November 23, 2022

November 23, 2022

It didn’t rain last night, and we woke to bright sunshine! A first for our New Zealand trip. Instead of leaving town, we decided to take advantage of the weather and hike to the top of the local Mount Iron hill. After checking out of the hotel, we head the short distance to the trailhead, sitting inside a local subdivision. It is a strenuous hike straight uphill to the peak. It was so worth the effort as we have glorious views of Lake Wanaka and the surrounding Southern Alps.

The weather forecast is predicting late afternoon rain, so we get back in the car and race east to our next destination. It probably took us longer than needed because our car GPS sent us on a long detour around Lake Dunstan. Since it is late Spring in New Zealand, Lupin wildflowers line the highway most of the route. 

The terrain on this side of the mountains is much drier with a lot less vegetation. The rain shadow of the mountains is to the east, just the opposite of Hawaii in the northern hemisphere. We stopped at the Lindis Pass lookout for a short hike to stretch our legs. Interestingly there was a burned out jeep in the parking lot. To save time, we stopped at a grocery store along the way for a pre-made chicken, brie, and cranberry jam sandwich. It was actually pretty good.

Just past the town of Twizel, we left the highway and followed the shoreline of glacial Lake Pukaki north. The water is an unreal blue color from the microscopic rock flour suspended in it. At the end of the lake we enter Aoraki-Mount Cook National Park. Unfortunately by the time we arrive, it is starting to rain.

Saddened, we check into the Hermitage Hotel, one of the most famous in New Zealand. Thinking the weather is only going to get worse, we don our rain gear and head out on the Hooker Valley Track. This trail follows the raging Hooker River over several swinging bridges towards Mueller Glacier descending from Mt. Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand. Unfortunately with the rain, it is nowhere to be seen. We can see the bottoms of many snow-capped peaks. It must be stunning in the sunshine.

On the hike we see a Paradise Shelduck and several ducklings. The mother has a white head while the father’s is jet black. They are endemic to New Zealand.

Back in Mt Cook Village, we stop at the National Park Visitor Center. The first explorers of New Zealand noted the snow-capped Southern Alps but for some reason never mentioned the lofty Mt Cook peak. That is not a mystery to me. From my experience Mount Cook is always in the rain clouds! The famed mountaineer, Edmund Hillary, was probably the most famous Kiwi. He honed his skills by climbing Mt Cook, before successfully scaling Mt Everest. His statue graces an outdoor courtyard here.

We finish off the last of our Hawke's Bay Chardonnay in the room, before going to the lounge for drinks and a cheese platter. Our seats would have a great view, except for the rain.