Mt John Village & The Cairns, Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo village: Above SH8, close to Aorangi Cres, were 2 housing developments behind Lake Tekapo School - Mt John Village, named after Mt John Station & The Cairns, complete with golf course, lake & Alpine views. Both developments had new infrastructure & housing. During the years Leah worked at Lake Tekapo, new houses were continually being built.

As both developments were close to farmlands, there were several farm tracks to be walked or jogged over golden hilltop grasslands.

Off Aorangi Cres, Andrew Don Dr left Mt John Village housing & became a gravel road going down to Tekapo River. Shortly along the gravel road, after going though a farm gate, I followed a farm track up to the top of the hill. The farm track, sidled past a pine forest which stopped erosion above Tekapo River, went past a radio mast & continued on the other side of the hill to Canal Rd going to Tekapo A power station.

My favourite circular walk was to turn right at the top of the hill by another farm gate, after admiring Alpine views of course & follow The Cairns golf course fencing towards Mt John & SH8.

In the E, I saw Mt Edward, Mt Maude, Tekapo Saddle, Mt Dobson, Two Thumbs Range, Mt Ardmore, Mt Richmond. In the NE, Roundhill ski resort beckoned above Lake Tekapo. In the N, Two Thumbs Range curved W to The Thumbs peaks & beyond to Mt Chevalier. Closer Mt John obscured N views of Mt Erebus, Mt Sibbald & Mt Mistake.

In the W, Ben Ohau Range dominated with peaks from S to N - Mt Stafford, Ben Ohau, Backbone Peak, Mackenzie Peak, The Razorback, Dun Fiunary, Glentanner Peak, Mt Sealy, Mt Sefton. Thereafter, Braemar Dome & Mt Stevenson obscured Mt Cook & associated peaks. We had to drive along SH8 towards Lake Pukaki & Twizel for those views.

Below the peaks smaller westwards ranges could be seen: Old Mans Range, with Tekapo Military Camp below & Mary Range above Lake Pukaki.

Going downhill beyond The Cairns golf course, a reservoir on the left, the farm track turned left towards the airport, SH8 & Godley Peaks Rd turnoff to Mt John. A right turn & the airport track took me above SH8 back to Lake Tekapo village. Along the way I enjoyed views from 3 Lions benches above SH8. The circular walk around The Cairns golf course took about 1 hour.

Copyright Mark JS Esslemont.