Lake Tekapo

At base of Mount Cook

Lake Tekapo is the second-largest of three roughly parallel lakes running north–south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin (the others are Lake Pukaki and Lake Ohau). The lake is fed at its northern end by the braided Godley River. Lake Tekapo gets its intense milky- turquoise colour from the fine rock-flour (ground by glaciers) which is suspended in the water.

Church of the Good

Shepherd

On the lake shore is the beautiful Church of the Good Shepherd, where the altar window frames a perfect view of the Southern Alps beyond the lake. The church was built in 1935 for the pioneer families of the Mackenzie District. The altar was the gift of Francis Hope in memory of Arthur Hope (died 1935 aged 81yrs), owner of the Richmond Station 1880-97 and their daughter Roma Spencer- Smith who died in Exeter, Devon in 1918 aged 28. Exeter is my birthplace.