Access

Mount John Walkway is signposted from near the Tekapo Springs complex in Tekapo. Follow the lakeshore road 1 km, passing the campground, to the parking area on the left.

Track

It’s a steady ascent of over 300 metres to Mount John. At first you are passing through coniferous forests, with a dusty sparse understorey. Breaking out of the vegetation near the summit is the start of the breathtaking views over the vast expanse of McKenzie Country and New Zealand highest peaks in the distance.

Stop for a coffee.

The Summit Circuit continues in a direction looking up the lake as it starts it’s descent through the sheep grazed paddocks. The track is signposted, but can be difficult to decipher. There are occasional orange topped poles and stiles.

The track eventually doubles back on itself, skirting above the turquoise lake waters, re-entering forest before arriving back near the hot springs complex.

Stop for a soak.

Geology

The McKenzie country is a moonscape. This elevated plateau was infilled by the outwash of glaciations. During Ice Ages, glaciers forming in the high peaks of the Southern Alps, disgorged vast quantities of material during their retreat. These meltwater rivers carried gravels, sands and silts, dumping their load in the natural contours and flattening them out.

Lying at altitude of over 600 metres and being in the rainshadow of the mountains, the dry, cold country around Lake Tekapo experiences a continental climate similar to Siberia. Summers are very hot, winters are very cold and there is little rainfall. This is why the area is so arid and dusty.

Flora

Introduced lupins flower in December and January creating foreground for the enviable photos collected by international travellers.

Polynesian History

Maori rarely venture into these isolated parts, although it is likely they would have chased moa, who browsed the totara colonising the area.

European History

James McKenzie is one of those characters who has become larger that life over the course of time. So much has embellished the facts, that it is difficult to separate fact from fiction when recounting stories of his eventful life.

It is known he was imprisoned in 1855 on the charge of stealing sheep from Level Station. He travelled Canterbury and Otago with his bullock and dog, Friday. He was known for his cunning, strength and rebellious spirit - qualities that endeared him to the many other sheep drovers and farm workers, resentful of the rules and regulation imposed by wealthy landowners.

It is said McKenzie ‘discovered’ the area that now bear his name on one of his forays with sheep he was either droving or stealing.