An interesting statue located on the side of the shop. It can be easy to miss if you didn't know this was here. An interesting statue and it leads to a nice viewpoint of Mount Cook if the weather co-operates.
An interesting thing to see near the Lake Pukaki Visitor Centre and designated Viewpoint is the Tahr Statue. This is a life-size bronze statue of a Himalayan Tahr standing upon a boulder and staring into the distance over Lake Pukaki. The monument was erected here in March 2014 and commemorates the introduction of the Tahr to New Zealand 110 years earlier. Sculpted by Murray Matuschka, the monument was interestingly dedicated by Henrietta, Dowager Duchass of Bedford, a direct descendant of the Duke of Bedford, who gifted the original Tahr to the New Zealand government back in 1904. In addition to the monument there is an information panel nearby describing the above history as well as how the Tahr population has fared and been managed over the past century. It is interesting little read and a good way to spend a few minutes of your time while sightseeing at the incredibly beautiful southern end of Lake Pukaki.
Good photo opportunity with a dose of history. Great vantage point of Lake Pukaki as well, and right next to the Alpine Salmon and a few steps from the toilet.
You can't miss this statue when you are here. Seeing this statue standing next to the Pukaki Tourists Information Center was a surprise to me, especially when having read so much about the Sheepdog Memorial at Lake Tekapo but nothing about this Tahr statue. Believe this deserved more mention given it is meant to recognise the conservation efforts and the jaw dropping scenery around it.
