Nick’s world tour

Although it sounds like something from science fiction, or possibly Lord of the Rings (apparently that was filmed here, so I’m told, repeatedly), it is infact the original and appropriate name for Mt Cook. Named after everyone’s favourite 18th century explorer, at 3574m it’s the biggest in NZ. Oh and beats anything in Australia too, so the locals proudly proclaim.The village (population 150), contains a hostel and a 5* hotel. No guesses where I stayed, though it did have a very nice free sauna in the evenings. The drive in is spectacular and was the only view of the peaks we had for the best part of three days as the clouds descended.
I wandered up to Lake Mueller with it’s glacier and small icebergs, and the next day after the rain stopped we went up to Kea point (named after a local, native, cheeky thieving parrot. We failed to see any here.)

The track up to the Mueller mountain hut was spectacular, but I didn’t get very far as the clouds descended quickly.

Sunrise on the day we left was good, and for the first time since arriving the peaks were clear. It was now we realised the peak we all got excited at glimpses over was not in fact Cook, but the one in front….

I got a lift to Lake Wanaka which was yet another pictureque lakeside town, where I spent last night, and this afternoon got to Dunedin.

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 13th, 2007 at 1:12 am and is filed under Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.