New Zealand Part 6 - Looking up at Mount Cook. Hooker Valley Track

This was a great day, spent in the area we’d flown over the day before.

The drive into the area had some spectacular sights

When we arrived the Hooker Valley was shrouded in cloud so we started with a short walk, with a lot of stairs, up to the Tasman Glacier viewpoint. This finished with a great view over the terminal lake. This path was surrounded by many wild flowers, and great views down the valley back toward Lake Pukaki.

This was the car park.

The higher we got the more it opened up the valley.

The glacier was just visible.

As were the "icebergs" in the lake

Panorama of the Terminal Lake

This was followed by the Hooker Valley Trek, one of New Zealand’s great day walks.  Thankfully the cloud cleared so we could appreciate the views. This was relatively easy walking among great scenery up to the Hooker Lake, at the base of the Hooker Glacier. This felt like Malham Cove, a striking area but really busy.

The first of three swing bridges,

It was a great view from the bridge.

For the first part of the walk you can not see Mount Cook - then it comes into view after the first bridge.

Where ever you look there is lush plant life

The walk ends at picnic tables with a view over the lake.

But there is a path down to the "beach".

Bright sun and floating ice.

As we headed back to the car the clouds were rolling back into the valley.

Alpine Plants

As we drove back to Tekapo there was one last view of Mount Cook over Lake Pukaki.

 

The day finished with probably the best meal of the trip at McKenzies.

New Zealand part 5 - Up Up and Away - Helicopter Flight at Mount Cook

My retirement present to me was a helicopter flight.  I had to cancel the original flight from Franz Josef. But was able to book a longer and thanks to booking via www.bookme.nz a cheaper flight.

This was with the Helicopter Line at Glentanner.

https://www.glentanner.co.nz/mt-cook-activities/heli-adventures.  Definitely a 10/10 experience.

I had never been on a helicopter and it was a strange sensation.  It felt as though we were going really slow - we weren’t.  

As is often the case in New Zealand the weather comes into play, this time it was winds at high level which were a problem, which caused issues.  When we flew high enough to see the west coast of Mount Cook, the whole area was blanketed in cloud.  The flight had to make a couple of changes because of the weather.  But that didn’t matter it was awesome.

Getting such a close look at the peak, flying along the Tasman glacier, getting the chance to look at the source of the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers, being able to view the complexity of the mountains and valleys, flying over the Hooker valley.

It was all I hoped and more.

The cafe at the helicopter base - One of the best views for a coffee Ive ever had.

The complexity of the area becomes more apparent from the air when you can see the peaks and valleys more clearly.

Looking back over the Hooker Lake with Lake Pukaki in the distance.

The Fox Glacier

Where we got out to play

Snow

Mount Cook

The Tasman Glacier

The complex of streams at the end of the Lake Pukaki

The Terminal Lake at the end of Tasman Glacier

Mount Cook, the Hooker Glacier, Hooker Lake and Lake Pukaki, and a few other peaks

This may be my favourite view - with clouds to add extra atmosphere

The Fox Glacier to the sea.

The top of the Franz Josef glacier

The valley splits - Hooker Valley to the left and Tasman Valley to the right

Mount Cook village is in the centre of the photo. - honest

Another view of Terminal Lake

At the top of the world - when we got out to play!

New Zealand part 4 - Onwards to Tekapo

Next stop was two nights in Tekapo. This was a last minute booking, and not ideal location as it was around 75 minutes drive from Mount Cook. It was though one the highest quality places we stayed in.

From Wanaka we travelled through the Lindis Pass.  This is really unusual, the hills looked really smooth and rounded, unlike anywhere else we visited.

We out of the hills for a while and proof there are flat bits in the south island.

We then went to the Clay Cliffs.  These are one of the strangest sites I think I’ve seen. "These otherworldly formations are made up of layers of gravel and silt, originally formed by the flow from ancient glaciers over a million years ago."

Then towards Glentanner, for helicopter flight.

It does feel as though they are developing Tekapo to be the next Wanaka.  We drove through it about 6 years ago and apart from the Church of the Good Shepherd.  Since then there have been more restaurants added, the hotels improved and extended and lots of new builds.

We were visiting in lupin season. These are all over the south island, but one of the biggest displays is in Tekapo.

Unfortunately we did not get out to see the night sky, but did get a good sunset.