Lupins Lake Tekapo: When And Where You Can See Them
The lupins in Lake Tekapo have become one of the most iconic things to see while visiting New Zealand’s South Island!
During my 2 years living in New Zealand, I was lucky enough to see not one but two colourful lupin blooms! It’s my absolute favourite time to be there and the perfect time to go on a South Island road trip.
Towards the end of each year, the South Island is coated in an explosion of colour and lupins cover the countryside, roadsides and river banks. Lake Tekapo is not only one of my favourite places to visit in New Zealand but it is one of the best spots to see the lupins.
In this guide, I’ll tell you what time of year you can see the lupins at Lake Tekapo and where else you can find them while visiting New Zealand.
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When The Lupins Are In Bloom
Sadly, the lupins are only about for a few short months a year so if you have your heart set on seeing them, you’ll need to time your trip well!
The lupin season in New Zealand’s South Island, including Lake Tekapo, generally runs from mid-November to early January. Some years mid-November is a bit too soon depending on the weather so if you want to be in for a good shot, late November onwards is best! Although lupins can still be found in January, the lupins may have started to die off if the summer has been a very hot one.
In my opinion, the best time of year to visit New Zealand to see the lupins is throughout the month of December.
Where To Find Lupins At Lake Tekapo
Lupins can be found all around Lake Tekapo and you don’t have to look far to find them! Lupins love water and a sea of pink and purple flowers can often be found near the edge of the lake.
Although lupins do tend to reappear in the same areas each year, it’s never certain they’ll be in the exact spot again. We found this out firsthand. After spotting a huge field of them once, I made sure to mark their location on my map, excited for a return visit the next year. But when we came back, the field where they bloomed had vanished! We still managed to find them in plenty of other locations but I hadn’t even considered that this could happen!
That being said these locations in and around Tekapo are always good starting points to find those beautiful lupins!
The Church Of The Good Shepherd
Located on the edge of Lake Tekapo, the Church of the Good Shepherd is an iconic spot all year round. With its stunning backdrop of the lake and the snow-capped mountains of the Southern Alps, it really is a beautiful spot. But in the summer months, the church is also surrounded by a blanket of vibrant lupins!
As this is such a beautiful and easily accessible spot, don’t be surprised if there are crowds and a few tour buses here. To avoid the madness (and trust me it does get busy!), I recommend visiting either really early or really late in the day.
Lake Tekapo Foreshore
The lupins in Lake Tekapo aren’t only found by the Church of the Good Shepherd, they can be found pretty much anywhere around the lake!
You won’t have to wander far to see them while exploring the water edge but this Lupin Viewpoint, Pines Beach and the Lake Tekapo Lookout are some great spots around the foreshore for lupins.
The Road To Lake Alexandrina
Godley Peaks Road runs from Lake Tekapo, passing by Mount John Observatory and leading towards Lake Alexandrina.
During the lupin season, it’s a great spot to catch sight of these colourful flowers coating the roadside.
The Fields After Tekapo (Heading North)
An often overlooked spot to find lupins is the field just outside of Tekapo township. As you head north out of town, towards Burkes Pass, you’ll spot a field on your left-hand side, about a 2-minute drive from Tekapo.
This field is packed to the edges with lupins and it’s like a thick blanket of pink and purple. There is a pull-in on the opposite side of the road where you can safely park up.
History of New Zealand’s Lupins
It’s believed that originally the Russell lupin was introduced to New Zealand’s South Island to be used as soil fertilizer for grazing farm animals. For this it does a great job, however, there is another story on how lupins came to be in the MacKeznie area (and it’s one that I much prefer!).
The tale goes that back in the 1950s, lupins found their way into the area courtesy of a farmer’s wife named Connie Scott who felt that the island was in need of a pop of colour. Connie took matters into her own hands and bought £100 worth of seeds that she secretly spread along the roadsides in the hopes of making the world a more beautiful place.
Whichever of these is true, possibly a mix of both, the lupins in New Zealand are a very controversial topic! As beautiful as they are, they are actually weeds and are classed as an invasive species by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation. The flowers spread and take root easily, especially along waterways, and they have been a growing issue for the country’s endemic birds.
Over the last few years, there has been an attempt to contain where the lupins grow. Although I don’t think they will ever be completely eradicated due to the amount of visitors they attract.
Where Else You Can See Lupins In New Zealand
In case you didn’t know, you won’t find any lupins while exploring trails on the North Island as they have been contained to the South Island only. I didn’t do my research before my first ever trip to New Zealand (long before I moved here) where I only visited the North Island. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t just a little disappointed when I learned that I wouldn’t be seeing any lupins during that trip.
But you’ll be pleased to know that lupins aren’t only found in the Lake Tekapo area! There are loads of amazing places to visit on the South Island where you’ll be able to find them.
Omarama & The Ahuriri River
About an hour south of Tekapo, is the small town of Omarama. Here you can sometimes see lupins lining the roadside but the real star of the show is the Ahuriri River that runs behind the town.
There are a few laybys along the road heading south from the town and if you park as close as possible to this viewpoint, you can walk down to the edge of the river where you’ll find tons of lupins.
The Road Between Queenstown And Wanaka
Another great place to see lupins is on the road between Queenstown and Wanaka! Once you’ve zig-zagged your way up Crown Range Road and have passed the lookout, you’ll be able to see lupins all along the roadside and covering the hills.
But we didn’t only see the pink and purple lupins here though, we also saw some yellow lupins too!
Queenstown
While exploring Queenstown, you’ll be able to find lupins scattered all across the town. A great place to look will be along the shores of Lake Wakatipu as lupins love being near water!
My favourite lupin spot in Queenstown though is along the Twin Rivers Trail near Shotover Bridge! You’ll need to park up at Tucker Beach Trail Parking and head along the trail until you are near the river edge.
Another place where I regularly saw lupins in Queenstown was along the roadside on the drive from the centre of town towards Arthurs Point.
Lindis Pass
The Lindis Pass is a scenic road that you will travel along to get from Queenstown to Lake Tekapo. It is a beautiful spot all year round and the mountains have a stunning golden glow.
Although you won’t see lupins along the whole journey, you’ll definitely see patches of them near rivers and along the roadside.
This is a state highway and although there are lots of laybys for you to stop in you will need to be extra cautious!
Glenorchy
The road from Queenstown to Glenorchy is one of the most scenic in New Zealand but from mid-November – January you’ll find pink, purple and yellow lupins decorating the road.
Glenorchy is nestled at the top of Lake Wakatipu and is by the mouth of the Dart River, and all around the quaint town, you’ll find small pockets of lupins. When we visited, there was a big patch of yellow lupins on the left side of the road just before you entered the town.
Lake Pukaki
Lake Tekapo’s neighbour, Lake Pukaki, is just a 30-minute drive away and has a stunning backdrop of snowy mountains including the mighty Mount Cook.
It’s not only this backdrop that makes this location so stunning though, the water at Lake Pukaki has a milky blue colour caused by glacial flour, and it’s this colour that the lake is so well known for. Tie this in with colourful lupins, this really is a stop you shouldn’t miss.
Clay Cliffs
You can actually see the Clay Cliffs from Omarama as they are on the other side of the Ahuriri River. It’s quite an unusual place to visit and their tall, pointy peaks and jagged edges have been carved by nature over countless years.
As this is also along the edge of the Ahuriri River, it’s probably no surprise that you won’t need to look far to see those tell tale patches of pink and purple!
Be Safe When Lupin Spotting
You might be thinking that this sounds like a bit of an odd thing to say but when I tell you that many accidents have been caused by people lupin spotting, I’m being completely serious!
Many of these accidents are caused by people suddenly slamming on the brakes when they notice a lupin field near the side of the road. Please do not do this, we had a few occasions where James had to react really fast to situations like this.
If you spot some lupins that you want to take some pictures of, wait until you see a designated layby as these are everywhere along New Zealand roads, and park up when it’s safe to do so. If you need to turn back, find a place that is suitable to do so. No picture is worth your or anyone else’s safety.
Where To Stay In Lake Tekapo
Although the lupins are beautiful and they might be your main reason for visiting Lake Tekapo, there are actually loads of things to do there such as stargazing and hiking. If you’re not just passing through, you’ll want to find somewhere to rest your head!
For a more luxurious stay, Alpine Lodge is a great place to stay in Tekapo and has views over the lake and snowy mountains. There is a hot tub on site, perfect for a soak and some stargazing in the evening.
If you’re looking for mid-range accommodation, Skyrim Lodge is set just a 15-minute walk from the centre of town. It has some mountain views and has all the amenities you need for your stay.
You’ll be pleased to know that Lake Tekapo also has budget-friendly accommodation right on the lake’s edge! Haka House has a shared kitchen, a lounge and a choice of private rooms or dorm rooms.
If you’re camping on the South Island then Lake’s Edge Holiday Park has tent and camper sites right on the edge of the water.
Final Thoughts: Lupins Lake Tekapo: When And How You Can See Them
For the best chances for you to see the lupins while visiting Lake Tekapo, you’ll need to make sure you visit sometime between the end of November and early January.
But don’t forget Lake Tekapo isn’t the only place on the South Island where you can see these flowers. Bursts of colour can be found all across the MacKenzie and Otago regions and you’ll be able to get those Instagrammable pics pretty much wherever you go!