New recreation attraction for Lake Tekapo

Media release from Alpine Springs/Spa and Winter Park, Lake Tekapo

3 June 2008

New relaxation and recreation attraction for Lake Tekapo

A stunning new $7 million attraction in the heart of the South Island’s majestic Mackenzie Country is set to become an essential stop on New Zealand’s tourism map.

Alpine Springs/Spa & Winter Park at Lake Tekapo officially opens on 7 June, offering visitors year-round relaxation and recreation with hot pools, a Day Spa and welcoming café. The Winter Park operates from early April to late September and this year houses an international size outdoor ice rink providing a stunning setting for skating, ice hockey and curling.

In 2009 the Winter Park will also include a Snow Park with a state-of-the-art 100m long by 50m wide snow slope dedicated entirely to tobogganing, snow tubing and playing in the snow – both natural and man-made.

Alpine Springs has three hot pools shaped in the configuration of the local glacier lakes, Pukaki, Ohau and Tekapo and fed by underground spring water. Each pool is nestled amongst New Zealand natives typical of the local alpine area and terraced to provide majestic views of the surrounding Southern Alps and Lake Tekapo. Pathways from changing rooms to bathing areas are heated from for maximum guest comfort.

The boutique Day Spa encompasses four treatment rooms looking out over Lake Tekapo. Treatments include massage, hot rock massage, reflexology, facials, body wraps, manicures, pedicures and more. The main complex also features a large sauna, steam room and plunge pool.

Best of all, says owner operator Karl Burtscher, Lake Alpine Springs/Spa & Winter Park has been developed with a strong focus on sustainability.

“We have created a wonderful place where visitors can be part of our unique alpine and lake environment while ensuring the best possible use of available energy to provide a sustainable tourism operation that is energy efficient and environmentally aware.

Lake Alpine Springs/Spa & Winter Park is efficiently powered by the latest technology in refrigeration and heat regeneration.

Energy efficiency and sustainability is attained through a high specification refrigeration plant which generates 600 kilowatts of heat energy from an electrical input of just 180 kilowatts as well as sophisticated sand filtering and a Wapotech pool system.

“The ice-making process produces heat which is used to heat the pools,” says Mr Burtscher. “We’ve been careful in all our processes to ensure we make the best use of on site rocks and timber in construction as well as using the best engineering and technology available.

“We’re really excited to be able to offer such a diverse range of activities to appeal to people of all ages, from independent travellers to school groups and corporate group entertainment, in one of New Zealand’s most beautiful settings.”

Saturday’s invitation-only official opening promises to be action-packed with an ice hockey clash between New Zealand’s star-studded teams Canterbury Red Devils and the Southern Stampede. Both teams feature Ice Black players including Captain Simon Glass playing for Southern Stampede, former Hungarian national player Janos Kaszala, and Chris Eaden and local boy Stefan Speck who are both Under 20 Gold Medalists.

For media passes to the opening please contact Karl Burtscher.

ENDS

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