Driving Route : Christchurch - Queenstown - Christchurch

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Day 1 : Christchurch to Mt Cook Village

Travel time is approximate only, based on an average driving speed under normal road conditions.

	Travel Time	Km	(Miles)
Christchurch - Lake Tekapo	3 hrs	230	144
Lake Tekapo - Mt Cook Village	1.25 hrs	104	65
Totals for Day	4.25 hrs	334	209

Christchurch - Lake Tekapo

230 km (144 miles)
Approximately 3 hours
Road Conditions: Motorway/State Highway

The South Island's largest city, Christchurch is an entertaining mixture of refined lifestyle and cultural excitement. Visit heritage sites, museums and art galleries, and enjoy the highly developed restaurant scene.

The scenic route to Lake Tekapo begins at Rangiora, a rural centre north of Christchurch city. Small towns appear regularly as you travel across the Canterbury Plains through fields and farms.

Explore the old coal mining settlement of Glentunnel before the road climbs over the braided Rakaia River and up to Mount Hutt. There are historic lime kilns at Staveley and Mt Somers, and the pretty town of Geraldine has an interesting car museum.

After Fairlie you'll ascend to the region known as the Mackenzie Country, named after the legendary Scottish sheep rustler who once roamed the area.

The settlement of Lake Tekapo is at the southern end of the lake. Fishing, kayaking, bike riding, horse trekking and skiing are some of the things you can do in the area. The Church of the Good Shepherd and the sheepdog statue are great photo opportunities.

Lake Tekapo - Mt Cook Village

104 km (65 miles)
Approximately 1.25 hours
Road Conditions: State Highway

The settlement of Lake Tekapo is at the southern end of the lake. The opaque turquoise colour of this lake and others in the area is caused by fine, glacier-ground rock particles held in suspension.

Fishing, kayaking, bike riding, horse trekking and skiing are some of the things you can do. The Church of the Good Shepherd and the sheepdog statue are great photo opportunities.

The road to Mt Cook takes you through high country tussock to beautiful Lake Pukaki. You'll hug the edge of the lake for most of the way up the Tasman Valley to Mount Cook Village.

The Aoraki Mount Cook National Park includes the highest peak in Australasia (Mt Cook - 3,755 metres). The region attracts mountain climbers, hikers and scenery fanatics.

Heli skiing, heli hiking and aerial sightseeing provide visitors with amazing memories. A variety of walking trails begin in or near Mount Cook Village—most take only a couple of hours. In the bar of the local hotel, huge windows provide a perfect view of Mt Cook.

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