Tekapo Springs

Tekapo Springs

They serve Forks River spring water three ways at Tekapo Springs. The first pour of pure alpine H²0 ends up in a suite of outdoor hot pools shaped like the local lakes: Tekapo, Ōhau and Pūkaki. It's good and toasty at a muscle-soothing 38°C degrees. In the winter, this water offers a delicious disconnect: a warm body when looking at the snow-smothered Two Thumb mountain range.

Water serving No2 is for the water-frisky at the cooler pool and Aquaplay area. Those keen to submit their stomachs to some gravitational bullying will relish the Aqua Drop — a 150m downhill waterslide, the longest of its kind in New Zealand (open December to February).

The third helping of Forks River spring water is of the frozen variety — Karl Burtscher's favourite kind and the very reason he bought the land with its existing ice rink. A keen skier, ice-skater and hockey player, Karl wanted to upgrade the old arena and rekindle the region's long-time love of chilly outdoor pursuits (Tekapo was home to New Zealand's first ice rinks back in 1935). His hunch was correct: within the first three months of opening in 2007, the new international-sized rink had 12,000 visitors and quickly became the frozen heart of the Tekapo community — the locals love their ice hockey, figure skating and curling.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE: Tekapo Springs also has a snow-tube park (open June to mid-September) a day spa, steam and sauna rooms, Jumpernaut (inflatable high-jinks area), stargazing experiences and café. Consider something missing from that impressively long list? Chances are the entrepreneurial force that is Karl Burtscher has probably already made plans to add it.

6 Lakeside Drive, Lake Tekapo. (03) 680 6550, tekaposprings.co.nz