For about 4-5 weeks at the end of each year, the center of New Zealand's South Island bursts into color. Purple and pink and blue and yellow lupins sprout up along lake sides and in riverbeds in Mackenzie Country, making the already-stunning views even more incredible.
Lupins are not native to New Zealand – in fact, they're classified as an invasive species – but there's no denying that they are beautiful and make for a great photo backdrop.
Hence why people seek them out each and every year.
How lupins got to New Zealand
The story goes that Connie Scott, the wife of a local farmer, decided the drab center of New Zealand's South Island could use some color. So for years she secretly spread Russell lupin seeds along the roadways and riverbeds each spring; some more embellished versions of the story have her doing so while riding naked on the back of a white stallion.
I'm disinclined to believe the naked-on-a-white-stallion version of that story, but there's no denying that the lupins DO add a pop of color to countryside that is otherwise a bit colorless.
Are lupins invasive in New Zealand?
The bad news is that the lupins have taken a little *too* well to certain areas of New Zealand. Lupins spread easily, and love lakes and rivers – of which NZ has a lot! The problem is that they can choke up waterways and disrupt native ecosystems.
Today, the Russell lupin is actually considered an invasive species by New Zealand's Department of Conservation, AND has been named a road safety hazard by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) – yes, people (tourists) really are crashing their cars due to being distracted by lupins.
So lupins are definitely a little controversial in New Zealand. In recent years, efforts have been made to cull a lot of lupins, and control/contain where they grow and spread.
But there are still plenty to see, especially throughout the central South Island.
And as long as you aren't going out and spreading more lupin seeds yourself (or crashing your car because of them), I see no problem with enjoying them or stopping to take some photos of them.
I myself have gone lupin-spotting in New Zealand, and would do it again!
Here are some tips for lupin-hunting in New Zealand, should you like to see some for yourself:
Tips for finding lupins in New Zealand
1. Know when lupins bloom in NZ
The lupins technically bloom from spring to summer (September-February) in New Zealand, however “peak” lupin season in Mackenzie Country is usually from mid-November until just after New Year's in early January.
The lupins at Lake Tekapo are best in late November, while the flowers hit full bloom a little later the further south you go.
If you're visiting outside this time of year, I'm afraid spotting lupins won't be likely.
2. Know where to look
Lupins can be found around lakes and braided rivers all throughout Mackenzie Country. Though I realize that telling you to go to “Mackenzie Country” is really quite vague. So here are some specific places you can look for lupins in New Zealand:
- Around Lake Tekapo (literally all over!)
- The road to Lake Alexandrina
- Burkes Pass
- Braemar Road between Tekapo and Lake Puakaki
- Near Twizel
- All along the Ahuriri River from the Lindis Pass to Omarama
- Around Lake Dunstan near Cromwell
- Around Cardrona
- The Crown Range Road between Wanaka and Queenstown (lots of yellow ones here)
There used to be tons of lupins around Lake Wanaka, too (though many of the best fields were fenced in an on private land). However many of these fields have since either been contained, or impacted by bad weather. So at present Wanaka isn't a great spot to look for lupins.
3. Be safe about it
Please, please, PLEASE, be careful when you're lupin-spotting. There are often beautiful patches of them along the side of the road, but DON'T just stop in the middle of the road to snap a photo. New Zealand's roads are often narrow and twisty, and you should ONLY pull over when it's safe (preferably in designated pull-off spots).
There are TONS of lupins growing along the Ahuriri River near Omarama, but there are also DOC-provided pull-outs and parking/camping areas – use these instead of the side of the road!
RELATED: DOs and DON'Ts for a New Zealand Road Trip
Where to stay when lupin-spotting
Like I said, you really can spot lupins all over the South Island and especially in the Mackenzie Basin in early summer. But if you're road-tripping it and want to take some time, here are some good options for where to stay overnight:
Lake Tekapo – Three Rivers Lodge for its floor-to-ceiling windows with views out over the lake. (Read TripAdvisor reviews | Book here)
Omarama – The Heritage Gateway Hotel for its location right at the crossroads of MacKenzie Basin, Lindis Pass, and Waitaki Valley. (Read TripAdvisor reviews | Book here)
Twizel – Matuka Lodge for its tranquil, luxurious setting and proximity to Aoraki / Mt Cook National Park. (Read TripAdvisor reviews | Book here)
Wanaka – My picks in Wanaka include the Wanaka View Motel and The Moorings Motel and Apartments because of their lake views and how close they are to the town center.
Crown Range Road – The Cardrona Hotel because of its atmosphere. (If you don't stay here, at least stop by for a bite at the hotel's iconic restaurant.) (Read TripAdvisor reviews | Book here)
READ NEXT: New Zealand Road Trip: The Perfect Itinerary if You Only Have 2 Weeks
Would YOU want to go lupin-hunting in New Zealand?
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Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
An incredible landscape Amanda and your equally beautiful photographs really pay homage to it. Thanks for sharing 😉
Thanks so much, David! 🙂 These are some of my favorite photos from New Zealand for sure.
Such gorgeous photos! The flowers, the mountains, and the water are all beautiful together! Thanks for sharing these!
Thanks very much, Mary! These are definitely some of my favorite shots from New Zealand!
I am planning to get married in lupin season around Wanaka in a couple of years so I hope they are still around then!
That sounds lovely! I hope they’re still around, too – wedding photos in a lupin field would be magical!
They are definitely still there, we saw lots on our summer holiday this year. They are only considered weeds because they self seed. I’ve not seen anything more than roadside spraying happen to eradicate them, they can’t spray around the rivers and lakes.
Beautiful photographs Amanda, though you’d best not leave any future lupin spotting for too long. Unfortunately the Dept. of Conservation (which appears to be anti anything that is not a native species) is intent on eradicating the lupins.
Great shame. They are also extremely heavy handed with aerially dropped poisons (in particular 1080, an indiscriminate and deadly poison ) when it comes to eradicating pests.
Serpents in paradise!
Yes, I heard that while I was there! I DO understand the harm they can cause when they get into the river flats. But I kind of hope they won’t eradicate ALL of them.
I don’t know why but I always thought lupins are such a Polish thing – you can imagine how surprised I was when I’ve your post! 🙂 It looks soooo pretty! Now I want to go to New Zealand really badly, just for the lupins! 🙂
Are they considered invasive weeds in Poland, too??
Definitely was awesome to see them in bloom like this in New Zealand!
Super pretty photos, Amanda! Although I felt like this was an Iceland post – there are heaps of lupins over there as well! And the scenery is so similar!
Thank you! And yeah… I often feel like Iceland and New Zealand are kind of the same place! Didn’t know they had lupins over there too, though (I’ve only been to Iceland in the winter). All the more reason to go back during a different time of year!
wow, these are amazing. So pretty. I would totally hand any of those pictures up on my wall too. What a pretty flower.
Thanks! I’m considering getting a lupin photo printed on canvas for my apartment… but it’s so difficult to pick just one!
These lupins have made your photos even more stunning! I just can’t stop gasping. NZ is so, so gorgeous.
Aww thanks! And yes, New Zealand definitely does have “gorgeous” and “stunning” perfected!
Great photos girl! I want to go Lupin Spotting!
Thanks, Deb! I can’t believe it took me 4 trips to NZ to get the timing right… haha. But it was awesome to see these blooming everywhere!
There are great lupin fields along the river in Arrowtown near Queenstown, I definitely recommend going there for some spotting. Also Glenorchy is not a bad area either. I am heading to Tekapo this weekend to check the famous lupin site myself. I am planning to write a post about them as well!
Good tip on Arrowtown and Glenorchy! I went to Arrowtown briefly on this trip, but didn’t see a ton of lupins (then again, we weren’t really looking for them at that point!).
Oh. My. Gosh! TOO pretty! I’ve honestly never heard of these flowers before I saw them on your Instagram and I am OBSESSED! I’ve just decided at what time of year I’ll be visiting NZ!
Clearly I’m obsessed, too!! But yes… November/December is an awesome time to visit NZ! Especially if you want to see the lupins in bloom!
Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! Thanks so much for sharing your photos.
Thank YOU so much, Barbara! I took soooo many photos of these flowers – it was tough to narrow them down for this post!
Your shots are amazing! That light is incredible too. What lenses do you use Amanda?
Thanks so much! I have an Olympus mirrorless camera, and use the kit lens (14-42mm) as well as a Zuiko 40-150mm zoom lens – though I’m not sure I used the zoom lens on any of these shots!
Unfortunately they have sprayed most of the road sides so hardly a lupin to be seen as you drive through Tekapo and a lot of the McKenzie country. They still have sign posted viewing spots but nothing to view! They claim that Tekapo is the most Instagrammed place in NZ, bet that will change with no lupins. Very disappointed as they were beautiful.
Wow, so beautiful!! I remember hiking the Rees Dart track near Queenstown and seeing these, so surprised to hear they’re a weed. You’ve taken such gorgeous photos! Love the 4th shot! 🙂 Jess
Thanks, Jess! And yeah, I was surprised to learn that they’re basically weeds, too!
So SO SOOOO pretty! I love every single one of these shots! My Instagram feed is clogged with photos of lupins in bloom across NZ, but I have no complaints. 😉
Haha I took SOOOO many lupin shots while I was there – it was impossible not to! Glad you like them. 🙂