Urban fringe
Loop
Undulating, small hills only
Dog Friendly
Plantation/exotic forest
Riverside
Lakeside
Open tussock/grasslands
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +2.9%
Average Downhill Gradient: -3.2%
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1:35
Slow
1:10
Moderate
0:50
Fast
Dogs are allowed ON LEASH.
Run along Tekapo River, away from the church on Pioneer Drive and cross SH8. Here you will see the entrance to Cowans Hill Walkway. Follow the well marked trail, beginning along Tekapo River, cruising through a short forest segment, onto a 4WD track that goes uphill to give stunning views of the lake.
After enjoying the view and open tussock grasslands, the walkway takes you downhill to SH8. Run along with the highway on your right for a short distance before crossing and entering Lake Tekapo Regional Park.
Once in the regional park, turn right and follow Cox's track. Continue around the edge of the park, always choosing the track which keeps you near the fenced park edge on your right. The trails are well marked, shaded, bidirectional and shared with mountain bikes. Eventually you will reach the northern tip of the park where there is a fire exit. Do not exit the park yet, continue on the green and white marked trails until you reach the second fire exit. Take this exit, cross Lilybank road and you'll be back on the foreshore of Lake Tekapo.
Turn left and find the final trail which runs along the foreshore, past the motorhome camp, along the edge of SH8, onto Pioneer Drive and past the Sheepdog Memorial to finish at the church.
Run past iconic features of Tekapo - the Church of the Good Shepherd and the Sheep Dog Memorial.
If you know of any public toilets near the trail start or on the route, please login and then let us know so we can update this section.
Carpark on Pioneer Drive near the Church of the Good Shepherd.
1 km
1 minutes
Yes
No
Easy.
Generally good.
Short-sleeved thermal top, Windproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Cellphone, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries
No drinking water available
Nil
Rabbit holes
Our Dog Friday
5 Motuariki Lane, Lake Tekapo 7999
Epic burgers post-run
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
Can be run clockwise or anti-clockwise
You and Tekapo Tiki Tour
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Awesome wee shakeout. Had to take 4WD road down lake due to high water levels but all good
June 3, 2023
Some great views once out of young pine plantation on the Conway Hill trail and nice flowing trails in the forest, watch out for the pine cones!! Highly recommend using the gpx file and following as you run, otherwise you may head down a wrong trail…or three.
October 29, 2021
Great leg stretcher with a nice variety of trail & some wicked views. One of those surprise gems that I’ve driven past so often & now wonder why it took so long to tick it off!
September 13, 2021
These overlap with this trail to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate activity for each.