Majestic Mount Cook

As predicted yesterday there is a melancholy feel at breakfast today as neither of us want to leave Wanaka.  We finally make it off the site and onto the road and start our big trip to Mt Cook.  Its official, Wanaka is our favourite place in NZ.  Maybe we need to look for a vinyard here rather than in Martinborough…

Vinyard just down the road from the campsite

On the way out of town we stop by the lake for some last pictures of Betty with Mt Aspiring in the background.  

Artistic shot of Betty

When we started planning this trip around this time last year we never imagined we would have just quite as much fun living in a campervan in NZ.  Have decided to put a campervan on our letter to Santa this year…

Soon it’s time to get on the road again as it is actually quite a big drive to get to Glentanner, our chosen campsite at the foot of Mount Cook.  We stop en route in northern Otago for a cuppa and are both struck by the complete lack of vegetation.  

Northern Otago

Much like being in Scotland we have become accustomed to seeing lush green scenery out of the windows for the last six weeks and this brown low scrubland is quite different.

Eventually we make it to Lake Pukaki at the bottom end of Mt Cook and the view looking north across the glacial lake’s aquamarine water is just stunning.

Looking at Mt Cook across Lake Pukaki

From here Mt Cook looks tiny, but at 3755m and as NZ’s largest mountain it will become even more impressive as we drive the 50km or so to get to Mt Cook Village.  We stop at almost every possible parking place on the way (much to Mrs M’s annoyance) but the view just gets better and better as we get closer (especially once we get to see Mt Sefton next to Mt Cook).

Mt Sefton

Mt Cook

At Mt Cook village we book ourselves onto a glacial lake kayaking trip for tomorrow which will be our last sea kayaking adventure in NZ.  Then all that’s left to do is head to the camp site, have a barbeque for tea and enjoy the magnificent sunset.

An amazing sunset

Mr M