Hiking the Mt John Summit Circuit Track in Tekapō

If you’re looking for one of the best hikes in Tekapō that doesn’t take all day but still gives you incredible views, the Mt John Summit Circuit Track is 100% worth doing.

This hike has a bit of everything, lake views, forest trails, open hilltops, and panoramic views over the entire Mackenzie Basin.

I didn’t expect to love this walk as much as I did, but it ended up being one of my favourite things to do in Tekapō. The track isn’t too difficult, and there are so many spots where you’ll stop every five minutes just to take another photo.

The views from the summit are insane, especially on a clear day. You can see Lake Tekapō, Lake Alexandrina, the surrounding mountains, and pretty much every shade of blue water possible.

This walk is definitely worth doing on your next trip to Tekapō.

Track Information

• Distance: 8.9km loop track
• Time: Around 3 hours
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate
• Elevation gain: Roughly 300m
• Track type: Loop track

I’d personally say this hike is fairly easy if you’re used to walking or hiking regularly. There are definitely a few uphill sections on the way to the summit, but nothing too crazy, and the views make the climb worth it pretty quickly.

About the Mt John Summit Track

The Mt John Summit Circuit Track is the most popular walk in Tekapō, and a great activity that takes up less than half the day. The track loops around Mt John and takes you through completely different landscapes along the way.

One minute you’re walking right along the lakefront with those ridiculously bright blue Tekapō views, then suddenly you’re climbing through forest sections before ending up on open hilltops overlooking the entire area.

It’s also home to the famous Mt John Observatory and Astro Cafe, which might honestly have one of the best cafe views in New Zealand.

Getting to the Mt John Summit Track

The Mt John Summit Circuit Track is located on the edge of Lake Tekapō, only a few minutes from the town centre. The main starting area for the hike is beside Tekapo Springs on Lakeside Drive.

There’s a large car park here, which is where most people begin the walk. Both sides of the loop track start from this same general area, so you can choose which direction you’d prefer to hike once you arrive.

If you want to get the steeper climb out of the way first, you can head up through the forest track to the left of the Springs. The other option is to begin along the lakefront trail, which starts off flatter before gradually climbing toward the summit.

I decided to start along the lakefront side first, mainly because I wanted to ease into the walk and enjoy the lake views before tackling the uphill sections.

Parking is free, although it can get busy during summer, long weekends, and peak holiday periods. If the car park is full park there is plenty of places to park up along the lake a bit further back up the road.

The full loop finishes back at the same parking area.

Hiking the Mt John Summit Track

Starting the Lakefront Walk

I started the Mt John Summit Circuit Track by following the lakefront trail. This section of the walk is mostly flat and follows the edge of Lake Tekapō, making it a really nice way to ease into the hike.

The views begin almost immediately. The bright turquoise water, surrounding mountains, and open lakeside scenery make it hard not to stop every few minutes for photos.

This part of the track feels much more relaxed compared to the climb later on, and I personally preferred starting this way rather than heading straight uphill through the forest.

The trail itself is easy to follow and well-maintained, with plenty of space along the way to stop and enjoy the views.

Climbing Toward the Summit

After the flatter lakefront section, the track begins gradually climbing toward the summit of Mt John.

The uphill sections definitely get the legs working a bit more here, but the climb never felt too difficult. The elevation gain is spread out fairly well, and the constant views make the uphill feel much easier.

As you get higher, the scenery opens up more and more across the Mackenzie Basin. Looking back over Lake Tekapō from above was easily one of the highlights of the entire hike.

There are also multiple viewpoints throughout this section, so it never feels like one long climb without a break.

Reaching the Mt John Summit

Once I reached the summit, the views were honestly incredible. From the top, you get panoramic views over Lake Tekapō, Lake Alexandrina, the mountains of Mt Cook National Park, and the rolling golden hills throughout the Mackenzie region.

This is also where you’ll find the Mt John Observatory and the Astro Cafe.

The Astro Cafe is definitely worth stopping at if you have time. Sitting up there with a coffee overlooking the lake is pretty hard to beat. There are also toilets located near the summit area, which is useful if you’re doing the full loop track.

I ended up spending quite a while at the summit taking photos, and just enjoying the view before continuing back down.

Walking Down Through the Forest

For the return section of the hike, I followed the forest track back down toward the car park.

This part of the Mt John Summit Circuit Track feels completely different from the open summit and lakefront sections. The trail winds through tall pine forest with much more shade and shelter along the way.

After being exposed to the sun and wind up on the summit, the forest walk felt like a really nice way to finish the loop.

The downhill section is reasonably steep in parts, but the track is well-formed and easy to follow. Before long, the trail loops back around to the main car park near Tekapō Springs where the hike began.

Feeling that post-hike burn in your legs? A soak at Tekapō Springs is one of the best ways to wind down after your walk. Conveniently located right near the end of the trail. Book your tickets HERE!!!

Best Time to Hike the Mt John Summit Track

You can do this hike year-round, but I’d personally recommend doing it on a clear day if possible because the views are the main reason to do the walk. The track can also get a bit slippery in wet weather.

Summer gives you warmer weather and those bright turquoise lake colours, while autumn can be really nice with fewer crowds and cooler temperatures for hiking. If you go in late November early December the lupins will be blooming as well.

If you can, try doing the track earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon when the lighting over the lake looks even better for photos.

Honestly though, anytime with good weather is a good time for this hike.

Don’t Have Time to Hike Mt John?

If you don’t have enough time to complete the Mt John Summit Circuit Track, there’s still a really easy way to experience the views from the top.

You can actually drive up to the summit via the Mt John Road, which takes you straight to the top of the hill without needing to do the hike. From town, it takes around 15 minutes to reach the summit by car.

Just keep in mind this is a toll road, with a fee of $14 per vehicle to access it.

Once you reach the top, you’ll still get the same panoramic views over Lake Tekapō. The Astro Cafe and summit viewing area are also right there, so you can grab a coffee and enjoy the scenery without the walk.

While the hike is definitely the more rewarding way to experience Mt John, driving up is a good option if you’re short on time, travelling with kids, or just want a more relaxed way to take in the views.

Hiking to the Mt John Summit

The Mt John Summit Circuit Track is easily one of the best short hikes in Tekapō. It’s not overly difficult, the scenery changes constantly throughout the walk, and the summit views are easily some of the best in the area.

Even with lots of stops for photos and snacks, the whole loop only took me around three hours, which makes it a pretty perfect half-day adventure in Tekapō.

If you only have time for one hike while visiting Tekapo, this is definitely one I’d recommend adding to your list.