Ho-hum, another spectacular view in New Zealand. We left Oamaru relatively early, and rather skeptically. We decided to make the gambit and try to get into Mount Cook to get some views of the country's highest peak. The weather forecasts were good, supposed to be highish clouds and "fine" as they say here. But, in Oamaru, it was overcast and cool.
About 45 minutes into the 2 and some hour drive, the clouds strarted to lift, blue ski started to poke through and we saw the sun for the first time in a few days. For most of the drive, we crossed farm land, including our first real sight of commercial size farms. Then the peeks started to appear on the distant horizon, faintly smudged by a light haze, but unmistakably snowy peeks. The road seems relatively straight for the most part, but at one point, a bend provides you with the first view of the imposing breadth of Mount Cook, dominating the valley and plain in front of it (or at least the windshield).
Getting closer provided equally impressive views, but oddly, as we got closer, it seemed that the mountain was smaller. There is a single road leading into the Mount Cook area that skirts the edge of Lake Pukaki and along the road, views of Mount Cook materialize and fade behind trees or bends. Surprisingly, our whole time driving in was sunny and rays bouncing along the snowy peak and shoulder of the mountain.
While Mount Cook was impressive, when we finally reached the end of the road, it was Mount Sefton to Cook's left that trully impressed us. Shroud in cracked glaciers and snow, it looked like it was about to tumble into the valley below at any minute. A thick blanket of white settled precariously on the mountain's shoulder. We arrived a mid-day, so had a pic-nic under the watchful eye of Cook and Sifton.
After lunch, we headed for a hike into along Hooker Valley. A relatively mild ascent, but some fun rock hoping and suspension bridges. The total hike is 10 kms round trip. With Ren in the carrier, we headed off for the first section of the hike making it until we rounded a unamed hill to get a clear view of Cook across the valley. At that point, the kids and I turned back while (probably about 3 kms in), while Kohji finished the round trip. Both kids did great on the hike, despite the fact that it was hot and some challenging bits. Kiyomi managed the whole 6 kms (with some tired moments and well timed snacks), while Ren sat comfortably in the carrier telling me repeatedly he was a "baby frog and you mommy frog".
At the campground, you can acutally see Mount Cook from the kitchen area. Kohji got some great shots of the kids jumping on a trampoline with the mountain in the background.
Another amazing day, but it's fair to say that the kids are reaching a little bit of burn out. Bribery with chocolate only goes so far. Tomorrow, we're thinking of making our way back to Christchurch to regroup before tackling the North Island for a couple of weeks.
Of note: Wild lupin grows everywhere on the South Island, especially along the highways. It is a beautiful, but very invasive flower. The colours range from orange to dark purple, and interestingly there is a variety colour in all the patches of it that we've seen. The colours complement each other really well, and so it really is a pretty patchwork. It's when you see a wild field that is completely overun with it that you realize was an easy spreading and dominating little plant it is - pretty, but watch out if if ever gets a foothold!
First views of the range (note the penguin companion)
Lunch under Mount Sefton
Hiking towards the Hooker Valley
And I wonder why my kids are doomed
Fun bridge crossing
Mount Cook looms
... but looks less imposing from a trampoline
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