Lake Tekapo to go

We had a somewhat restless night: We were awakened just before four by a minute-long siren sound outside! No idea what that meant. Some houses around us were lit, but no one was outside. We didn’t see or hear anything from the 'officials' either… we lay back down but our thoughts kept circling around the warning tone. After all, we were in an earthquake zone, and who knows how warnings are given for that?

Eventually, we fell asleep again because the chalet didn’t move and everything was as before.

The morning started with tidying up and packing our clothes. Today we had to head to Christchurch, return the car, and check into the hotel at the airport.

When we left Twizel, it was completely cloudy. Gray clouds displayed a 50-Shades-of-Grey look. We thought about the day before, when it at least looked better at the start than today. And whether the tourists we met in the car or bus heading to see Mount Cook, since it was on a tight schedule, would have the same experience as we did yesterday, we doubted.

Our tour to Christchurch took us past Lake Tekapo. The weather was mixed, yet we stopped. The place by the lake is a popular tourist spot. Here, one can observe the stars very well at night, similar to what we experienced in our Tiny House at Golden Bay. At Lake Tekapo, there’s an observatory on a nearby mountain that explains the stars to those willing to pay. Large parts of the entire region are considered a Dark Sky Region, where one can particularly observe stars well because the light pollution there is said to be unique worldwide.

Besides the opportunity for 'stargazing' on a cloud-free night, one can admire the lake’s turquoise waters during the day. A picturesque highlight is a small chapel located on a peninsula at the edge of the lake. The 'Church of the Good Shepherd' is a beautiful motif both during the day and at night when the stars can be seen. Some photographic evidence can be viewed in the town itself. We found it curious how modern the church leaders were in asking for donations. They made it simple by installing a box with a card reader at the entrance, allowing visitors to donate 5 NZ$ in the easiest way possible. Cashing in, um, donating while passing by… smart idea…

The weather improved a bit, became brighter and one can somewhat see mountains in the distance over the lake.

For us, it was more like 'Yawn', as we had the full view of Mount Cook yesterday.

We took a few pictures of the lake, the lupins, and the chapel and then continued on to Christchurch. Returned the car and took the shuttle to the airport hotel. Tomorrow at 6:15 AM the flight to Sydney takes off.

So today: Bye-Bye New Zealand! It was nice being with you. Especially on the South Island.