Christchurch to Tekapo

So after 22 days in a campsite near Christchurch building our van (Bessie) we finally hit the road.
We decided to head to Lake Tekapo (about 3 hours from Christchurch) based on recommendation and we thought it would be a nice place for Christmas.
As we drove out of Christchurch it became apparent how sparsely populated NZ is, we found lots of fields and tiny towns.
Once we got into the McKenzie basin the scenery became beautiful. A bit like the Lake District on steroids.
The road to Lake Tekapo drops in from a height and the first glimpse of the lake is amazing as it’s so blue! All the water comes from glaciers hence the colour.
We went for a drink at the local pub and then drove about 10mins out of Tekapo to a freedom campsite.
As we have joined the NZMCA (NZ’s version of the caravan club) we have a list of all the camping areas we can go to for free or a small fee.
The campsite we stayed at was in the middle of nowhere, near a canal and river with great views of the valley.