount John in Tekapo feels like stepping into another world. The air at the summit is fresh, and the blue of the lake gleams with an almost dreamy luster in the sunlight, echoing with the distant snow-capped Southern Alps. The observatory's white dome stands quietly atop the mountain, like a sentinel guarding the starry sky. While the observatory isn't accessible during the day, just sitting on the terrace of the summit café, sipping hot coffee and gazing at the endless blue and green, makes time seem to slow down. The mountain breeze, though cold, brings a sense of peace and tranquility. Glancing back before leaving, I felt like I'd been pocketed, a light yet warm memory of my trip. 💙

Town of Tekapo Mt John is fantastic viewing platform with a 360-degree panorama of the surrounding mountains, lakes and Mackenzie Basin flats. From town of Tekapo, walk for roughly 3 hours along Mt John Walkway to reach the tip of the summit. Direction - Walk past the Tekapo Springs complex and follow the track on the western side of Lake Tekapo. The track climbs up to Mt John Summit Track. Descend through the exotic forest back to where you started. Once you are there, you will be rewarded with the fantastic view of the whole town of Tekapo, mountains, alps and lake. The whole journey is about 4km from Town Center. The pace is pretty easy to moderate with some slope and steps towards the summit. When you reached the summit, you would reach the Mt John observatory. Great for sunrises or sunsets. Have a cup of coffee and cake at Astro Cafe. Relax and enjoy the tea break indoor or outdoor. Toilet are very clean and fused with automatic air freshener keeping the toilet smell great. For those who does not hiking and walk, you can choose to drive from town centre for a 2 minutes ride and park your car at the carpark. At the base of the start of the walkway, you can bring your kids or your partner to the hub where you can do snow boarding, ice skating or just chill inside the hot large swimming pool. Great for jogger in the evening along the lake to burn some calories while enjoying the lake view. #tekapo星空小鎮