Trip Date: December 16, 2015
2015 NEW ZEALAND ADVENTURE VACATION
Mt. John Trail Loop: Northeast Ridge to South Slope
Lake Tekapo
Mount John / Observatory (3376 ft / 1031 m)
Trip Report Summary
Region: New Zealand
Sub-Region: South Island
Sub-Sub-Region: Canterbury / Waitaha
Area: Lake Tekapo Recreation Area
Starting & Ending Point: Mt. John Walkway Trailhead on Lakeside Drive (Elev. 2350 feet / 720 meters)
Way Points: Lake Tekapo shoreline & Northeast John ridge & Mt. John Observatory & South John slope (trail hike via Mt. John Walkway)
Summit: Mt. John (hike via Northeast Ridge trail; descent via South Slope trail)
Approximate Stats: 5.0 miles / 8.0 kilometers traveled; 1250 feet / 380 meters gained & lost; 1.8 hours up; 0.8 hours down.
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Full Trip Report
Eileen, Brooke, Callum, and I started our New Zealand adventure vacation with a loop hike over the top of Mt. John in the Lake Tekapo Recreation Area. This area lies near the geographic center of the South Island.
We first followed the Mt. John Walkway northward along the shore of beautiful Lake Tekapo and then curved back to the south as the trail ascended to the summit (1.8 hours from TH). The afternoon was cold and windy, so we took shelter in the observatory cafeteria—until it closed for the day scant minutes after our arrival.
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To make a rapid descent, we descended via the short south-side trail, which got us back to our starting point in a mere 45 minutes. It was a fairly quick outing but did give us a nice initial sample of New Zealand’s mountain scenery.
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Photo Gallery
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