Highlights of the Day
New Zealand’s beauty truly lived up to expectations. After a smooth car rental in Christchurch, we embarked on a three-hour scenic drive to Lake Tekapo, surrounded by lush greenery and rolling hills. The massive free-range sheep reminded me of Germany, though ChatGPT confirmed no strong German ancestry.
Lake Tekapo’s surreal blue-green hue, caused by glacial rock flour, was breathtaking. A lakeside stroll, the Church of the Good Shepherd, and stone-stacking added to the charm. Dinner at Kohan was decent, but jet lag won over a late-night stargazing tour. A perfect first day in this stunning country!
Logistics
Accommodation: SKYRIM LODGE (highly recommended)
Transportation: Rental Car
I had always heard about New Zealand’s beauty, and today I finally experienced it.
The plane landed in Christchurch, and renting a car was smooth. No one kept pushing me to buy extra insurance. The drive from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo took three hours, surrounded by lush greenery. From public parks to private gardens and rolling hills in the distance, the light green grass and deep green trees complemented each other beautifully. The locals’ dedication to greenery and aesthetics was impressive.
If not for the occasional flocks of sheep and herds of cattle, I might have thought I was in Germany again. Out of curiosity, I even asked ChatGPT whether the locals had German ancestry. The answer was no.
The sheep here were massive, with sagging bellies and some looking as plump as little pigs. Their free-range lifestyle seemed far happier than being confined in pens.
Driving through this green paradise, the three-hour journey passed quickly.
Arriving at the famous Lake Tekapo, I was stunned by its striking blue-green color. It looked like a giant gemstone set among the hills. This vibrant hue came from glacial rock flour, fine particles created as upstream glaciers ground against rocks. When sunlight hit the water, it reflected this surreal color.
A lakeside stroll under the sun was pure bliss. On one side, the crystal-clear lake stretched endlessly, while on the other, dense forests and fragrant lavender filled the air. Time seemed to slow down.
Across the bridge lay a small peninsula, home to the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd. This area was an International Dark Sky Reserve, offering one of the best places for stargazing.
On the island, a few people were stacking stones to create prayer towers. Curious, I tried building one myself and managed to balance 14 stones. Nearby, a family was working together—two boys built a tower taller than themselves while their parents and siblings gathered stones. It was a fun and heartwarming sight.
For dinner, we went to the well-known Japanese restaurant, Kohan. Many larger groups without reservations were turned away, but since we were only two, we got a small table. Inside, most diners were part of tour groups, each served a standard Japanese set meal.
We ordered salmon sashimi and tonkatsu. The food was decent.
We debated joining a stargazing tour, but it ran from 10 p.m. to past midnight. With jet lag hitting hard, sleep seemed like the better choice. 😃
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