Oamaru to Lake Tekapo

January 26.27, 2009

Decided at the last minute to detour into the interior again to see Mt. Cook from the eastern side. We saw it at a distance as we went down the West Coast but thought a closer view would be in order. Turned away from the coast and ascended up into the high alpine as we got near the southern alps.

For a few hours we could have sworn we were back in BC with the high hills covered in short brown grass and the snow covered ranges rising in the background.

Entered into Mt. Cook national park with the ranges looming overhead. Great views of the front of the glaciers in the mountains. Walked most of the way into Hooker Valley to get a better view of Mt Cook (largest mountain in the Southern Alps). Went over the suspension bridges across the glacier fed river. The water had that peculiar colour that comes only from melting glaciers.

Ended up at Lake Tekapo which has the darkest nights in NZ. So much so that there are a number of observatories at the top of the hills.

Drove the next day through a rain storm to Christchurch where we were due to return the “Beast” (our faithful Land Cruiser) to our friends Bruce and Carolynn. The rain was welcomed by the locals as it had been a very dry summer. Kinda of funny however to look through the pouring rain and see all the fire danger signs warning about the “extreme” danger.

Stopped to change the oil and wash the beast before we returned it. It seemed the least we could do for them loaning it to us for the last three weeks.