On Day 2 we did a hike that is considered the best in the park, the Hooker Valley Track. This track (all hiking paths in NZ are called “tracks”) follows the path the Hooker Glacier left behind as it receded up the valley. Here is a shot from the beginning of the hike looking back towards our hotel. You might need to click on the photo to see it!
The hike is 10km long, but it’s mostly flat, so it’s really quite easy. You cross three swinging bridges along the way. When there are multiple people on the bridge, it feels like you are walking during an earthquake, or after 8:00 PM for me! Did I mention I like my wine? Maybe I shouldn’t advertise that.
The views the entire way are just breath taking. Around every bend is another “wow” view.
At the end of the trail there is a picnic area viewpoint of Hooker Glacier and it’s lake. Much smaller than Tasman Glacier, it’s only 11km long, and nowhere near as wide. You can barely make it out in the below photo. The glaciers coming off of Mount Cook are covered in rock as they have been melting from the top down as well as at their terminus. All of the sediment carried in the ice ends up on top, making the glaciers appear like part of the rocky landscape. The lake started forming in the 1970’s as Hooker Glacier retreated. If they had just put up some red lights I think the Hooker would have been happy to come forward, but this isn’t Amsterdam.
These Paradise Shelduck’s came flying up to the picnic area looking for a handout. They were very tame, so their begging must be effective.
A river of glacial melt running under the 2nd swing bridge. That’s a lot of melt, and it wasn’t really that hot.
The hanging glaciers near the beginning of the trail. Even though the exposure is off, I loved the dichotomy of the ice versus the green landscape.
We got take-out pizza from the Old Mountaineers Cafe adjacent to the Hermitage Hotel and had that in our room while watching the sunset. Excellent pizza to go with excellent NZ wine and views!
We had 2 days of perfect weather in the park. Just as we were packing up to leave, we saw this wisp of fog rolling into the valley.
By the time we started our drive the entire valley was shrouded in fog, and as we drove south it became a combination of fog and fully overcast with low clouds. We lucked out! Mount Cook will likely not be visible for the next day or two. Our guide at Tasman Lake told us that Mount Cook is obscured about half the time, so we are thankful we got to enjoy it while we could!
Next up, Kaikoura and Picton.