Ice bergs aren’t the first thing you think of when you think of NZ. But we found some!
Mount Cook is the highest mountain in NZ at just over 12,000 feet and we had a spectacular view driving to it (it’s often shrouded in cloud). The mountain range is the Southern Alps and spans the entire south island. Driving along Lake Pukaki.
After reaching the Mount Cook village we hiked up to get a view of the lake formed by the Tasman Glacier (largest glacier in NZ) and sure enough there were ice bergs floating in the lake. That’s Ross up there on the right
Then another hike up about 300 stairs to view the actual glacier (somewhere behind us) and with very strong wind gusts we didn’t stay long. Ross wasn’t taking any chances with his hat. In his words - better to risk melanoma than lose a Tilley!
There are several glacier fed lakes in this area which are reminiscent of the ones in the Rockies - that beautiful turquoise. Lake Tekapo is one of the largest and covered in lupins this time of year.
Unfortunately the glacier is retreating about 180m a year average and at that rate won’t be around much longer.
1 comment:
the Tilley Hat comment hit home here
Post a Comment