After arriving in Wanaka on Saturday, we got checked into our hotel at the Wyndham. We headed into the small downtown area for window shopping and dinner. We both found some merino wool clothing at a local sports shop. We visited New World Market to buy groceries.
View in Wanaka from the downtown area
Early Sunday morning we headed to Mount Cook National Park, about 2.5 hours from Wanaka. Mount Cook (70,696 hectares) is New Zealand's great alpine park. It has the highest mountains and the largest glaciers. Aoraki/Mount Cook village and all visitors to the park are dwarfed by the immensity of the landscape that surrounds them. This park is located in the central part of the South Island, deep in the heart of the Southern Alps.
The 4 hour hike was breathtaking - enjoy some of the views along the way!
Entrance to Mount Cook Park
The park is a harsh land of ice and rock. Glaciers cover 40% of it. There are 19 peaks over 3,000 metres including New Zealand's highest mountain, Aoraki/Mount Cook. The park is also part of Te Waipounamu - South Westland World Heritage Area in recognition of its outstanding natural values.
One of many streams crossed
Trail winding along the mountain before the swing bridge
And around the corner...is Mt. Cook!!
Almost there....
About as far as we can go....glacier in the background.
A look back as we left the park.
Check back for our next stop....Queenstown and the Southland area!!!
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