South Island New Zealand Driving Tour Spring 2025 | Lake Pukaki to Lake Tekapo | 4K NZ Travel Tour

Take a relaxing driving tour from the milky-blue waters of Lake Pukaki to the iconic Lake Tekapo along the scenic Twizel–Tekapo Road. Rolling clouds lead the way as the road winds through classic South Island landscapes—golden tussocks, open plains, and distant mountain silhouettes. The journey finishes by cruising through Tekapo town centre and arriving at the famous Church of the Good Shepherd.

Video date: 17 October 2025
00:00 Twizel-Tekapo Rd
29:01 Lake Tekapo

🌊 Interesting Facts About Lake Pukaki
Lake Pukaki gets its striking icy turquoise colour from glacial flour—tiny rock particles carried down from the Tasman Glacier.
It is the largest of the three parallel alpine lakes in the Mackenzie Basin (Pukaki, Tekapo, Ohau).
Lake Pukaki was a major filming location for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, representing parts of Middle-earth.

🌄 Interesting Facts About Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo is known worldwide for its incredibly clear night skies and is part of the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve—one of the best stargazing spots on Earth.
The lake’s turquoise colour also comes from glacial sediment carried from the Southern Alps.
The Church of the Good Shepherd (built in 1935) is one of New Zealand’s most photographed landmarks, famous for its stone architecture and lakefront setting.

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