Mount John Observatory stands on the ridge above Lake Tekapo and gives the area's best combination of view and meaning. By day you get a wide look over the lake, town, and Mackenzie Basin; by night the observatory explains why this basin became a protected dark-sky reserve.
The University of Canterbury runs the research station, while public stargazing visits are managed separately. Even if you do not take a night tour, the road or walking track up Mount John is worth it for the daytime panorama.