Scenic user-pays toilets open for business

Monday, 21 July 2025

The newly completed Mackenzie District Council toilets, bike shelter and picnic rest area building near the Lake Tekapo foreshore.

The option of taking a break and taking in the scenic view of Lake Tekapo now sits alongside new user-pays toilets in the South Canterbury alpine tourist town.

The new facility, which had a budget of $623,740, has been completed at the junction of Hamilton Drive and the Fairlie-Tekapo Rd, part of State Highway 8, on the eastern side of Tekapo.

“As well as toilets, the new Hamilton Drive site has a number of amenities including picnic tables, bike stands and shelter, campervan waste disposal unit and trash compactor,” the Mackenzie District Council said on Monday.

“The new toilets are pay operated with payWave at $1.50, and the option of coin payment at $2 will be available soon.”

The new facility was also near the Tekapo start of the popular Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail.

The new facility is also near the Tekapo start of the popular Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail.

When it advertised for tenders for construction in October 2024, the council said the need for a shelter encompassing a toilet had been identified for Tekapo’s start of the trail.

“Over half of the cyclists undertaking this Great Ride will start their Alps 2 Ocean journey from the Hamilton Drive car park,” the council said.

“As it is the start of a several days cycle journey for most, a facility where cyclists can park their bikes, use the toilet facility, have a bite to eat and organise their gear will greatly enhance the user experience.”

The council said the trail was “widely recognised as being of significant value and contributing to visitor spending”.

The multi-use facility under construction on May 29. The completed structure will be officially opened on Wednesday.

The site was also now “a trailhead for the Central South Trail” with the completion of a cycle and walking trail from Tekapo to Edward Stream and would eventually link right through to Timaru.

The council said the unimpeded views of Lake Tekapo, a viewpoint off the car park, easy parking and a pleasant amenity area meant the site had always been a popular rest area and picnic spot for travellers.

The facility was funded from council’s capital work programme.

“We’re grateful to the team at Dimension Building and pleased to report that the project came in on budget,” the council said.

The facility would be officially opened on Wednesday at about 2pm by acting mayor Karen Morgan, Tekapo Community Board chairperson Steve Howes and councillor for Tekapo Matt Murphy.