Lake Tekapo… my turquoise treasure in the Mackenzie Basin in the South Island of New Zealand.
Its main water source is melting snow from the Southern Alps, which gives the lake its enchanting icy color. It doesn’t only generate energy for your soul, but also for much of the South Island as it’s an important part of the renewable Waitaki Hydro Scheme.
Visit in mid-November and the purple lupins will be in full bloom. While beautiful, they force the surrounding braided rivers to form deep channels that are unsuitable for birds and they displace native plants. A reminder of the unintended consequences of pursuing aesthetic beauty alone. There are always trade-offs, and sometimes we need to recognize and appreciate the true beauty that’s already there, allowing life to flourish.
Tekapo in Māori translates to ‘sleeping mat’ and ‘night’ - perhaps because the stars above the lake are worth sacrificing a good nights sleep for. It’s a designated dark sky reserve and there’s more beauty waiting in the dark.
“Beauty goes deeper than the surface,
So to all the girls that's hurting, let me be your mirror
Help you see a little bit clearer the light that shines within
There's a hope that's waiting for you in the dark
You should know you're beautiful just the way you are
And you don't have to change a thing, the world could change its heart
No scars to your beautiful, we're stars and we're beautiful”
— Scars to Your Beautiful, Alessia Cara