February 2017: Ohau Channel and Mount Cook National Park

Warren had a go at Salmon fishing at the Ohau Channel. Its just up stream from a fish farm so it does seem a bit of a cheat. In fact they are not easy to catch. He was unsuccessful so we bought some salmon at the fish farm shop!

Lake Pukaki, one of NZs larger lakes is an amazing turquoise blue due to sediment from the granite rock in the Southern Alps.

The DOC campsite at Mt Cook was quite busy due to it being Chinese New Year plus lots of Germans and French tourists. Apparently they get a great holiday allowance and do seem to love NZ. Lots of families, some with quite young children. Most were walking though some were on Dad's shoulders.

The views of Mount Cook on our three hour return walk up the Hooker Valley to the base of the Tasman Glacier were wonderful. DOC has done an excellent job of creating graveled walking tracks, with wooden steps and duck boarding in some places.

The glacier lake at the base of the mountain began from a sink hole in the 1970s and is now about five km across due to accelerated snow and ice melt. Yes global warming is at work here.

At the lookout point.

We were  unprepared for the beauty of this place. New Zealanders really don't need to travel overseas to see natures wonders. We have it all here, and the overseas tourists love it too.

Wazza gazing at the mountain Ed Hillary style.

We were totally absorbed for a couple of hours at the Conservation Department Alpine Center at Mt Cook Village. The displays showing mountaineering over the past one hundred years are fascinating and so beautifully presented with diaoramas to give you a real sense of what mountaineering is like, the immense power of the mountain environment and the extreme weather. Mountaineering equipment was pretty basic before the 1950s. The men went climbing in their woolen suits and there was little in the way of the hi tech gear and water proof clothing we take for granted today. There is a picture of one of the first women climbers on a glacier in 1890. She is wearing a skirt and blouse and carries a purse! All so formal.

Off again, this time heading for the east coast and Oamaru.