From Lake Tekapo it was a fairly short drive around Lake Pukaki to Mt Cook National Park. We stayed at a Department of Conservation campsite, right underneath the ice and snow-covered Mt Cook Range. Even though it was half covered in clouds, the mountain range was breathtaking. We’ve never seen such blue ice like this!
Upon arrival we jumped out to hike the Hooker Valley Track before the rain started. There were three suspension bridges along the track. Just before one of them, we lucked out and actually saw a small avalanche up on the mountain. We heard many of them (they sound like thunder) but only managed to actually catch a glimpse of one.
The actual glacier is the shallow blue mound of ice in the background. Tiny glacial icebergs have grounded themselves in the glaciers melt pond.
It’s coooold here, particularly after 90F+ days on a humid tropical island. Hearty dinners quickly became standard. And we’re enjoying cooking in the campervan! 🙂
We drove straight from Mt Cook to the Dunedin airport to pick up Kate (Priscilla’s sister)! Everything worked out for her to come join us while we campervan through the South Island!
We spent a day exploring the Otago Peninsula outside Dunedin, known for its rare wildlife (seals, sea lions, penguins, albatross…).
The Pacific ocean…
This beach has a couple of nesting penguins. We went to see them, and instead found slumbering sea lions. It was worth getting all covered in sand.
Priscilla and Kate went on a nighttime penguin watch at the end of the Otago Peninsula. They saw 50+ little blue penguins making the mad dash from the sea to their nests in the surrounding hills and cliffs.
Highlights of Mt Cook National Park and Dunedin:
- The Hooker Valley Track in Mt Cook National Park. We both saw our first glacier!
- The Otago Peninsula is a spectacular landscape. Rolling hills with sheep, cliffs and beaches, and rare wildlife!
- We can’t get over how awesome the campervan is. Definitely building one of these when we return to the US.