Lake Tekapo

Back at base camp we sorted out dinner and put Harry to bed. Time to grab the camera and take advantage of the sunset.

The Church of the Good Shepard. Great spot isn't it.

 The wild weather from a couple of days previous had made sure there was plenty of snow on the mountains.

 

 What a day!

The moon rose over Mt Dobson  where the local ski field is located.

Tasman Valley

The after lunch exploring turned the Tasman Valley just on the other side of Mount Cook.

 

 

 We walked the short but steep trail up the debris wall of the Tasman Glacier. The glacier, like so many others around the world that we've seen, has receded so rapidly that the debris wall left behind is enormous.

It was the first real test for us of hiking with Harry. Amazingly, he slept most of the way up the hill but woke up just in time to admire the view. First up, the Blue Pools that look more green than blue. Crazy Kiwis.

 The giant Tasman Glacier, the surrounding snow capped ranges & the enormous melt water lake were the reward for the toil up the hill. The shear size of the glacier and lake only became obvious when a helicopter buzzed past on the far side of the lake looking like a mosquito.

As always, a bird manages to grab my attention. This one is Yellowhammer.

 After the Tasman hike, it was time to head back to Tekapo. By the time we had reached the end of Lake Pukaki it was late afternoon. The clouds and wind had both disappeared completely. One final look and a few photos of this beautiful place before heading back to our holiday house. Breath Taking.

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).