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 new Alpine Springs features outdoor hot pools, spa and outdoor ice rink--definitely worth a visit! The Church of the Good Shepherd and the sheepdog statue are great photo opportunities. Lake Tekapo is given its intense milky-turquoise hue by fine rock-flour, dust ground by glacial movement and held in suspension by the lake's waters.

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 - 3755m). The Hermitage Hotel features the newly created Sir Edmund Hillary Centre. Here you can learn about the history of mountaineering, take in a 3-D film of the Southern Alps and Mt.Cook or view the Southern Night Sky in the planetarium.

The easy drive to Omarama leads you through picturesque sheep farming country fringed with mountain ranges. This area’s unique geography has made it a magnet for gliding enthusiasts. The northwesterly wind blows steadily to form the famous Northwest Arch, a thermal that can take the glider pilots to 10,000 metres. From here you will head into the dramatic Lindis Pass which links the Mackenzie Basin with Central Otago, these stark and uncompromising landscapes have a beauty all of their own. If they look familar its because they were used as the Misty Mountains surrounding Rivendell in Peter Jackson's film The Lord of the Rings.