You would be forgiven for thinking Sawdon Station
was all about high country sheep farming - well it is - but it also is home to Tekapo’s newest walking and cycling playground - The Lagoon Trail.
The trail, located on land owned by Sawdon Station, has been several years in the making and is now near completion. It is, however, open for use even though there are small pockets of work to complete.
The trail has found its gravel path slowly snaking through the open landscape, all due to the hard graft of local Tekapo Trails members, volunteers and some much-appreciated community support, and has been funded in part by Lions, the Community Board, Genesis grants and donations from Tekapo Trails members.
Tekapo Trail members doing the hard graft laying gravel to form the newest trail in Tekapo
I visited the trail twice; the first time I was on foot with my camera and came across volunteers hard at work gravelling sections of the track near the lagoon, and the second time I decided to ride the trail on my mountain bike. I was amazed at how much of the trail had been gravelled since my first visit and grateful to be on the trail rather than attempting to ride the rough, rocky, rabbit-holed ground. Another good reason to stick to the trail and not to venture off!
The Lagoon Trail is approximately 8 km in total and runs in two connected loops, giving opportunities to walk or bike in either direction. It is an all-weather trail that also takes in a stunning little lagoon, for which the trail has been named after. A picnic table here provides an idyllic place for a rest, a picnic, spotting the many birds that inhibit the lagoon, or simply to enjoy the expansive mountain views.
The perfect spot for watching the world go by.
The main entry point to the Lagoon Trail is via a gate (also an emergency exit from the park) that leads off the south-east end trail in the Tekapo Regional Park located on Lilybank Road. You can also enter the Regional Park from the main road into Tekapo by climbing over a stile along the fence-line and access the Lagoon Trail along the south-east section of the Regional Park track from there. As a keen mountain-biker, I found the Lagoon Trail makes for interesting extra mileage, included as an ‘add-on’ to the Regional Park’s numerous trails, or it can be approached as a stand-alone walk or ride.
The trail is easily recognised, as it is marked by blue-topped poles, as opposed to the ones DOC uses (orange).
There are further plans in the pipe-line for this trail, with a possible additional six kilometers of trail being added which includes a view-point to nearly the same elevation as Mt John’s Summit, bringing the circuit total to 14km - a decent half day walk. The reality of this add-on is still some time away, but I imagine this would be welcomed by those who love to get out and hike or bike, and will certainly be a significant addition to Tekapo’s local walking and biking trail network.
I enjoyed the trail’s juxtaposition to the nearly forested Tekapo Regional Park; with its stark, open, barren landscape and interesting rock formations in places, the Lagoon Trail almost feels like being in another country - it holds a unique opportunity for people to experience a typical high-country sheep farming landscape, just minutes from Tekapo.
Whilst Sawdon Station (who owns the land) is not directly involved with the trail project, they have been extremely accommodating in terms of its inception and completion. They are happy to have the development being managed by Tekapo Trails.
Things to consider if planning on walking or biking this trail:
Please remember it is private land - remain on the trails
It is part of a working farm - sheep may be present at any time, so shut all gates
The trail is marked by blue-topped poles placed approx every 50m or so
No shooting or hunting is allowed, but the gun club nearby means gunshot may, at times, be heard
Lambing occurs between October and December - so check first for trail closures
The ground is uneven, rocky and rough in places - watch for rabbit holes - stick to the trail
Entry is only via the Tekapo Regional Park from the south-eastern section of the track (there is a gate and signage)
No dogs allowed
