Hooker Valley Trail

Tekapo and Mount Cook

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January 27th 2011
Another four hour bus ride brings me to Lake Tekapo. After checking in to the hostel, I head out for a hike up Mount John to the observatory. Up. And up. It was a steep climb (had to be more than a 10% grade for good stretches), but I finally reached the top. Great views of the surroundings and there were two small scopes that they brought out to view the sun and Mount Cook. I had planned on comin ... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Mount Cook National Park

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The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year... ... read more