Aoraki/Mount Cook, New Zealand!

Our excursions from Christchurch, New Zealand took us to Aoraki/Mount Cook, Aoraki being the Maori name and of course Mt. Cook after Captain James Cook. It is in the Southern Alps which stretch the length of the South Island. and is the highest point in the country over 3700m (12,000+ ft). Mt. Cook and surrounding lakes and rivers were formed by movement of tectonic plates and massive glaciers, some still remain! The mountain continues to rise due to grinding of the plates, while erosion and a rock slide have reduced the height recently. The Tasman Glacier lies to the east and the Hooker Glacier to the west. All of which we were able to see on our hikes!

En route to the Mt. Cook area and our accommodation in Twizel for the next two nights, we passed by two lakes and several canals. These lakes and canals were built as part of a hydro electric production system. Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki are a deep glowing blue color, sometimes appearing turquoise, colored by the glacial waters. The hydroelectric systems provide over half of New Zealand’s electricity needs. The town of Twizel, population just over 1,200 is the largest town 🙂 in the Mackenzie district of the Canterbury region. The town was built and founded in the 1960s to house construction workers and service the dams and canals. The intent was to return the town to farmland, but as the hydroelectric project ended in the early 1980s, residents fought successfully to save the town.

We loved our accommodation in Twizel that we found through Airbnb. The newly finished studio was attached to the home with a separate entrance. Our hosts, Tania and Gordon were terrific. Gordon has been in Twizel since the 1970s and works for the electric company that maintains the hydroelectric system, dams and canals. The house was on a few acres with chickens, turkeys named Jack and Jill, and a spoodle dog named Lucy. They provided us eggs, bread, jams, honey, juice, coffee and teas for breakfast each day!

The Hooker Valley walk to the base of Mt. Cook was outstanding with views of several glaciers and other mountain peaks. The trek is essentially flat, crosses three swing bridges over swift streams and ends at Hooker Terminal Lake. Icebergs float in the lake as they calve off the glacier. The view changed minute by minute as the clouds move. Near the start of the hike is another lake, that, 40 years ago, did not exist. As the Mueller glacier has receded for miles over the past decades, it left the lake in its place.