This post takes you to the stunning country of New Zealand! For those in the Northern Hemisphere, you might think that we don’t get snow or it doesn’t get cold, but New Zealand certainly does. Back in August (time flies… I can’t believe I’m writing this in October), a few kick-ass women from Melbourne, Australia, formed a team to enter the Lake Tekapo Women’s Tournament, and I was lucky enough to be part of it.

Heading to the tourney.
So here we are, it is Friday 4th of August 2023, our hockey bags and sticks are all packed up, and we’re flying to Queenstown. I’m ashamed to say that it was my first time in this part of the world, and flying over the snowy mountains before landing was just magnificent. Once landed, my friends and I hit the road for just over 3 hours to Lake Tekapo. We arrived at night, and I didn’t get to see any of the area so tomorrow was going to be a surprise. Lake Tekapo is a very small place with a population of only a few hundred people and is also part of the UNESCO Dark Sky Reserve. So yes, we’ll play hockey, but yes, we’ll also stargaze! But first, it’s bed time and our first game is at 6.30am…

Lake Tekapo Women’s Tournament.
It’s 6am and about 0ºC when we’re getting dressed for our first game. Needless to say, despite being super excited to play hockey outdoors… we’re tired zzZZ. The place is awesome though! The rink is located at the top of this hill in the same complex as the Lake Tekapo Hot Springs (yes, we will be going there!), it is still dark outside but an outdoor fireplace is roaring and keeping us warm before puck drop.

6.30am and our first game starts! Very slow start for me, but as the game got underway, the sun started to rise, and that was worth waking up early for. As we’re playing, the mountains and the lake that surround us start to take shape, truly breathtaking. We had 2 more games that morning and loved being out there playing the game we love in such a beautiful place.

Sunday was going to be another early start, with our first game also at 6.30am. The temperature dropped slightly to negative Celsius, but the ice felt great. The early start and the fatigue accumulated from the trip and the 3 games we played the day before impacted our mood a bit, but once coffeed-up and rested a bit, it all was in the past. We finished on a high, having the best time! Two days went too quickly, but I would do this tournament again in a heartbeat. Everyone was so friendly, the level was competitive and best of all, we played with our friends.

Now it’s time to relax! We checked out the Lake Tekapo hot springs, which were literally only a few metres away from the rink. Very handy, and highly recommend going! Hot baths and stargaze at the same time, that’s a great way to conclude this tournament. Thanks to my team, the Pink Galahs, and the organisers for such a great weekend.