The Church of the Good Shepherd

Name: The Church of the Good Shepherd
Brand: Trip
SKU: 95931
Rating: 4.8 (463 reviews)

7.5

4.8/5

463 reviews

based on 2,147 reviews

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Canterbury

Opening hours of The Church of the Good Shepherd

Recommended sightseeing time: 1–3 hours

Address:

Pioneer Drive, Lake Tekapo 7999, New ZealandMap

Phone:Ticket inquiry: +64-3-6858389

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西沙群岛司马亮

5/5

Outstanding

The stone church is only the size of a classroom, but when you push the door open, wow, the whole milky blue lake and snow-capped mountains are right in front of the French window, like a postcard come alive. The old stones on the wall hurt my hands, but the tour guide said it was built in 1935, and I immediately felt that the broken stones were fairy-like. I bumped into the bronze statue of a shepherd dog at the corner, and its nose was shiny (it was touched), and then I knew that the church was built to thank the shepherd dog for helping to open up the wasteland. Suddenly I understood why the locals have such pious eyes. When I squatted by the lake and ate a sandwich, lupine rubbed against my trouser legs (only in the right season), the lake was so clear that I could count the stones, and the reflection of the snow-capped mountains in the distance was swaying - what kind of internet celebrity check-in, it’s better to be in a daze for a while, cool! > Tips: If you want to take empty shots, you have to get up early, because once the tour group arrives, it’s full of people. You are not allowed to take pictures inside, but your eyes remember better than the lens, and the lake and mountains seen from that window are amazing!

The Church of the Good Shepherd Highlights: Must-See Features and Attractions

Some information may have been translated by Google Translate

Located high on the shores of Lake Tekapo, the Church of the Good Shepherd was built in 1935 and named after a sculpture of a shepherd dog. Made entirely of rock blocks, this church is a classic postcard view of Lake Tekapo. At night, the church under the stars is even more beautiful, and it is also an excellent location for shooting star trails. 1. The appearance of the church is primitive and simple. Although it is not big, it has a unique flavor. The area of the church is only 20 to 30 square meters, which is very small. There is a small stone cross on the north roof, a small bell tower on the west side of the south roof, and a small bronze bell hangs in the arched wall hole. The outer wall of the entire church is a random combination of the original dark gray, light gray, cyan and brown of the rock, while the roof is a black stone piece. Such a primitive and rustic appearance makes it special in this open lakeside wilderness. Harmony and harmony. Although the church is small, it is very famous. During the day, there will be buses with tour groups arriving one after another. At night, you often encounter people who bring professional photography equipment to take pictures of the stars. Walking into the church, there are five or six rows of benches on the left and right sides. From the middle aisle to the pulpit by the window, a cross ten centimeters high stands in front of the glass window, against the light, outside the window is the blue sky and white clouds and the lake water. Great view, with views of Mount Cook in the distance. 2. Bronze statue of a shepherd dog next to the church A towering bronze statue of a shepherd dog can be seen not far from the church. It is used to commemorate the contribution made by the shepherd dog to protecting the flock. The statue is also engraved with "No Shepherd". Dogs, there would be no small town today" and other words. 3. Look up at the starry sky and watch the unique astronomical scene. If you plan to go here in the middle of the night, you need to check whether the weather is fine in advance. When you lie on a bench by the lake and look up at the stars, you can see unique astronomical sights that can only be seen in the southern hemisphere, such as the Southern Cross constellation, the Magellanic Cloud and the Milky Way satellite galaxies, etc. If you are lucky, you can even see meteors passing by night sky. With the exception of the Church of the Good Shepherd, the entire Lake Tekapo area is a good spot for stargazing as long as you stay away from street lights. Of course, if the budget is sufficient, you can also sign up for the stargazing cluster on Mount John.