Lake Pukaki & Mount Cook

Another day and another beauty. We set off for the next lake over, Lake Pukaki. Another gorgeous turquoise tinted lake with a snow capped mountain range behind it. This lake has the highest peak in New Zealand behind it, Mount Cook, and the second highest, Mount Tasman. Clear skies & no breeze happens only a few days a year so we were incredibly lucky.

After a few photos we set off in the cars along the Western shore of Lake Pukaki. It seemed that around every bend was a postcard shot.

 

We reached the village of Mount Cook in the shadow of the mountain. This is the place where climbers launch their assaults from. We spent a little while in the visitor centre before going out exploring.

Our first stop was the Hooker Valley. The short trail up the valley is also the start of the climb to the summit of Mt Cook.

 At the end of the trail was the reward of turquoise glacial pools, a huge wall of glacial debris and, of course, Mount Cook.It was about the only time we saw clouds for the entire day.

We had lunch at the visitor centre where to view was sensational (below).

Lake Tekapo

 The morning after the wild weather, as if by design, the skies cleared and the wind was non-existent.

 We spent the morning exploring the local area including Mt John that has the observatory overlooking Lake Tekapo.

 This chaffinch is one of the many resident birds around our home away from home.

 The long daylight hours allowed us the opportunity to put Harry to bed for the night with a grandparent on duty & head out to watch the sun go down. By the end of the day the clouds were completely gone. The full moon was a mixed blessing. Great in sunset shots, but completely killed any chance of star gazing that Tekapo is famous for.