http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , New Zealand , South Island , Mount Cook National Park en-us Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:15:33 UTC Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:15:33 UTC A few snaps from our 6 hour trek this morning at Mount Cook Australasia's highest peak at approx 3750 Metres. Leaving our shelter at 6am we managed to beat the crowds and catch the sunrising. StunningThe Mountain itself is seriously impressive making it no surprise that it was a playground for Sir Edmund Hilary before he became the first man to conquer Everest. http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-346158.html Arriving in Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand at an unsociable 11.30pm we made a bee line for the airport transport which helpfully dropped us off at our accomodation for the first few nights the Thomas Hotel right in the city centre. Waking up the next day we were greeted with the wonderful news that Jenny Kelly's little sis had finally dropped and baby Alfie had emerged pink http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-339815.html Day 533 12.09.08After a leisurely morning we hit the road in the blazing sunshine in search of Mt CookAoraki not too far up the road from where wersquod been staying. We made a quick stop at the local salmon farm on one of the impossibly turquoise lakes of the area. We had great fun feeding the fish and bought some smoked salmon for our last dinner with Jean and Mike who wersquod sadly be s http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-323353.html On the drive to Mount Cook we had beautiful weather and fantastic scenery. Just 1 hour before the Mount Cook National Park is Lake Tekapo a beautiful still lake reflecting the mountainous scenery around it. We just went snap happy everywhere we looked was a view worth capturing. At the lake we met a group of lads making their way down to Queenstown from Christchurch a mamouth 10 hour journey http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-310737.html Hey Dad Happy birthday againYesterday we wound up leaving Wanaka and driving up to Twizel. Nice little town. As usual the people are sweet and the scenery is beautiful. We got here pretty late last night and got right back in the van first thing this morning. We drove out to the Mount Cook National Park to hike some of the trails out there. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. Moun http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-309247.html Hello everyoneThat's right we've had loads of snow and got stuck in Lake Tekapo yesterday the roads were all closed and there was nearly a foot of snow on the groundAnyway what have I been doing for the last two weeks Well after Franz Josef I got the bus down to Fox Glacier which was quite similar to Franz but less touristy nice for a bit of peace and quiet. However as soon as I arrive http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-304603.html NZ Day 13 Dunedin to Aoraki Mt. CookSo we had to leave Dunedin sometimehellip.but why did it have to be so soon. I woke up early to say goodbye to my Uncle Cliff and my cousin Ben before they went to work and school. Then I had a second cup of tea with Pip Ryan and Rhys after I had packed up all my stuff and put it in the car. It was so nice to stop and have a break from traveling with a re http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-295233.html Hello everyone Currently we are in Mount Cook National Park. The town of Mount Cook is about 150 people at best. And.. one restaurant. And..... its chilly Yesterday we went to Milford Sound on a day trip. It was sooo amazing both on the drive there and back and the amazing cruise we took. We left at 7 in the morning and the drive there took 5 and a half hours with several stops along the way f http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-290653.html Panoramic View Mt Cook National ParkOut On The RoadWe awoke from our first campervan night nice and early. It was still pretty cold but thankfully our campervan heater gave us a lot of warmth and Britz provided us with loads of bed sheets.Our van itself is great. Aside from a sticky transmission it runs like a dream and pretty easy to drive. It's got the right amount of space for us and incl http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-286047.html Wow what a winter wonderland we awoke to see Gregg got up and took pictures of the sun rising over Mount Cook and the beautiful snow. The boys spent the morning playing with Harry and having snowball fights. We made a big breakfast at the Alpine Lodge before heading up to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre and out hiking. At the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre we viewed a 3D movie on Moun http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-285602.html Wow the majestic beauty of mountains Mount Cook the tallest in New Zealand. And what dramatic weather we hadSpent Saturday morning in Fairlie watching Avery play rugby. He made his first try that's similar to a touchdown in US football The weather had been quite warm on Friday and the barometic pressure was dropping. All our Kiwi friends said this meant snow. It was really windy on Fr http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-284955.html NeilHello everyone. Since our last blog we've made our way down the west coast of the south island of NZ passing two of New Zealand's big glaciers before swinging inland and climing towards Mount Cook Oceania's tallest peak and then across to the East coast and south.New Zealand is all about scenery and sheep. There are around 4million people who live on the island and most of them live in http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-273696.html After my death defying Queenstown visit I hit the road again. At this point I feel like one of the contestants on the show The Great American Race. Always on the move maximizing as much time as possible. To be honest It's starting to take a toll on me but I know I have some nice beaches at my next destination to relax. So a 3 hour drive later and I made it to the Mount Cook Village just in http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-261867.html Apres Christchurch on est parti explorer un peu plus le sud de la NZ. Direction le Mt Cook ou Aoraki comme les Maoris l'appellent. Le Mont Cook est une montagne superbe toujours couverte d'une couche de glace et entouree de glaciers lacs et collines. 3 jours de relaxation et de marche dans les montagnes et les vallees. Genial After Christchurch we went to explre a bit more in the South of NZ a http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-258411.html Our final day trip before Christchurch... From Oamaru we left early to get to Mt Cook as it was a great day weather wise and this is perfect conditions to see the mountain as it's 12500ft above sea level and so it's covered by clouds We drove right up to the base of the mountain caleld Mt Cook Village and had lunch but from this location the other mountains obstructed the view so we went b http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-255301.html We have spent 2 days in a youth hostel at the foot of Mount Cook. The mountain is spectacular and the surroundings pretty breath taking. We have walked a bit but the most interesting thing was a boat ride on the lake at the end of the Tasman glacier the longest in NZ at 27 km. There we sailed about amidst broken off bits of glacier icebergs really. But because they are in fresh water you onl http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-255235.html This hostel is on the shores of the most turquoise lake you've seen apparently caused by rock finely ground by glaciers. There's an observatory at the top of the hill which we visited splendid view but no tours running today. And a church on the promontary but little else. last night we stayed in the old maternity hospital ina little town called Geraldine where the largest jumper in the wor http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-254173.html Ha ha. Cheesey I know but Chris had that song in mind for some reason when we were doing this little entrySo we left Lake Tekapo and headed South West towards Lake Pukaki. Like Tekapo it shines a beautiful blue colour especially when the sun shines as much as it did when we were there After a lovely 45 mins and scenic drive we arrive in Twizel about 60km south of Mt Cook village where we we http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-253938.html We didnt arrive in Dunedin until pretty late so we just found ourselves a really nice campsite and spent the evening watching tv very exciting as for the first time we were able to pick up all channels without Gra having to move the ariel every 5 minutes. The following morning we had to put our practical heads on and sort out a couple of things like getting some contact lenses for me and sortin http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-253196.html Today we walked before breakfast and then packed a picnic for our trip to see Mount Cook. It was a beautiful drive what fantastic views of Lake Pukaki Got stopped by farmer moving his sheep there were a lot of them and we gradually trickled our way through. Took 1hr from Twizel to get to Mount Cook National Park. Fantastic views of the mountains with snow on the top.Took Kea walk which was http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-252076.html Our helicopter took us up for a view of Mt Cook NZ's highest peak at 3000 meters. Torrie arranged for the clouds to part just as we flew by. We landed on a snowfield on another mountain top just across from Mt Cook for these pictures. http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-251113.html Date visited 17 FebruaryWe couldn't have timed it better. At ast after the recent 'low' front which bought low cloud and freezing temperatures about 16 oC in the day we hit warmer and sunnier weather with the drive back north again. A high pressure was bang over the country meaning the mighty Cook could be seen in all its glory. We finally drove past those picture postcard scenes of the emeral http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-248094.html The drive to Mount Cook is impressive in itself before you even get to the mountains. You pass through beautiful lake districts like Lake Tekapo can see the snowcapped mountains looming in the distance for most of the journey.We were fortunate enough to have fine weather when we were going so the water in the lakes looked a pretty turquoise colour....as a result of the rock that's in them. The http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-247818.html Heute sind wir vom Lake Tekapu bei stroemenden Regen zum Mt Cook gefahren er ist der hoechste Berg in Australasien. Dort hat dann auch die Sonne geschien und wir sind zu zwei Gletscherzungen gewandert. Die waren allerdings nur relativ spektakulaer da sie an den Enden jeweils sehr braun und schlammig sind und man nicht allzuviel von dem Eis sieht. Aber der Mt Cook ist traumhaft schoen http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-246461.html Day 3 Pictures only finally figured out how to uploadDay 4 Today finally got to sleep in a little. We picked up a rental car and started on a driving adventure putting the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car is a mistake. We left Queenstown and headed North to Twizel. We arrived in Twizel around 400 PM at our BB to find out there had been a mistake with the booking. Sandy Ian a http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-246415.html 52 Unwin Lodge NZAC Mt CookOn the way up to Mt Cook you drive along a valley which has all the big hydroelectric powerstations and dams in New Zealand. As you appraoch Mt cook you drive along Lake Pukaki which has a very very turquoise colour. The only resonably priced accommodation in Mt Cook Village is the YHA but it was full so we stayed at Unwin Lodge which belongs to the New Zealand http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-245758.html We camped inside the Mount Cook National Park grounds before doing a day of hiking towards the famous Mountain itself in the Hooker Valley. As we are not trained mountaineers we were not allowed to pick our way up the side of the mountain itself but we did manage to complete a hike right through the national park across the glacier valley over swingbridges and then up to the foot of the mount http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-245057.html 7th February 2008Today we woke up to a another clear bright sky with not a cloud in sight. We had planned to spend three days here at AorakiMount Cook in the hope of getting one good day for us to see the mountains and do a walk. As it has turned out we have had perfect weather for all three days.We set off early today before the sun got too hot to walk up the Hooker Valley to the glacier lake http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-244005.html 6th February 2008 Today dawned bright and clear and with no clouds about and a good weather forcast for the day. Vern decided we had been it having too easy and decided to guide us all on a strenous grand tour of Mount Cook and the surrounding mountains.He started us off up the Tasman Valley and we motored up to Cinerama Col for a quick look at the Caroline Face before popping over the southeast http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-244001.html 5th February 2008Today we drove from Queenstown to The Hermitage in the shadow of Mount Cook. It has been bright and sunny from the start to the end of the day although there was some high cloud on the tops of mountains. Our first stop was at Arrowtown an old gold town. Rather sanitized for tourists but pretty. We drove through the Gibbston valley which has a deep gorge where the Kawerau River http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-243997.html