Lupin Flowers Scenic Tour

Lupin Flowers Tour Lake Tekapo

5 reviews

from $237.70 per person

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Duration: 3 hours
Meeting point: Lake Tekapo
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
On board: Coffee, tea and a light snack included
Run by: Tekapo Adventures

Overview

Tekapo Adventures runs this three-hour lupin tour out of Lake Tekapo township, with a 09:00 start from outside Aotea Gifts, beside the Kiwi bird and sheep statue. The group is capped at six travellers, and the driver-guide, a local, gives live commentary along the way. Coffee, tea and a light snack are served on board.

The route stitches together the best lupin spots in the Mackenzie, and much of it runs across private land the operator has access to. Stops include Lake Tekapo itself, the Mackenzie District and Lake Pukaki. One French-speaking reviewer described the whole outing warmly, praising the drives through the flower fields, the commentary, the snack and the photo pauses, calling the final stop the high point.

The tour suits travellers who want lupin hot spots and lake views with commentary from a local guide. Children can come but must be with an adult. It is not wheelchair accessible, and anyone with a serious heart condition is advised against it, though the operator says most travellers can take part.

Three travellers in light jackets stand on a stony Lake Tekapo beach, looking across turquoise water toward snow-streaked mountains.

What's Included

Included

Professional driver guide, makes your experience all the more personable
Coffee and/or Tea (Coffee & Tea & Light Snack included)
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Access to private land with some of the most beautiful views in New Zealand
The Best Lupin Flowers Hot Spots In The Mackenzie

Not Included

Gratuities

Itinerary

Meet in Lake TekapoMeet outside Aotea Gifts in Lake Tekapo township by 09:00, at the red and green sign next to the Kiwi bird and sheep statue and the Kiwi Treasures info centre.
Lake Tekapo stopA 20-minute stop at the lake.
Mackenzie DistrictOne hour in the district, including the lupin hot spots and access to private land.
Lake PukakiA 45-minute stop at Lake Pukaki. Admission is included.
Return to Lake TekapoThe tour ends back at the original meeting point in Lake Tekapo township.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most from the morning, from what is poured on board to how the day is paced.

Where this tour sits among 5 tours in Local Tekapo Experiences listed here (from-price per person, USD)

Carbon Neutral Mt Cook Day Tour$153
Small-Group 4WD, Carbon Positive$221
Cass Valley Wilderness Tour$237.70
Backcountry 4WD With Pickup$237.70
Lupin Flowers Scenic Tour (this tour)$237.70

Six travellers. The operator caps the tour at six travellers. With a group that size you can hear the guide and ask questions easily.
Snack and drinks. Coffee, tea and a light snack are included, and one reviewer specifically mentioned enjoying the snack. You do not need to bring your own refreshments for a three-hour morning.
Photo stops. The itinerary builds in stops at three locations, and a reviewer highlighted the photo pauses, especially the final one. Keep your camera within reach rather than buried in a bag.
Commentary. A local driver-guide gives live commentary on board. The same reviewer praised the commentary as part of what made the trip work.
Weather dependency. The experience requires good weather. If it is cancelled for poor conditions you will be offered a different date or a full refund, so have some flexibility in your plans.
Getting there. You make your own way to the meeting point outside Aotea Gifts in Lake Tekapo. The booking page does not state whether pickup is offered, so check the booking page if you need a ride from your accommodation.

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Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and the booking page advises against it for people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions. It also needs a minimum number of travellers to run; if that minimum is not met you will be offered a different date or experience, or a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the 09:00 start are not refunded. Gratuities are not included, and the whole outing depends on reasonable weather, since the lupins and the views are the point of the trip.

Common Questions

What Is Included In The Price?

Live commentary from a local guide, a professional driver-guide, coffee, tea and a light snack, GST, access to private land with scenic views, and the best lupin hot spots in the Mackenzie. Gratuities are the only stated exclusion.

Where Does The Tour Start And Finish?

It starts at 09:00 outside Aotea Gifts in Lake Tekapo township, by the red and green sign near the Kiwi bird and sheep statue, next to the Kiwi Treasures info centre. The tour ends back at the same meeting point. The booking page does not state whether hotel pickup is offered, so check the booking page.

Are Entry Fees Extra?

No. Admission is free at Lake Tekapo and the Mackenzie District, and the Lake Pukaki admission is included in the tour.

Is It Suitable For Children And People With Limited Mobility?

Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, and no travellers with heart problems or other serious medical conditions. Otherwise, most travellers can participate.

What Is The Cancellation Policy?

Cancel at least 24 hours before the 09:00 start for a full refund. Within 24 hours there is no refund and changes are not accepted. If the operator cancels for poor weather or because the minimum traveller number is not met, you get a different date or experience, or a full refund.

How Big Is The Group And How Long Does It Run?

The tour lasts three hours and takes a maximum of six travellers. That keeps the group small and lets the guide answer questions along the route.