Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo is about three hours drive south-west of Christchurch in the Mackenzie Basin. The township faces north across the remarkable turquoise coloured lake to the mountainous drama of the Southern Alps. Lake Tekapo gets its intense milky-turquoise colour from the fine rock-flour (ground by glaciers) which is suspended in the water.

The first people to live in the Mackenzie Basin were Maori. They quarried stone for tools, fished for eel, hunted birds and established summer camps along the rivers and lakes. European settlers didn't really know about the area until the mid 1800s, when a Scottish shepherd named Jock Mackenzie was arrested for sheep stealing. He ventured into this high country to hide his stolen flock from the eyes of the law.

On the shores on the lake you'll see the beautiful Church of the Good Shepherd, where the altar window frames a perfect view of Mount Cook. Close by is the ""sheepdog monument"" - a bronze statue sculpted to recognise the district's debt to the sheepdog ""without the help of which the grazing of the mountainous country would be impossible"".

There are walking tracks following the lake shore. For huge views of the Mackenzie Basin you can hike up to Mount John Observatory (1031 metres) or Cowans Hill.

Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park

This national park is home to the highest mountains and the largest glaciers in New Zealand. It has 19 peaks more than 3000 metres high, including Aoraki/Mount Cook which is a sky-scraping 3754 metres tall. The road to the park runs along the Tasman Valley beside Lake Pukaki, which is fabulously blue due to the glacier-ground rock particles that are suspended in its waters. At the end of the valley you'll find Mount Cook village and the most amazing alpine scenery you can imagine.

While there are 17 Department of Conservation huts in this national park, most are positioned beyond the reach of the average traveller - you'd need mountaineering skills to reach them. For non-climbing visitors, there's a great variety of alpine day walks beginning near Mount Cook village. Two of the most popular are the Kea Point Walk and Hooker Valley Track.

The Kea Point Walk begins near the Hermitage Hotel. The trail gently winds its way through sub-alpine grasslands and scrub to the Mueller Glacier moraine wall. The walk ends at a viewing deck that gives stunning views of Mount Sefton and the Footstool, the Hooker Valley, Mueller Glacier Lake and Aoraki/Mount Cook.

The Hooker Valley Track begins at the visitor centre and leads up the Hooker Valley towards Aoraki/Mount Cook. The track passes close to the Alpine Memorial, which is a great viewpoint.The route crosses the Hooker River twice (on swingbridges) before eventually reaching the Hooker Glacier terminal lake.

Local operators can help you to explore the park in other ways - scenic flights, guided hikes, ski touring, glacier adventures and instructional climbing expeditions.

Canterbury Plains

The Canterbury Plains is an area of braided rivers and pastoral perfection between the Southern Alps and the Pacific Ocean. As flat as a billiard table, the plains are a remarkable sight from the air - a patchwork of agricultural activity that ranges from grazing grass and wheat to herbs and sunflowers. The area produces more than 80% of New Zealand's grains, crops and seeds.

The Canterbury Plains are formed from the alluvial shingle fans of several large rivers - the Waimakariri, Raikaia, Selwyn and Rangitata. These rivers provide all kinds of entertainment - trout and salmon fishing, jet boating, rafting and kayaking.

One of the best ways to explore the Canterbury Plains is to follow State Highway 72, which is known as the Inland Scenic Route. This rural main road follows the western boundary of the plains and takes you to a succession of country towns. Farm stays and luxury lodges let you sample Canterbury's country life. Around Mount Hutt, you can venture into the Southern Alps or drive along the Rakaia River to beautiful Lake Coleridge.