Finding the Middle of Nowhere

For those looking for an off-the-beaten-path excursion in New Zealand, Emily Dayton of the San Diego Reader recommends visiting Lake Tekapo. “The small town is a cluster of homes and motels at the south end of the striking, sapphire blue glacier-fed lake,” Dayton writes. She suggests walking the scenic Mt John Walkway. “At the top, you’re rewarded with 360-degree views of Lake Tekapo, the majestic Southern Alps and the expansive Mackenzie Basin flats. And if hiking up in the heat of the day is not your thing, venture up at night when the Mt John Observatory is open and works with the local Earth & Sky tour company.”