For those who have visited New Zealand have probably been to Lake Tekapo, and besides the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd and its sheepdog statue, there’s another must-visit top-notch viewpoint located on the western slope of the town, the Astro Cafe!
Astro Cafe is one of the trendiest cafés on the planet. Unlike many popular cafes that focus on attracting visitors, this one is located close to the end of the world, next to an isolated observatory!
Astro Cafe – Pure enjoyment of stunning lake and mountain views
Have you ever seen Tekapo covered in white snow? The mountains and rivers merge into one, and time seems to stand still, making the world feel purer. During this season, sitting at the top of Mt. John, sipping a cup of coffee, you can fully enjoy the “snowy mountain” scenery!
The mountaintop is Canterbury University’s observatory, and the café is right next to it. To go up the mountain, there’s an $8 entrance fee. If you plan to have breakfast up there and have the time, we recommend arriving around 9:50 AM and waiting at the bottom of the mountain; they open at 10:00 AM, and there won’t be too many people at that time!
Although the café is quite small, it is filled with details. For example, the colour of the coffee cups matches the deep blue of Lake Tekapo. Sipping a cup of coffee becomes an indescribable experience when facing such an extraordinary landscape.
Initially, we thought the selling point was only the stunning scenery, and we didn’t expect the coffee to be of such high quality! The brunch was also excellent!
Inside the café, there’s a small blackboard with a message weI really liked: “No WIFI! Connect to the Mountains. Enjoy the view.”