Lake Tekapo, from Burkes Pass, New Zealand

The cloud was low and it stopped drizzling in the morning, so we set off for the Lake at 11am. It is about 15 km from Burkes Pass at 700m elevation, to the church of the good shepherd and the dog statue at the southernmost part of Lake Tekapo. This little place was buzzing with tourists.

The dog statue is a tribute to the collies who worked the sheep with the shepherds of the area.

The church was built in 1935 and is a small stone structure with an excellent vantage over the lake, which can be seen through a large picture window behind the altar. The buses were disgorging Chinese tourists when we arrived to look around. There must be many Chinese visiting, as our motel has instructions in English and in Chinese.

From the church of the good shepherd we went into the village to look around the tourist shops, full of merino wool and possum blend sweaters, gloves and hats. It is quite cold in their summer in January, so the winter must be pretty bleak.

We took a drive up the west coast of Lake Tekapo to Lake McGregor and Lake Alexandrina, where there was a remote campsite with the most basic of facilities (almost nothing more than a long drop toilet) and we ate our picnic lunch surrounded by ducks and sparrows at the water's edge. None of the tourists had ventured beyond Lake Tekapo village, where even the fish and chip shops have Chinese menus, and there are two Chinese restaurants!

The cloud was too low for any views of Mount Cook beyond the lakes.

Opposite our little motel at Burkes Pass there is the ancient tiny church of Burkes Pass, built in 1871, and there are some quaint old fashioned shops and a vintage petrol station (not dispensing any petrol now).

St Patrick's - the oldest union church in New Zealand

The old Blacksmith's shop is actually our hotel art gallery, but some joker has re-sited the sign over a tin shed next to the three creeks service station.

Below is the whole settlement of Burkes Pass on the opposite side to the charming little art gallery and motel. Although there are more luxurious places to stay on the shores of Tekapo, I think this little place has more charm and atmosphere. Julie Grieg, who runs the place, is an exceptional artist who paints mainly shepherds and their dogs and horses.