EZU is just 5 minutes from the airport and offers a free shuttle service. DOMESTIC TERMINAL (8:00am - 6:00pm): Upon arrival, please make your way to Door 1 and call EZU Car Rentals at +64 21 043 8288 for shuttle pick-up. Look out for a shuttle bus with the EZU logo. ABBATip: (Driving in winter in the south islands) - Better to get a car with four wheel drive especially when driving in the mountain areas and going skiing. - Check that your ski slopes are open before going as they are very weather dependent. - We didn't need snow chains on our trip but we had them just in-case. Its a good insurance. There are designated spots to install them and in really challenging conditions, four wheel drive cars are also required to have them. - Check for road closures with https://www.journeys.nzta.govt.nz/highway-conditions. Depending where you maybe, your plans may have to pivot and the road generally opens by noon when the sun warms up the roads.
12Days Full Car Full coverage SGD403.59 from Discovercar.com (Mitsubishi Outlander)
Day 1 16June25 (Arrival and making our way to accommodations) Pick up car at 1030am Make our journey to Lake Tekapo with Rest-Stops along the way.
Rakaia (Rest stop1) 55mins drive from Christchurch Airport)
A strategic rest-stop by Rakaia's Iconic Salmon and a must top-up meal here at Harvey's Bake House for their amazing pies and reportedly great coffee! Coffee was alright as pretty much about the same with everywhere we managed to get a cup.
Harvey's Bake house
Why stop here? The Pie's at Harvey's were in our opinion comparable if not better than those of other famous ones like Fairlie reviewed further below. Rich, full body flavored and a classic to have when in New Zealand. Want a pie comparable in Manchester, checkout Pieminister, highly recomended! The Iconic Salmon and playground for photo-ops is just down the road.
*The salmon sculpture is more to commemorate the salmon fishing competition that occurs along the river. There's surprisingly no salmon farms in the area.*
Town of Ashburton short stop over attraction. (Restop two, a 20mins drive from Rakaia) Ashburton Aviation Museum Open from 1pm-3pm NZD10 for adults and free for the kids.
It may not seem like much from the outside, but the place is packed with planes and best of all interactive for the kids. Free and easy get up close and check out the plane up close. A fun side attraction to stretch one's legs before the final1hr50mins drive to Lake Tekapo which was our base of operations for the next few days. Highly recommended and due to our travel times, the small window timing was just right for us. Worth the small detour. Click here for ABBA location of Ashburton Aviation Museum
*Checking into our accommodation with great views of the lake just across the road.*
Summary of Featured Restaurant options to try in Lake Tekapo
Kohan Japanese Restaurant: Renowned for its authentic Japanese cuisine, Kohan offers dishes like sushi, sashimi, and teriyaki, all complemented by stunning lake views.
TLV Restaurant & Bar: A modern eatery providing European-inspired dishes such as beetroot-cured salmon and venison rack, alongside a curated cocktail menu.
Blue Lake Eatery & Bar: Specializes in Kiwi classics like lamb shanks and Mount Cook salmon, paired with local craft beers and wines.
Dark Sky Diner: Offers casual dining with options like fish and chips and fajitas, set against panoramic views of Lake Tekapo.
Mackenzie's Café Bar & Grill: Known for its interactive hot stone meals and a variety of hearty dishes, making it a family-friendly spot.
Jack Rabbit Café: A favorite for breakfast and brunch, offering Fairtrade coffee and a menu accommodating various dietary preferences.
The Greedy Cow Café: Celebrated for its generous portions of burgers, sandwiches, and light bites, all made with quality ingredients.
Blue Lake Eatery & Bar: Specializes in Kiwi classics like lamb shanks and Mount Cook salmon, paired with local craft beers and wines.
Dark Sky Diner: Offers casual dining with options like fish and chips and fajitas, set against panoramic views of Lake Tekapo.
MacKenzies Café Bar & Grill: Known for its interactive hot stone meals and a variety of hearty dishes, making it a family-friendly spot.
Jack Rabbit Café: A favorite for breakfast and brunch, offering Fairtrade coffee and a menu accommodating various dietary preferences.
The Greedy Cow Café: Celebrated for its generous portions of burgers, sandwiches, and light bites, all made with quality ingredients.
Day2 17June25 (Acclimation day) Enjoying Lake Tekapo
Take a journey out to the rocks to have fun breaking the ice that's formed. Enjoy the beauty and nature that Lake Tekapo has to offer in the early morning and get some sun to better acclimatize. The accommodations had a hot tub which was truly welcomed to enjoy 38-40degree water in winter with clear night skies.
Views from our accoms at Lake Tekapo during our stay
*17Jun25 Fog over the water in the morning*
*19Jun25. The warm sun heats up and melts away the ice from the night before. We were black iced in on this day till noon when roads reopened.*
*19Jun25 View of turquoise waters after reopening of closed roads. *
*20June25 Red in the morning, sailors take warning.*
The Church of the Little Good Shepheard (Lake Tekapo) Sheepdog Memorial (Lake Tekapo)
A charming bronze statue honoring working dogs, it's right near the church.
Burkes Pass Heritage Village (15mins drive from Lake Tekapo)
More of a by-the-way stop than to go out just to check the place out. Sometimes its the joy of the journey and views that delivers some joyful surprises.
*Some fog over the landscape. Beautiful*
Burkes Pass is a small historic stop with scenic views, vintage buildings, and quirky photo spots. Explore the Burkes Pass Heritage Village with old-timey structures, collectibles, and art. Worth the stop over for sure. Note there's only simple eats here so don't expect a full meal. Click here for ABBA location of Burkes Pass
25 Degrees Burger Bar
Good burgers and beers. Bar tender was pretty chill to offer sample on tap before making a decision. I'd recommend to stick to their beef burgers. We had an order of the Salmon one and wasn't as nice as we'd hope. Their burgers were as usual home runs and filling. Price charged is only for the burgers and don't come with fries.
*Ending the day with stone soup and a home cooked meal of mussels*
Day3 18June25 (Day trip out to Omaru township where wild Penguins come back at night) (2hr05min drive from Lake Tekapo to the Omaru Town) Fairlie Bakehouse (Breakfast stop. 35min drive away from Lake Tekapo) (Famous for their pies and evidently so with the good flow of customers)
Another great hit for their pies. They have a great selection with their seasonal pies and what's even better, free flow of condiments! We loved their streak pies over the minced beef one which seemed a tad over processed. Click here for ABBA location of Fairlie Bakehouse
James Mackenzie Monument
The James Mackenzie Monument in Fairlie is a bronze statue unveiled in 2003 of 19th‑century sheep rustler James “Jock” Mackenzie alongside his loyal dog Friday, commemorating his capture with 1,000 stolen sheep at the spot now called Mackenzie Country. It celebrate his folk‑hero escapes, pardon, and enduring legacy. Click here for ABBA location of James Mackenzie Monument
Riverstone Kitchen to see castle and rest-stop for fun play at castle themed playground. (1hr20min drive)
*The castle is open for tours but weren't at our date of visit. Riverstone Castle is a fairytale-like private home built by Dot Smith behind Riverstone Kitchen near Ōamaru, inspired by her childhood dream. Set on a man-made island and filled with antiques.*
*Beautiful garden with interactive play with manual push carts for fun interactive play*
One could plan a meal at Riverstone Kitchen as is one of the famous restaurants in Oamaru and is owned by the renowned chef of New Zealand, Smith, an award-winning restaurant titled “Restaurant of the Year” in 2010 for its delicious taste in food and dining and pure, authentic, straight-from-the-farm ingredients.
We just stopped over for the view and a stretch at the fun interactive garden and play area for the children.
For top-notch cheese experience in Ōamaru, Whitestone Cheese Diner & Deli is the place to visit.Established in 1987 by Bob and Sue Berry, Whitestone Cheese has become one of New Zealand’s premier artisan cheesemakers, renowned for its handcrafted cheeses made from local North Otago milk.
Steampunk Museum (10am-4pm) (15min drive from Riverstone Kitchen) Ave 45-60mins to spend *The Steampunk HQ building in Ōamaru was originally built in 1883 as the Meeks Grain Elevator, one of the first multi-storey grain elevators in the Southern Hemisphere. Damaged by fire in 1920, the limestone structure later became a heritage-listed site and was transformed in 2011 into a steampunk-themed art space*
*A NZD2 donation and you get a little action going on.*
Steampunk HQ in Oamaru is an interactive museum that blends Victorian aesthetics with futuristic, steam-powered technology. It features quirky artworks, mechanical sculptures. The museum offers hands-on exhibits, creating a fun, immersive experience for all ages.
ABBATip: - Great for all things hands on but the sculptures inside maybe a little scary for the younger ones. They however loved the outside play area, which pretty much gives the mad max vibes.
Bonus to check out the rail tracks behind the Steampunk Museum, which restores the vintage trains.
Sumpter Wharf is famous for its large colonies of native seabirds—especially undisturbed nesting populations of Otago (Matapo) shags alongside spotted shags. Click here for ABBA location of Sumpter Wharf
Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony June starts at (1715hrs) It gets later in summer with a later sunset. Premium Viewing NZD210 3A 2C Reservations made 1715hrs *No photography or videography*
Evening viewing happens shortly after sunset — usually around 5:15 PM to 5:30 PM in late June. Gates usually open a bit earlier, so people can get seated before the penguins arrive from the sea. ABBATip: - You can check when's the best season to get a large number of returning Penguins to make it worth your while. - This is nature so they don't follow a schedule. - You're really paying for the conservation efforts. At one point staff were just throwing out facts to fill in the space between returning penguins. You're paying primarily for the conservation efforts of these cute penguins. In the summer there maybe up to 300 or more penguins returning all at once which would be a much more enjoyable and engaging experience, however the sun sets much later. In winter, the groups are small and maybe as little at 50 or less. We only watched about five groups of 5 or 7 penguins returning over a extended period, before the cold and wait was too much.
Though magical, this is nature and can be drawn out between groups as the penguin returned home. The premium seating are marginally more expensive so its really up to you.
Not everything goes as planned. Unfamiliar to us, especially in winter, due to black ice, snow, or freezing fog, NZTA often shuts the road overnight or during the coldest hours, reopening once crews have gritted and de-iced it—usually within a few hours at most which was a reprieve.
*Waiting for the snow to melt as best estimate was a 12noon.*
*Laying down Gritt to get the roads operational.*
*Making the most of our day with stunning views at the lake and make-shift sleds with cardboard boxes. The roads were finally open at about noon.*
The weather was rainy and in-fact views and scenic flights were all blocked for the day but we made the most and pivoted with some great views and salmon sashimi at Mt Cook Alpine Salmon Shop. Use this for road advisories of roads which are open or closed.
Views of Lake Pukaki
Mt Cook Alpine Salmon Shop
King Salmon whilst in New Zealand is a must. Deemed as one of the top prized salmon in the culinary world, one mustn't miss out on the opportunity to try out the uniquely textured and sweet salmon Sashimi!
We wanted somewhere warm and soupy. This place is a Thai, Japanese fusion place but tasted nothing close to either. A warm meal with some Asian comfort food. Click here for ABBA location of Ramen Tekapo
Hot Tub Under The Stars
We ended the night with Hot Tub fun under the beautiful stars.
Day 5 20June25 (The Chillax Round Loop to Omarama)
Lake Tekapo Airport
Checking out airplanes and hopefully going on one of this VFR flights another time. Some of the most beautiful pure VFR flying on and elevated 2500ft airport, 900m runway.
The Clay Cliffs feature towering pinnacles and narrow ravines, formed by ancient glacial deposits over a million years ago. Located on private land, entry costs $10 per vehicle via a donation box. After which its another 10mins drive to the where the cliffs are. ABBAtip: - Stick to the route. which pretty much walks straight and ends in cathedral like circle and loops back. Easy 1hour hike. - There are no washrooms on site and the last 10min drive does get bumpy.
Highly recommended and was really nice to see the layers and layers of materials formed over the years. Beautiful structures and a fun leisurely, picturesque 1hr hike there and back. Click here for ABBA location of Clay Cliffs
Omarama Hot Tubs NZD220 (Needs prior booking) Can be enjoyed day or night. 90mins/session 1630hrs Reserved 220NZD 3A2C Reservations required
The Omarama Hot Tubs offer private, wood-fired tubs with pure mountain water, stunning scenic views, and a soak under the stars. Perfect for a peaceful, natural spa experience in the Mackenzie Basin!
Highly recommended for the views and relaxation. The top-up water is safe to drink and they have changing rooms at each private tub. Sounds of nature and a chance to re-center after a long day out. Its just the transition from changing room to tub that's quite the challenge. As we were there a little earlier, they managed to shift our slot a little earlier. Each session is for 1.5hrs. Click here for ABBA location of Omarama Hot Tubs.
Day6 21Jun25 Change to Scenery to CHC city (Drive to the city 2hrs50mins total)
*Its all about the Journey. Coming along side this group of Dodge on a Roadtrip.*
Geraldine Stopover (1hr 5mins away)
Geraldine Vintage Car and Machinery Club Museum NZD15/Adult Free for Kids
The place does have some star items to check out. What's really nice is that most of these are free and easy to explore the ins and outs off. Most of the stuff gets repetitive after a while but this little stop over is great for kids and adults who like all things mechanical. Best of all interactive.
Famous for: Artisan foods, cheese, jams, chocolates. Absolute loved this place. Barker’s of Geraldine is famed in New Zealand for its fruit-forward preserves that balance high fruit content with less sugar—often at 20% more fruit and ~17% less sugar than traditional jams, focusing on flavor and quality .
Once you've seen the brand, you can look out for them in their local stores. The have great food as well as all their products, syrups, condiments are free to taste. That's the smartest marketing of food product done in a nice dining environment. Got me some chutneys and condiments. Amazing! Will be looking out for Barker products hence forth when in NZ or Australia. Foods good standing here. A little eat and shop experience and best of all, you can try their entire suite of products before buying! Really great. Click here for Barker's Foodstore and Eatery
Big Tree Peel Forest to walk
(20mins drive from Geraldine) *Entry from the left and exit from the right as pictured or vice versa* *Public washrooms are available.*
This is an easy 0.95 km (0.6 mile) loop trail near Geraldine, Canterbury, taking about 30minutes to complete. It’s great for hiking and walking, usually quiet, and features ancient trees up to 1000 years old, including a massive lowland tōtara nearly 3 meters wide. The track is suitable for all ages and abilities.
ABBATip:
Entering from the google point as indicated will bring you the loop around with views of the big trees progressing larger to the largest one at the end. Its a nice simple round loop.Click here for ABBA location of Big Tree Walk at Peel Forest.
(Big Tree Peel Forest to Christchurch city 1hr45mins drive)
Check-in to our New Accoms.
*Stocking up our fridge & our base of operations for the next dew days*
Jimmy's Smoke House
I'd say comparable Smokey ribs to Cafe De Klos, AMS and maybe even better than Rusticana's in Munich. Big, juicy, tender, smoky and not overly sweet lather of BBQ sauce. Those BBQ ribs are a must and the best so far ever had. Will return to try them again. Their Smokey burgers were really good too and well executed chicken wings.
Click here for ABBA location of Jimmy's Smokehouse
Day7
22Jun25
Happy Sunday in Wigram
Starting the day with a hearty breakfast in the new accoms.
Sunday Only!
The Riccarton Market
*Nice home bakers selling their cookies*
*Selling their cars from NZD3,5 and up for supposedly more rare collectable ones* *Artist and his pop arts for sale.*
One of the best and more enjoyable Sunday markets visited actually. They've got a great range of food options and lots of artisanal arts and crafts stores. From antiques, to fortune reading and casual bakes.
Airforce Museum of New Zealand NZD15 for entry here and free for the kids.
A quaint little set up. A decent range of aircrafts here but we personally enjoyed Aviation Museum at Ashburton, which had a larger range. A little more rustic but more interactive . Still a nice stop-over if in the area to checkout airplanes.
ABBATip:
- Always check the conditions if the ski slope is open before heading up. Weather conditions change and you maybe disappointed with a no ski day.
- There is an option for ski chain rentals at the base of the mountains so you are covered.
Castro's Christchurch
Heard great stuff about this place and finally being able to try.
Ordered On: 23Jun25 Lamb Picanha NZD28 Paella NZD78
Their Iconic Paella thou tasty was on the salty side. Ingredients and all were really fresh but it could cut down a tad on the salt. A serve would have fed three at most rather than as advertised for four. As for the Lamb Picanha, I'd rather stick to classic Beef Picanha. Click here for ABBA location of Castro
Day9 24Jun25
Ski Day 2 A great Ski Day
Ending the day with home cooked hotpot
Day10
25Jun25 (Getting to know the local wildlife) Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
Willowbank Wildlife Reserve offers up-close animal interactions and a relaxed, family-friendly experience. An absolute must! There's a decent cafe on-site for your meal needs and the well-curated animals was really enjoyable.
*Kea conditioned by researchers hoping if they give rocks they are will also get some treats from the keepers. Not happening.*
The NZ section which featured the Kea, the only Alpine Parrot in the world and the iconic Kiwi bird enclosure! Amazing and absolute must to checkout this place.
ABBBATIP: - Purchase the bird feeds! NZD4/bag. The large pallet feeds are good too but you get the most bang for your buck with the bird feeds. There are plenty of free roaming ducks, chickens, geese and other birds and its a really fun interactive experience for all at this quaint and incredibly picturesque zoo. - There are feeding times you can take note of but it isn't really necessary.
Fisherman’s Wharf Seafood Bar & Grill (With views of the log Harbor)
Researched as one of the places to get great views and amazing seafood.
Ordered On: 25Jun25 Salmon Risotto Muscles appetizers Mixed Seafood Two Children's meals
Seafood was a little pricy. Pretty decent meal but it really is out of the way if you don't have a car. A standalone restaurant which adds a little to the quaint and quirkiness to the place. I'd thought it'd be attached to a quaint port side town, but nope.
Day11 26Jun25 Home
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Summary of New Zealand Lake Tekapo & Ski Holiday June2025
Day1
SQ297
1950-0930
Collect Car Drive towards Lake Taekapo Rakaia (55mins from Christchurch international) - Spot iconic large salmon Ashburton (20mins from Rakaia) Drop by Township for pit stop attraction (Aviation) Drive to Lake Tekapo (1hr50mins from Ashburton) Stock up supplies Dine at Any of the many restaurant options at Lake Tekapo.
Day2 (Acclimation day) Enjoying Lake Tekapo Burkes Pass
Burkes Pass Heritage Village (15mins from Lake Tekapo)
Burkes Pass is a small historic stop with scenic views, vintage buildings, and quirky photo spots.
Day3
(Day trip out to Omaru to see the Penguins the main attraction) 2hr10min drive from Lake Takeapo Famous Breakfast pie at Fairlie Bakehouse pie (stop and eat or drive through) Riverstone for view and stretching out Whitestone Cheese Diner and Deli (for lunch) Steampunk Museum Lookout point See Penguins in Omaru Night (Booking required) Dinner at Scott's Brewing Company opens till 1130pm
Day4 (Changed plans due black ice.) Chill and relax. Lake Pukaki Views and King Salmon Shashimi Hot tub fun.
Day5 (Cliffs 1hr10mins) and (Pools relax) Lake Tekapo airport Salmon High Country for Lunch High Country Salmon farm Clay Cliffs Omarama Hot tubs NZD220 Available day and night. Dining Boots and Jandals, opens till 1130pm
Change of Scenery Day6 (Drive to the city 2hrs50mins)
Geraldine town for: Artisan foods — cheese, jams, chocolates.
Big Tree Peel Forest to walk. (20mins drive from Geraldine)
From Big Tree Peel Forest to Christchurch city 1hr45mins
Check-In Dinner in town
Day7 Riccarton Market Airforce Museum New Zealand
Day8 Ski Day1
Day9 Ski Day 2
Day10 (Getting to know the local wild life) Willowbank Wildlife Reserve 4.8 (4892)
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