Lake Tekapo

We took a trip south to Lake Tekapo over the weekend. (FYI, "Tekapo" is pronounced with the emphasis on TEK.) Lake Tekapo and nearby Lake Pukaki are a crazy turquoise blue color. We learned this is created by 'rock flour.' The campground gave us a sheet of Quick Facts, which tells us:

The turquoise blue of the lake is created by rock flour. The glaciers in the headwaters of Tekapo grind rock into fine dust on their journey down towards the lake. This rock flour is suspended in the water and when combined with sunlight creates this unique water colour.

It really has to be seen to be believed.

This is Lake Tekapo.

These purple and pink flowers were all over the area. They're called foxglove.
And here's Lake Pukaki. We were lucky to see it on a clear day - we understand that usually Mt Cook in the background there is shrouded in clouds. Mt Cook is the tallest mountain in New Zealand (3754 metres/12316 feet). Imagine driving along the highway and then turning a corner to see this.


On the shores of Lake Tekapo is the Church of the Good Shepherd, an itty bitty church built from stone in the early 1900s. It was a sweet little church with a nice view out over the lake.