Schilderachtige 4WD-tour Lake Tekapo Backcountry

This 4WD Tour of the Back Country was without doubt one of the most outstanding we experienced in our visit to South Island. We were picked up outside the Tekapo tourist office in the town centre, along with one other couple, prompt at 1.30pm. Chris, our driver, gave us a quick safety briefing, and we set off in our Land Rover Defender of a certain age, Turning west out of town, we headed up Godley Peaks road, past Mt John observatory, and after a couple miles parked up alongside Lake Tekapo whilst Chris pointed out the various salients we would visit on the tour. We found out that we would mainly tour Glenmore Station, a vast farm estate, and eventually end up at the shepherd's hut in the Cass Valley. Chris was a consummate and skilled storyteller, stopping to show off the various bird and other wild life as well as the semi-wild stock, sheep and cattle, the latter most difficult to round up particularly the youngsters. At times his skillful handling of our vehicle inspired mock terror as he drove up and down the hills and valleys, with the Land Rover defying gravity. He was clearly a very proud, articulate and knowledgeable Kiwi and you felt , like the Maori, he was part of the land rather than of it. it goes without saying that wherever we looked, whether stopped or moving, the views were extraordinary. On our arrival at the hut in the Cass, he once again surprised us by offering to make "nice cup of tea" using waters from a mountain spring, accompanied by a choice of chocolate goodies! He spoke poignantly about the life of the people that work on the stations, often alone with their dogs, sheltering from foul weather, as they drove the sheep off the mountain tops, down to safe pastures for the winter. This was a very profound, almost religious exxperience, in the company of a man we were very privileged to spend just a few hours with whilst in New Zealand.

Had the most amazing time on this tour. Scenery is stunning. So lucky to have access to this private land. Thanks Ben - so much information shared with us in a really relaxed way.

This was a 4WD through Braemar, a high country farm. The drive was boring, just acres of dried brown range grass. At the end we did see Lake Pukaki, some mountain ranges peaking out through the clouds and a few deer and sheep in the hills.