Mt Cook National Park
Mt Cook
Mt Cook National Park. These photo's were taken from the Mt Cook village. Very small with a store, visitors center, several lodges and a hostel. This area is gorgeous, obviously. Lots of hiking trails through the mountains, and several huts. This is where Sir Edmund Hillary got ready for Everest. To this day a number of mountain climbers come here to train for the big day. The mountains here are extremely difficult to climb and the weather is always on the shift - Mt Cook is only 44K from the Tasman coast. Thus an excellent prep for the Himalayan mountains. This is one of the areas I didn't get to explore much, I have to go back for sure.
Lake Pukaki, looking towards Mt Cook and Mt Tasman.
Mt Cook - I think. It wasn't overly clear which mountain was which but I think this one is Mt Cook. I was going to take a helicopter ride up but the winds were too strong. Look closely at the peak and you can the ice blasting off the top. Would have been a neat ride.
Looking towards Cook range, not sure what mountain this is - perhaps Mt Wakefield. Cook range is not correct I think, but I never found the name of the range.
Self portrait. Mt Cook in background I believe. What can you say? The southern Alps are gorgeous. The lack of tourist here boggles the mind. I like it that way. Hopefully no one actually looks at this page. Which I'm sure is the case. It's mine I tells ya, all mine.
Lake Tekapo. Looking back at Cook range. This is where our coach broke down. The radiator sprang a leak - big time. The driver had to jog down to this lake and get water. It took several trips but he got us to a very small service station where he was able to jury rig the coach well enough to get us to Christchurch. Well done really. A good coach driver as most are in NZ. Nice folks. Hard to believe they get paid to visit this area everyday. Could they ever get jaded and not notice the scenery? I suppose they must.
Christchurch from room window. The Mt Cook National Park in background. Christchurch is a lovely town, too bad I did such a poor job photographing it.
Sigh, my flight to Auckland and home. All things must end. Neat planes though.
