Tekapo Springs – Mackenzie Country's winter wonderland: hot pools, snow tubing, ice skating and stargazing
- teamthomastravels
- 2 hours ago
- 8 min read
Halfway between Christchurch and Queenstown, Lake Tekapo is beautiful at any time of year, but autumn and winter bring a completely different feel to this part of New Zealand's South Island. As snow settles on the mountains surrounding the turquoise lake, temperatures drop and the landscape takes on an unmistakably alpine feel.
Right beside the water, at the base of Mt. John, Tekapo Springs combines warm outdoor pools with a whole host of seasonal winter activities. You can spend the morning racing down a snowy slope in a tube, building snowmen or skating on the outdoor ice rink, before warming up in the complex's famous hot pools, 720 metres above sea level.
It's the sort of place where you don't have to be a skiing or snowboarding enthusiast to enjoy a proper winter experience and the site is accessible for all ages: Older children can try snow tubing, younger kids can explore the snow play area and everyone can finish the day warming up in the steaming hot pools surrounded by incredible views.
Add in the option to go stargazing beneath some of the darkest skies in the world, and Tekapo Springs makes a pretty special addition addition to a Mackenzie Country holiday.
One thing to keep in mind when planning a visit from the Northern Hemisphere: New Zealand's seasons are the opposite of ours. Winter runs from June to August and autumn from March to May, so the snowy scenes you'll see in this guide correspond to the months we'd normally associate with summer in the UK/US/Europe.
Things to do at Tekapo Springs in autumn and winter
One of the best things about Tekapo Springs is the variety of activities on offer. You can spend a few hours here enjoying just one or two experiences, or make a full day of it by combining the snow activities with time in the pools.
Relax in the hot pools
Let's start with the obvious one! Tekapo Springs' hot pools are open year-round and are arguably at their most enjoyable during the colder months. Filled with pure underground spring water, rather than being geothermal, there are three heated pools to choose from, ranging from 36.5°C to 38.5°C, with the hottest pool reserved for adults, along with cooler pools and a kids' Aqua Play area, with temperatures ranging from 28°C to 32°C.
What makes the hot pools particularly special in winter is being able to sit in warm water with the cold air around you and snow-covered mountains stretching out beyond. After a day of hiking or a busy afternoon snow tubing, take advantage of the massage jets in Pukaki pool to relieve those aches and pains. And as the sun sets, you can watch the mountains change colour and soak beneath the stunning stars of a protected dark sky reserve.
Steam, sauna and cold plunge
If you're visiting without children, or simply fancy some extra relaxation time, Tekapo Springs also has a steam room, cedar-lined sauna and cold plunge pool available as an additional upgrade to your pool admission: a nice option for adults who want to turn a visit to Tekapo Springs into a little more of a spa-style experience.
The Steam and Sauna area is available to guests aged 16 and over and has space for up to 10 people at a time. The traditional sauna can be used with water poured over the hot stones to create extra steam, while the separate steam room offers a more humid way to unwind. If you're feeling brave, there's also a cold plunge pool, designed as an invigorating contrast to the heat of the steam room and sauna.
Explore the Snow Play area
If your children are too young for some of the more adventurous winter activities, the Snow Play area a gentler way to enjoy the winter weather. There's snow to explore, snowmen to build and a tobogganing area - the perfect way for younger children to experience snow for the first time.
And snow play isn't just for children - if you're not used to snowy winters, throwing snowballs, building your own creations and simply getting stuck in can be just as enjoyable for adults.
Race down the Snow Tube Park
For something a little more exciting, head to the Snow Tube Park, open from around May/June until October, weather dependent. Instead of needing skis or a snowboard, you climb into a large inflatable tube and whizz down the 150-metre snowy slope either by yourself or with friends and family. A magic carpet takes you back to the top, so there's no exhausting walk back up the hill between runs.
Children need to be at least 1 metre tall to use the Snow Tube Park.
Take to the ice
During the autumn and winter months (generally from mid-April until the end of August), Tekapo Springs opens its international-sized outdoor ice skating rink! Whether you're already confident on the ice or spending most of your session clinging to the side, it's another fun way to enjoy the winter weather.
Skates and helmets are provided, with helmets compulsory for everyone on the ice. Children also need to skate independently (balance frames are available), as they cannot be carried on the rink, so bear this in mind if you're visiting with very young children.
Stargazing at Tekapo Springs
Tekapo's famous night skies provide another reason to stay longer at Tekapo Springs; The region sits within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, making it one of the world's best places for stargazing!
The 90 minute Tekapo Stargazing experience combines a guided look at the Southern Hemisphere's night sky with plenty of time to relax and enjoy it from the warmth of a hot pool. To begin with, your guide will introduce you to the stars, planets and other features visible overhead, mixing astronomy with stories and answering questions along the way.
The second half of the experience is all about relaxing. Your group will enjoy exclusive use of a hot pool, heated to a very comfortable 37.5–38.5°C, where you can settle into the warm water and take in the night sky while your guide points out the celestial features above you.
Bear in mind that the stargazing experience is a separate activity from general admission to the pools, and is aimed at children aged 10 and above and adults.
Treat yourself at the Glacial Day Spa
If you're looking to make your visit to Tekapo Springs a little more indulgent, the Glacial Day Spa offers a range of massage and beauty treatments, with four therapy rooms overlooking the hot pools, Lake Tekapo and the surrounding mountains.
Treatments include a variety of massages and facials, with products from brands including Pure Fiji, FIR and Image Skincare. There are also group booking options, suitable for couples, friends or special occasions.
Treatments are available for guests aged 15 and over, and pre-booking is recommended. Clients between the ages of 15 and 17 will need a parent or guardian to sign their consultation form.
Take a break and refuel at Altitude 720 Café & Bar
If all that snow play has worked up an appetite, you don't have to leave the site to find something to eat: Altitude 720 Café & Bar is located within Tekapo Springs, making it an easy option for lunch or a snack without interrupting your day.
The menu changes with the seasons and there's a good range of options, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices. For something quick, you'll find sandwiches, slices, pies and sausage rolls, while the kitchen serves more substantial dishes including fish and chips, nachos, pizzas and waffle chicken. There are children's meals too, as well as ice cream and homemade carrot cake if you've got room for something sweet.
There's plenty for the grown-ups too. Altitude 720 is fully licensed, with House of Hop craft beer brewed just down the road in Geraldine, alongside Emerson's beers from Dunedin and a selection of local wines. There's also a good choice of non-alcoholic drinks, including fresh juices, smoothies, milkshakes, soft drinks and coffee made with beans roasted on-site.
The choice of seating is another bonus. In winter, you can warm up indoors beside the fire, while the outdoor tables beside the ice rink are a good option when the weather is playing ball. There's also a balcony overlooking Lake Tekapo, so you can sit down for lunch and enjoy the views without having to leave the springs.
Tekapo Springs prices and tickets
There are several different ticket options at Tekapo Springs, so the best choice depends on how much of the park you want to experience.
If you're mainly visiting for the pools, an All Pools & Aqua Play Day Pass costs:
NZ$42 for adults
$25 for children aged 3-15
$112 for a family of two adults and two children.
Children under three are free. The pass allows multiple entries throughout the day, which is useful if you want to dip in and out of the pools around the other activities.
If you'd prefer to try one of the winter activities alongside the pools, there are several combination tickets available.
A Soak + Skate pass costs:
$60 per adult
$41 per child
$174 for a family
while Soak + Tube costs:
$68 per adult
$43 per child
$188 for a family
You can also book the winter activities individually.
Ice skating costs:
$25 for adults
$20 for children
$82 for a family
Snow Tubing costs:
$34 for adults
$23 for children
$97 for a family.
Snow Play can be added separately for $10 per child.
If you want to try everything, the Winter Super Combo includes the hot pools, ice skating and snow tubing. It costs:
$86 for an adult
$66 for a child
$264 for a family of two adults and two children
That's a saving of around 15% compared with buying the activities separately.
For adults aged 16 and over, the Steam & Sauna experience can be added to pool admission for $15. This gives you access to the steam room, sauna and cold plunge.
One thing to be aware of is that Snow Tubing works slightly differently from the other activities. Your tube ticket is for a one-hour pre-booked session, with additional rides afterwards subject to availability. Ice skating and the hot pools, on the other hand, are all-day tickets with multiple entry.
Skates and helmets are provided for ice skating, with helmets compulsory for everyone on the ice. Helmets are also provided and compulsory in the Snow Tube Park.
The family prices listed above are based on two adults and two children, and children under three are free for the pool admission.
As prices and seasonal opening arrangements can change, it's worth checking the latest information on the Tekapo Springs website before your visit.
What to wear and bring to Tekapo Springs
If you're visiting Tekapo Springs during autumn or winter, you'll need to pack for both the cold outdoors and the warm water! For the winter activities, come prepared for proper alpine weather. Warm layers, a waterproof jacket and trousers, a hat, gloves and thick socks are all worth packing, while waterproof footwear is particularly useful if you're planning to spend time in the Snow Play area. If you're planning to ice skate, you'll want to stay warm on the rink too, particularly if you're new to skating and expect to spend some time sitting on the ice! Skates and helmets are provided, so there's no need to bring your own unless you prefer to.
For the hot pools, you'll need your usual swimming gear and a towel. Tekapo Springs hires out towels, swimsuits and robes for $10 each, and the on-site shop stocks swimwear, towels and other pool essentials if you've forgotten something.
And don't forget sun protection. Even in winter, you'll be spending plenty of time outdoors, and bright alpine conditions and snow can make sunglasses and sunscreen particularly useful. Tekapo Springs' shop stocks sunglasses, hats and sunscreen if you need to pick anything up during your visit.
Useful information:
Address: 300 Lake Side Drive, Lake Tekapo
Parking: Tekapo Springs has plenty of free car and bus parking on site.
Changing facilities: Lockers and male/female changing rooms are available on site.
Swimwear: Swimsuits, towels and robes are available for hire at $10 per item, and waterproof nappies are also available to purchase on site.
For any other FAQs and the most up to date information about Tekapo Springs' special offers, pricing and opening times, visit their website.
You can also follow them on Instagram!
