New Zealand - Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo is in the Mackenzie Basin and is one of 3 such lakes.  It's used for leisure and hydro electricity

It's quite pretty, having mountains all around it

We went to Mount John, which is next to the lake and gives 360 degree views round the area

There was a storm, thankfully to the side of us as we climbed up

In the distance, the mountains of Mount Cook, National Park could be seen

It was only a 40 min walk to the top

And the weather held out for us :-)

Water skiers are rife here..

Lake Tekapo has the clearest skies in NZ, apparently, which is probably why they stuck an observatory on the top.  There was also a US tracking station here until recently

The campsite was full of youngsters, all learning things....like how to cross the road safely

The water is a turquoise colour due to 'rock flour' that's held as a suspension in the water.  It's basically fine rock particles that are ground down by the glaciers and water, and which then reflect the light in this band

These wild flowers are everywhere and must be very hardy

cos it isn't all sunshine up here, far from it

We took a walk along the shore to the small village here

This is the turbine propeller from when the dam was built in 1951.  Used til 1985 it would create 35000 hp at 150rpm - that's the equivalent of 467 Ford Fiestas!

The dam, though the generator is under the town in a tunnel

This is the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Built in 1935 as a joint effort with the Anglicans, Presbytarian and Catholic settlers and is actually labelled as an historic church!  Practically brand new....

It's only small and doesn't have stained glass behind the altar

Cos someone upstairs already took care of that, presumably...