Christmas Day on the South Island was a bit gloomy, but the temperature wasn’t too bad, so we decided to take a drive up to Aoraki/Mt Cook, just a couple of valleys over from our base at Lake Tekapo.
Along the way we passed mile after mile of Lupin filled roadsides, and as we came around the edge of Lake Pukaki, we got our first proper look at New Zealand’s highest mountain.
Aoraki/Mt Cook and the associated peaks lie between two glacial valleys, the Hooker and Tasman glaciers, and all along there are stunning views, created by the forces of nature over millions of years.
The village of Aoraki/Mt Cook lies within the Hooker Valley, and we stopped here for a brief walk along the Hooker River before heading up to view the Tasman Glacier.
The road to the Tasman Glacier skirts around the base of the mountain and crosses the Hooker River before climbing steeply above the edge of the Tasman River. The car park for the viewing area is just under 10 km from the village, with a short but steep walk up to the viewing area at Tasman Lake.
The glacier is still New Zealand’s longest, although it has receded greatly since the 1990s. Tasman Lake sits at the face of the glacier and is dotted by giant icebergs that have broken off the face of the glacier.
It is a surreal, almost lunar landscape with giant boulders and tonnes of grey shale strewn about, and very little in the way of vegetation. The views of the valleys below are absolutely breathtaking as well.
By the late afternoon we were all walked out, so we headed back to Peppers Resort for a wonderful Christmas Dinner, with all the trappings. All in all, it had been a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas.