Six Weeks Down Under - the Never-ending Beauty of New Zealand - Part 2
Dec 29th, 2024 | 07:04 AM
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Six Weeks Down Under - the Never-ending Beauty of New Zealand - Part 2
Six Weeks Down Under – The Never-ending Beauty of New Zealand – Part 2
We love, love New Zealand! Everywhere we went, every turn we made, every road we took, there was stunning, majestic, and gorgeous beauty!!! There are snow-covered mountains, lush green valleys, sparkling turquoise lakes, and rugged natural beauty. And wineries and lush vineyards! We made the right decision in spending all 3 weeks on the South Island. I want to thank Fodorites, (in particular Melnq8, Tripplanner001, and Yestravel), for convincing me this was the right choice.
This is our itinerary for the South Island of New Zealand, for a total of 21 nights:
Christchurch – 1 night – Orari Boutique Hotel
Mt. Cook Village – 3 nights – Aoraki Court Motel
Queenstown – 3 nights – Stay of Queenstown
Te Anau – originally 2 nights but we had to add an extra night because our Milford Sound Cruise was cancelled and rescheduled for the next day – Fiordland Lakeview Motel and Apartments
Wanaka – originally 3 nights but we had to take away one night and add to Te Anau – Archway Motels & Chalets
Methven – 1 night – Mt. Hutt Motel (added Methven at the last minute because of road closure at Haast Pass.) Thanks to Diamantina for suggesting spending the night in Methven.
Franz Joseph – originally 2 nights but we arrived a day later because of road closure at Haast Pass – Aspen Court Franz Josef
Punakaiki – 1 night – Scenic Hotel Punakaiki
Kaiteriteri – 3 nights – Kimi Ora Eco Resort
Picton – 2 nights – Bay Vista Waterfront Motel
Christchurch – 1 night – Novotel Christchurch Airport
October 31: Leaving Sydney and Arriving in Christchurch, New Zealand
We had an early morning flight on Emirates Air from Sydney to Christchurch. This is a 3-hour flight, and I was amazed that they fed us breakfast! When we flew from Boston to San Francisco, a 6-hour flight, they gave us a small bag of peanuts, or a cookie, or a granola bar. And a non-alcoholic beverage. That was it!
I think it would be helpful to explain what we had to do before and after our arrival in Christchurch. Firstly, we had to show the Emirates agent at Sydney a paper copy of our return flights back to the US along with a paper copy of our NZeTA.
For those who don’t know, New Zealand has strict regulations about what you can bring into their country. We had to complete a very lengthy Declarations form on our phone for each one of us. I think that you could get a paper form while on the plane, but the agent recommended that we complete our form online before we boarded. We declared some chocolate bars, for example. If we didn’t declare them, we would be fined quite a hefty fine. When we arrived in Christchurch, and after we got our checked luggage, our luggage had to go through security again in Christchurch. And there were dogs in the area, too, sniffing for whatever – drugs, food, plants, meat, etc.
So be prepared and make sure you have paper copies of important documents. I always do. I am old-fashioned 😊 and I refuse to rely solely on digital copies.
We used Kemwel/Auto Europe to rent our car with EZI Car Rental. This is a small airport so the EZI desk was easy to find, and the cars were parked literally right outside the terminal. And I could see the Novotel Hotel directly across the parking lot where the cars are located. This is the hotel we will stay at during our last night. So everything at the Christchurch Airport is very easy and stress-free!
We are spending the night at Orari Boutique Hotel. This is a gorgeous Victorian home that was built in 1893, and has been refurbished with all modern amenities. Our room is on the ground floor (1st floor in the US), and is probably the largest room we have ever stayed in. The only minor drawback is that our private bathroom is not en suite. It is located across the hall. The host gave us a key to our bathroom. I believe all 3 rooms on the ground floor have bathrooms across the hall while the upstairs bedrooms have en suite bathrooms.
And the location is very convenient. After settling in, we walked to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens just down the street. There is a pretty Peacock Fountain, ducks and geese, and lots of pretty flowers.
Our hostess, I forgot her name, recommended Fiddlesticks for dinner so we walked there after visiting the gardens. It was a nice evening, Halloween night, so we dined outdoors and enjoyed watching costumed people walking by. We shared a very delicious rib eye dinner for two that came with asparagus and roast potatoes.
We love, love New Zealand! Everywhere we went, every turn we made, every road we took, there was stunning, majestic, and gorgeous beauty!!! There are snow-covered mountains, lush green valleys, sparkling turquoise lakes, and rugged natural beauty. And wineries and lush vineyards! We made the right decision in spending all 3 weeks on the South Island. I want to thank Fodorites, (in particular Melnq8, Tripplanner001, and Yestravel), for convincing me this was the right choice.
This is our itinerary for the South Island of New Zealand, for a total of 21 nights:
Christchurch – 1 night – Orari Boutique Hotel
Mt. Cook Village – 3 nights – Aoraki Court Motel
Queenstown – 3 nights – Stay of Queenstown
Te Anau – originally 2 nights but we had to add an extra night because our Milford Sound Cruise was cancelled and rescheduled for the next day – Fiordland Lakeview Motel and Apartments
Wanaka – originally 3 nights but we had to take away one night and add to Te Anau – Archway Motels & Chalets
Methven – 1 night – Mt. Hutt Motel (added Methven at the last minute because of road closure at Haast Pass.) Thanks to Diamantina for suggesting spending the night in Methven.
Franz Joseph – originally 2 nights but we arrived a day later because of road closure at Haast Pass – Aspen Court Franz Josef
Punakaiki – 1 night – Scenic Hotel Punakaiki
Kaiteriteri – 3 nights – Kimi Ora Eco Resort
Picton – 2 nights – Bay Vista Waterfront Motel
Christchurch – 1 night – Novotel Christchurch Airport
October 31: Leaving Sydney and Arriving in Christchurch, New Zealand
We had an early morning flight on Emirates Air from Sydney to Christchurch. This is a 3-hour flight, and I was amazed that they fed us breakfast! When we flew from Boston to San Francisco, a 6-hour flight, they gave us a small bag of peanuts, or a cookie, or a granola bar. And a non-alcoholic beverage. That was it!
I think it would be helpful to explain what we had to do before and after our arrival in Christchurch. Firstly, we had to show the Emirates agent at Sydney a paper copy of our return flights back to the US along with a paper copy of our NZeTA.
For those who don’t know, New Zealand has strict regulations about what you can bring into their country. We had to complete a very lengthy Declarations form on our phone for each one of us. I think that you could get a paper form while on the plane, but the agent recommended that we complete our form online before we boarded. We declared some chocolate bars, for example. If we didn’t declare them, we would be fined quite a hefty fine. When we arrived in Christchurch, and after we got our checked luggage, our luggage had to go through security again in Christchurch. And there were dogs in the area, too, sniffing for whatever – drugs, food, plants, meat, etc.
So be prepared and make sure you have paper copies of important documents. I always do. I am old-fashioned 😊 and I refuse to rely solely on digital copies.
We used Kemwel/Auto Europe to rent our car with EZI Car Rental. This is a small airport so the EZI desk was easy to find, and the cars were parked literally right outside the terminal. And I could see the Novotel Hotel directly across the parking lot where the cars are located. This is the hotel we will stay at during our last night. So everything at the Christchurch Airport is very easy and stress-free!
We are spending the night at Orari Boutique Hotel. This is a gorgeous Victorian home that was built in 1893, and has been refurbished with all modern amenities. Our room is on the ground floor (1st floor in the US), and is probably the largest room we have ever stayed in. The only minor drawback is that our private bathroom is not en suite. It is located across the hall. The host gave us a key to our bathroom. I believe all 3 rooms on the ground floor have bathrooms across the hall while the upstairs bedrooms have en suite bathrooms.
And the location is very convenient. After settling in, we walked to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens just down the street. There is a pretty Peacock Fountain, ducks and geese, and lots of pretty flowers.
Our hostess, I forgot her name, recommended Fiddlesticks for dinner so we walked there after visiting the gardens. It was a nice evening, Halloween night, so we dined outdoors and enjoyed watching costumed people walking by. We shared a very delicious rib eye dinner for two that came with asparagus and roast potatoes.
Dec 29th, 2024 | 07:31 AM
#2
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Our beautiful lodgings in Christchurch, The Orari Boutique Hotel
Another view
The lovely interior
The dining room where we had breakfast
I think this is the largest room we have ever had anywhere. There is also a twin bed in the room so it can accommodate 3 people.
Entrance to the lovely Christchurch Botanic Gardens
Entrance to the lovely Christchurch Botanic Gardens
The Peacock Fountain, named after its benefactor, John Thomas Peacock.
Apparently, this fountain was very controversial at one time. Some people considered it gaudy and compared it to decorations on merry-go-rounds. When it was refurbished at one point, people didn't like the new color scheme. They said it gave them "flu-like symptoms when looked upon."
Close-up view - I really like this fountain!
Christchurch Botanic Gardens
The Avon River runs through the Gardens.
You will see many ducks . . .
and geese!
Our drinks at Fiddlesticks
Our rib eye dinner for two with asparagus and roast potatoes
Dec 29th, 2024 | 09:12 AM
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NOVEMBER 1: SNOW-CAPPED MOUNTAINS, GREEN VALLEYS AND SPARKLING TURQUOISE LAKES
After a nice breakfast at the Orari, we checked out and started our stunning drive to Aoraki Mt. Cook. Leaving Christchurch, we took SH1 to SH79 and stopped for lunch at the Visitor Center in Geraldine. This is a very nice Visitor Center that has a café and a gift shop. This is the first place where we bought Whittaker’s Chocolates, and we were hooked! By the end of our trip, I had purchased 24 chocolate bars to give as gifts to close family and friends who I knew we would see around the holidays. My, they are delicious. Love the dark chocolate with different combinations, such as Strawberry and Raspberry, Orange with Hazelnut, Black Plum and Roasted Almonds, to name a few.
The drive to Aoraki Mt. Cook from Geraldine is filled with jaw-dropping, stunning, beautiful scenery. It is filled with majestic mountains and lush green valleys and sparkling turquoise lakes. There aren’t enough adjectives to describe how beautiful this area is. And this is just the beginning of our trip. We were hooked on day one!
Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki are absolutely gorgeous with their different shades of turquoise and blue and with snow-capped mountains in the background. The road to Mt. Cook Village, SH80, follows Lake Pukaki all the way.
We made so many photo stops that it took us all day to arrive at Mt. Cook Village. Our accommodations for the next 3 nights are at Aoraki Court Motel. Our room is very modern and quite large with a kitchenette and spa bath.
It’s important for visitors to know that Mt. Cook Village is very small and has very few services. There aren’t any grocery stores so you need to stock up before you arrive if you plan on cooking. Even if you want fast food items such as pastries, snacks, bottled water, etc. The Reception Office of our motel sells a few items, but very little. So before we left Christchurch, we stopped at a supermarket and picked up some fast food breakfast items, snacks, and bottled water.
Also note there are very few restaurants in Mt. Cook Village. We ate dinner all 3 nights at Chamois Bar and Grille. Luckily, they have an extensive menu, good quality food, and awesome views from their restaurant. We didn’t eat at the buffet at the Hermitage Hotel because I had read the buffet is very expensive and the food isn’t the best quality. We didn’t eat at the Old Mountaineers Café either because their menu was very limited when we were there due to staffing shortages. And shorter hours, too. So the Chamois was our go-to restaurant.
For dinner tonight at the Chamois Bar and Grille, we shared pizza and salad. With drinks. All very good.
After a nice breakfast at the Orari, we checked out and started our stunning drive to Aoraki Mt. Cook. Leaving Christchurch, we took SH1 to SH79 and stopped for lunch at the Visitor Center in Geraldine. This is a very nice Visitor Center that has a café and a gift shop. This is the first place where we bought Whittaker’s Chocolates, and we were hooked! By the end of our trip, I had purchased 24 chocolate bars to give as gifts to close family and friends who I knew we would see around the holidays. My, they are delicious. Love the dark chocolate with different combinations, such as Strawberry and Raspberry, Orange with Hazelnut, Black Plum and Roasted Almonds, to name a few.
The drive to Aoraki Mt. Cook from Geraldine is filled with jaw-dropping, stunning, beautiful scenery. It is filled with majestic mountains and lush green valleys and sparkling turquoise lakes. There aren’t enough adjectives to describe how beautiful this area is. And this is just the beginning of our trip. We were hooked on day one!
Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki are absolutely gorgeous with their different shades of turquoise and blue and with snow-capped mountains in the background. The road to Mt. Cook Village, SH80, follows Lake Pukaki all the way.
We made so many photo stops that it took us all day to arrive at Mt. Cook Village. Our accommodations for the next 3 nights are at Aoraki Court Motel. Our room is very modern and quite large with a kitchenette and spa bath.
It’s important for visitors to know that Mt. Cook Village is very small and has very few services. There aren’t any grocery stores so you need to stock up before you arrive if you plan on cooking. Even if you want fast food items such as pastries, snacks, bottled water, etc. The Reception Office of our motel sells a few items, but very little. So before we left Christchurch, we stopped at a supermarket and picked up some fast food breakfast items, snacks, and bottled water.
Also note there are very few restaurants in Mt. Cook Village. We ate dinner all 3 nights at Chamois Bar and Grille. Luckily, they have an extensive menu, good quality food, and awesome views from their restaurant. We didn’t eat at the buffet at the Hermitage Hotel because I had read the buffet is very expensive and the food isn’t the best quality. We didn’t eat at the Old Mountaineers Café either because their menu was very limited when we were there due to staffing shortages. And shorter hours, too. So the Chamois was our go-to restaurant.
For dinner tonight at the Chamois Bar and Grille, we shared pizza and salad. With drinks. All very good.
Dec 29th, 2024 | 09:33 AM
#4
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Scenery on the way to Geraldine
Scenery on the drive to Lake Tekapo
More stunning scenery on the drive to Lake Tekapo
I think this is in the Mackenzie area on the way to Lake Tekapo
Barren and beautiful
I think this monument is to the Maori people?
Breathtaking Lake Tekapo!
We love this lake with its turquoise waters and snow-capped mountains!
Another gorgeous view of Lake Tekapo
Wow! The never-ending beauty of Lake Tekapo!
Now you can see why it took us all day to reach Mt. Cook. We were stopping constantly to take photos.
Love the turquoise waters against the snow-covered mountains!
One last view of stunning Lake Tekapo
Dec 29th, 2024 | 09:34 AM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
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When it was refurbished at one point, people didn't like the new color scheme. They said it gave them "flu-like symptoms when looked upon."
Gotta love that Kiwi sense of humor. And Whittaker's...yes please.
Enjoying your report Karen.
Gotta love that Kiwi sense of humor. And Whittaker's...yes please.
Enjoying your report Karen.
Dec 29th, 2024 | 09:53 AM
#6
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The drive from Christchurch to Mt. Cook is truly one of the most beautiful drives we have ever taken!
The drive from Lake Tekapo to Lake Pukaki
The drive from Lake Tekapo to Lake Pukaki
Stunning Lake Pukaki
Lake Pukaki - Another gorgeous lake - I love the myriad shades of blue!
Lake Pukaki
Lake Pukaki
This is SH80 which follows Lake Pukaki to Mt. Cook Village.
On one side of the road you have this gorgeous turquoise lake and . . .
on the other side you have lush green valleys and mountains dotted with sheep. Between Australia and New Zealand, we must have seen millions of sheep!
Another view of Lake Pukaki
And getting closer to Mt. Cook Village.
The drive from Lake Tekapo to Lake Pukaki
The drive from Lake Tekapo to Lake Pukaki
Stunning Lake Pukaki
Lake Pukaki - Another gorgeous lake - I love the myriad shades of blue!
Lake Pukaki
Lake Pukaki
This is SH80 which follows Lake Pukaki to Mt. Cook Village.
On one side of the road you have this gorgeous turquoise lake and . . .
on the other side you have lush green valleys and mountains dotted with sheep. Between Australia and New Zealand, we must have seen millions of sheep!
Another view of Lake Pukaki
And getting closer to Mt. Cook Village.
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Dec 30th, 2024 | 05:14 AM
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Dec 30th, 2024 | 05:19 AM
#12
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My husband and I are sharing the plum and roasted almond Whittaker's!
Dec 30th, 2024 | 09:01 AM
#13
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November 2: What Do You Do On a Rainy Day at Mt. Cook???
It had started raining the night before, and we knew rain was predicted for today. We really didn’t mind having a lazy day because this was the beginning of our 4th week traveling, and we needed a rest. So we slept late, and then went to the Sir Edmund Hillary Café at the Hermitage Hotel and had delicious meat pies. And we stayed there about 2 hours going through emails, deleting duplicate/bad photos, etc. Then we popped into the gift shop and bought a few things. Went to the Aoraki Mt. Cook Visitor Center where they have some interesting displays on mountaineering.
We decided to drive to the White Horse Campground to find where the Hooker Valley Track begins. And then drove along Tasman Road to see the scenery. And that was it. Kept us busy enough.
Dinner tonight is at the Chamois Bar and Grille. I had a delicious salmon dinner and Ed had ribs. We shared a decadent brownie dessert with berry compote and vanilla ice cream.
When I was planning our trip, I was going back and forth about spending 2 or 3 nights at Aoraki Mt. Cook. I knew there was a good chance we would have rain here. I’m so happy I decided to spend 3 nights here because we woke up to gorgeous blue skies the next day for our Hooker Valley Track hike. Of course, there is no way of knowing what the weather will be like and we could have ended up with two rainy days!
Ed's ribs at the Chamois Bar & Grille
My salmon dinner
Our delicious dessert - brownie with berry compote and vanilla ice cream
It had started raining the night before, and we knew rain was predicted for today. We really didn’t mind having a lazy day because this was the beginning of our 4th week traveling, and we needed a rest. So we slept late, and then went to the Sir Edmund Hillary Café at the Hermitage Hotel and had delicious meat pies. And we stayed there about 2 hours going through emails, deleting duplicate/bad photos, etc. Then we popped into the gift shop and bought a few things. Went to the Aoraki Mt. Cook Visitor Center where they have some interesting displays on mountaineering.
We decided to drive to the White Horse Campground to find where the Hooker Valley Track begins. And then drove along Tasman Road to see the scenery. And that was it. Kept us busy enough.
Dinner tonight is at the Chamois Bar and Grille. I had a delicious salmon dinner and Ed had ribs. We shared a decadent brownie dessert with berry compote and vanilla ice cream.
When I was planning our trip, I was going back and forth about spending 2 or 3 nights at Aoraki Mt. Cook. I knew there was a good chance we would have rain here. I’m so happy I decided to spend 3 nights here because we woke up to gorgeous blue skies the next day for our Hooker Valley Track hike. Of course, there is no way of knowing what the weather will be like and we could have ended up with two rainy days!
Ed's ribs at the Chamois Bar & Grille
My salmon dinner
Our delicious dessert - brownie with berry compote and vanilla ice cream
Dec 30th, 2024 | 09:41 AM
#14
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November 3: Magnificent Mountains and Bouncing Bridges – The Hooker Valley Track
Our main purpose for coming to Mt. Cook Village was to hike the Hooker Valley Track, and we were so excited to wake up to bright sunshine and blue skies. We had pastries and coffee in our room for breakfast before heading out. The temperatures were predicted to be in the 30’s and 40’s Fahrenheit, the coldest to date on our trip. But it felt much warmer than that with the sun, and of course after walking, we felt even warmer and didn’t really need all of our layers.
The Hooker Valley Track is 6 miles long RT. The track is one way in and the same way out. Signposts and guidebooks tell you the walk takes 3 hours but it took us old folks 4 ¼ hours. We walk slow and we stop to take tons of photos and admire the stunning mountain scenery. Why rush? This isn’t a marathon. Slow down and savor the beauty. That’s our motto. Full Disclosure: I just can’t walk that fast. 😊 And I don’t really want to.
Most of the track is flat but there are some uphill places, and there are a set of stairs that go down to the first suspension bridge. And speaking of suspension bridges, there are 3 of them, and I admit that at the beginning I was terrified of them. They actually do bounce as you are walking across! They are quite long, especially the second bridge, and high up over the roaring Hooker River. I’ve been on suspension bridges before but not bridges that are this long and so high up. (Others might think nothing of them. And breeze across.)
This is probably the most magnificent and stunning hike we have ever done. We were surrounded by snow-capped mountains, dramatic and rugged scenery, and for part of the way, the track follows the Hooker River. And, of course, there are many views of Aoraki/Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s tallest mountain. The track ends at Hooker Lake, a glacial lake with a few icebergs in it. At the lake there is a large picnic table and enough boulders to sit on. We brought snacks and bottled water. Many people brought sandwiches, etc. for their lunch. We spent about 45 minutes here.
And on the hike back, you get to marvel at this glorious scenery all over again! It doesn’t get any better than this!
For dinner tonight at the Chamois Bar & Grill, we both had fish and chips. Another delicious meal!
Our main purpose for coming to Mt. Cook Village was to hike the Hooker Valley Track, and we were so excited to wake up to bright sunshine and blue skies. We had pastries and coffee in our room for breakfast before heading out. The temperatures were predicted to be in the 30’s and 40’s Fahrenheit, the coldest to date on our trip. But it felt much warmer than that with the sun, and of course after walking, we felt even warmer and didn’t really need all of our layers.
The Hooker Valley Track is 6 miles long RT. The track is one way in and the same way out. Signposts and guidebooks tell you the walk takes 3 hours but it took us old folks 4 ¼ hours. We walk slow and we stop to take tons of photos and admire the stunning mountain scenery. Why rush? This isn’t a marathon. Slow down and savor the beauty. That’s our motto. Full Disclosure: I just can’t walk that fast. 😊 And I don’t really want to.
Most of the track is flat but there are some uphill places, and there are a set of stairs that go down to the first suspension bridge. And speaking of suspension bridges, there are 3 of them, and I admit that at the beginning I was terrified of them. They actually do bounce as you are walking across! They are quite long, especially the second bridge, and high up over the roaring Hooker River. I’ve been on suspension bridges before but not bridges that are this long and so high up. (Others might think nothing of them. And breeze across.)
This is probably the most magnificent and stunning hike we have ever done. We were surrounded by snow-capped mountains, dramatic and rugged scenery, and for part of the way, the track follows the Hooker River. And, of course, there are many views of Aoraki/Mt. Cook, New Zealand’s tallest mountain. The track ends at Hooker Lake, a glacial lake with a few icebergs in it. At the lake there is a large picnic table and enough boulders to sit on. We brought snacks and bottled water. Many people brought sandwiches, etc. for their lunch. We spent about 45 minutes here.
And on the hike back, you get to marvel at this glorious scenery all over again! It doesn’t get any better than this!
For dinner tonight at the Chamois Bar & Grill, we both had fish and chips. Another delicious meal!
Dec 30th, 2024 | 11:30 AM
#15
Joined: Jan 2015
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Karen, our trip is 26 N :
our loop starts in Christchurch, with 1 night, I had Fiddlesticks on my list for that night, so was glad you recommended it.
And happy about your comments re Chamois Bar and Grill, I checked out the website and it looks a great option for Mt Cook.
It was not easy settling on ‘how many days’ in each spot, it all has so much to offer.
And wanted a weather buffer.
so our bases are Christchurch 1N
Punakaiki 3N, Fox Glacier 4N, Wanaka 4N, Te Anau 4N, Queenstown 4N, Mt Cook (Aoraki) 4N, Christchurch 2N
It’s the shortest international flight for us 👍 so that will be much more comfortable.
our loop starts in Christchurch, with 1 night, I had Fiddlesticks on my list for that night, so was glad you recommended it.
And happy about your comments re Chamois Bar and Grill, I checked out the website and it looks a great option for Mt Cook.
It was not easy settling on ‘how many days’ in each spot, it all has so much to offer.
And wanted a weather buffer.
so our bases are Christchurch 1N
Punakaiki 3N, Fox Glacier 4N, Wanaka 4N, Te Anau 4N, Queenstown 4N, Mt Cook (Aoraki) 4N, Christchurch 2N
It’s the shortest international flight for us 👍 so that will be much more comfortable.
Dec 30th, 2024 | 12:51 PM
#16
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Photos of the Hooker Valley Track Hike - an outstanding day!
Welcome to the Hooker Valley Track!
The beginning of the Hooker Valley Track
This is an outstanding hike!
Much of the trail is flat and paved. There are some parts of the track that have loose pebbles/rocks, so I was glad I wore my hiking boots.
Looking down at the first suspension bridge.
We are standing at the lookout point for Mueller Glacier Lake.
Mueller Glacier Lake - the first lake along the track
Another view of Mueller Glacier Lake
The Hooker River. We took a few videos which we can't upload here. You can hear the roaring of the river in the videos.
I think this is the second suspension bridge.
Aoraki/Mt. Cook - the star of the hike - New Zealand's tallest mountain
You are always surrounded by mountains and stunning scenery!
The Hooker River
The Hooker River with Aoraki/Mt. Cook in the background.
There are boardwalks, too.
The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow - Hooker Lake with Aoraki/Mt. Cook in the background.
A much deserved rest!
A gorgeous place for a snack and a rest.
On our return - this is the second suspension bridge, which I think is the longest.
At the end of the day, a delicious fish and chips dinner
Welcome to the Hooker Valley Track!
The beginning of the Hooker Valley Track
This is an outstanding hike!
Much of the trail is flat and paved. There are some parts of the track that have loose pebbles/rocks, so I was glad I wore my hiking boots.
Looking down at the first suspension bridge.
We are standing at the lookout point for Mueller Glacier Lake.
Mueller Glacier Lake - the first lake along the track
Another view of Mueller Glacier Lake
The Hooker River. We took a few videos which we can't upload here. You can hear the roaring of the river in the videos.
I think this is the second suspension bridge.
Aoraki/Mt. Cook - the star of the hike - New Zealand's tallest mountain
You are always surrounded by mountains and stunning scenery!
The Hooker River
The Hooker River with Aoraki/Mt. Cook in the background.
There are boardwalks, too.
The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow - Hooker Lake with Aoraki/Mt. Cook in the background.
A much deserved rest!
A gorgeous place for a snack and a rest.
On our return - this is the second suspension bridge, which I think is the longest.
At the end of the day, a delicious fish and chips dinner
Dec 30th, 2024 | 03:38 PM
#18
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coral22, I hope my TR and photos will convince you to definitely visit New Zealand. It truly is a beautiful country, probably the most beautiful country I have visited to date. Any idea when you would go? If you have the time, I will also recommend visiting Australia while you are Down Under. Since it takes so long to get here. . . .
Your Italy TR from last year was very helpful to me, and I plan to re-read it before we leave for Italy in May.
Your Italy TR from last year was very helpful to me, and I plan to re-read it before we leave for Italy in May.
Dec 30th, 2024 | 04:01 PM
#19
Joined: Apr 2004
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We are still working out next spring and fall, maybe 2026?
We would definitely go to Australia too, to be gone at least 18 days. How did you feel about the amount of time you were gone on this trip?
You will have a great time in Italy! I love how you mix up the "flavors" of your trips.
We would definitely go to Australia too, to be gone at least 18 days. How did you feel about the amount of time you were gone on this trip?
You will have a great time in Italy! I love how you mix up the "flavors" of your trips.
Dec 30th, 2024 | 05:07 PM
#20
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coral22, we spent 3 weeks in Australia and 3 weeks in New Zealand so we were gone for a total of 6 weeks, a first for us. At first I thought it would be too long but it really wasn't. It was the right amount of time for us. Some days we took it easy and didn't push ourselves. But I don't know that we would do a 6-week trip again. It was worth it for this trip because it takes so long to get there. The travel time was about 27 hours each way for us, including lay-over times.
