Lake Pukaki Viewpoint, Canterbury, New Zealand

Stunning Lake Pukaki is located between Tekapo and Twizel in the Mackenzie Basin of Canterbury (South Island, New Zealand). There are two must see viewpoints here; one has a salmon shop where I bought delicious smoked salmon, and the other is a rest stop further up. Both viewpoints have plenty of parking, suitable for long vehicles, such as caravans and buses.
There is also a freedom camp on Lake Pukaki, however, I chose to stay at the freedom camp at Lake Wardell (Pukaki Canal), a few minutes drive away, so I don't have a video about the freedom camp on the edge of Lake Pukaki.
Lake Pukaki has the same beautiful turquoise blue colour as Lake Tekapo, due to the glacial silt that washes into these lakes. Lake Pukaki is just as stunning as Lake Tekapo, but it is less famous as it doesn't have a church or a township. Lake Pukaki is the perfect rest stop for lunch and photos.

[@seraphi1000]

Lovely photos.

[@caravanlifenz]

Thanks Seraphi :) It was such a perfect day for photography. I need to order a 200mm lens so I get close up shots of the mountains.

[@ckoonyin]

Wow! I love your videos as the photos are really lovely and the infomation you shared are super duper valuble. You mentioned some places do not allow open fires/ campfires due to fire risk. But what about portable LPG gas BBQ? Are they considered as open fires too?

[@caravanlifenz]

Thank you :) That's a good question. I made a video about a freedom camp outside Omarama called Ahuriri Bridge Conservation Area. In the video, I showed an example of a permitted gas cooker for camping and mentioned how it should be set up on dry, hard ground (if you don't have a camping table to cook on). If it's on the ground, it needs to be away from dry grass, tents, clothing any other any flammable item. I've never once lit a campfire in NZ because the risks of forest fires are just too high in NZ and Australia. It's not worth it when camping gas cookers are available.

[@caravanstuff2827]

Did you stay over at Mt cook??.💕🇳🇿

[@caravanlifenz]

Not Mt Cook. I took these Lake Pukaki photos in October when I stayed at the Lake Wardell freedom camp. I bought the delicious salmon from the shop and took the photos, then ate the salmon with hash browns and fried egg at the freedom camp. I had amazing weather in October; look at the incredible reflection in the water from the perfect sunny skies.

[@caravanstuff2827]

@@caravanlifenz I've always wanted to stay over at Mt cook but we travel with a dog...would recommend avocado with it as well next time !!.💕🇳🇿

[@caravanlifenz]

But avocado was so expensive when I stayed in October! I think it was well over $3 per avo at the time. Now it's around $1.99 in shops here in Otago, so I've started buying it again.