New Zealand Blog April 3rd, 2016
April 04, 2016 at 5:02 AM
Mount Cook National Park
Today we traveled from Queenstown to Mount Cook National Park at the base of Mount Cook. Enroute we visited the site of the worlds first Bungee jumping. The place jumping off bridges began.
When we first arrived in Mount Cook and checked into our hotel the wind was blowing very strong and scattered showers. We could see that it was clearing in the distance and had everyone on standby that if the weather broke we’d go out. Forty minutes later the clouds broke up and it was blue sky once again. So we gathered the group together and made our way to the trails.
We drove to the glacier trail head and hiked the trail to a lookout point where we could get some shots of the mountain. The trail also led back to the riverbed and a trail to the base of the glacier. Many great photo opportunities. Tonight we are staying at the Hermitage Hotel nestled deep in the valley which makes for more great photos. Below are the selection of photos from todays trek. Enjoy.
Here’s an updated map - the red shows the regions we have visited since we arrived in New Zealand and the blue is the remaining part of our journey.
Also before we begin todays blog photos we would like to wish Don Jones a very Happy Birthday, it’s been great to travel with you and your wife Joan again on this trek.
We started our day with the beautiful rainbow.
This is the bridge where the bungee craze all started from.
And this morning shortly after we arrived the first jumper took the dive.
Another satisfied jumper.
They had big monitors in the main part of the building that you could watch the jumpers.
Next one ready to go!
And jump .... of course you can purchase the videos of your jump!
This was once a power plant called roaring mebgs,
Alexa and Paul capturing the beautiful colours of Lake Pokakie.
Another view of the lake, see the showers moving through with the strong winds.
A trail of rental vans on the highway enroute to Mount Cook.
When we hiked a little deeper on the National Park trail this was the reward. Mt. Tazman. Interesting cloud patterns with the strong winds today.
Looking back from the trail at our hotel the Hermitage. Great view from every room.
Another view of Mt. Tazman.
Ian our coach driver joined us on the hike this afternoon.
Sanford stoping to pose for a shot with the mountain in the background.
Some mushrooms along the side of the trail.
Paul, Sanford and Don in the distance.
A landscape shot, afternoon turned out to be beautiful.
This is a Harrier Hawk that landed on top of a monument on the trail.
View of the trail head.
Ron taking a break on the trail this afternoon.
Puddles always make great reflections.
This is the trail bridge leading to the glacier.
One last shot for today a B&W looking down the tail to the glacier lake.
That’s a wrap for this evening. Tomorrow we start our journey back to Christchurch for our final night in New Zealand. Good night from Mount Cook National Park.
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Bill and I wish you safe travels.