Mount Cook

After an action packed last couple of days, we were ready to see some more of New Zealand so headed towards Mount Cook.

Having only left Queenstown at 7pm, we didn't reach the campsite until 10pm. On arriving in the pitch black, we found it to be a deserted area by a swamp like pond. With the area reminding us of a typical backdrop to a horror movie, we headed back up the road to one of those dreadful commercial campsites. When we reached it the owner informed us that they had already closed for the night. Sam, with his usual lucky charm, managed to persuade her to let us stay.

The next morning we were up early, showered and ready to start the day. It was a very freezing morning and we gave full credit with much admiration to the man sleeping in the tent next to us, with his form of transport, a bike lying on the ground next to him.

Disappointed to miss the local sheep shearing show due to our early start, we decided to drive on and make a day of our time at Mount Cook.

The windy roads on the way to Mount Cook had the most stunning views as we followed a crystal clear, blue lake all the way there.

When we reached the town nearby, we enquired about which walk to do and decided on a pleasant three hour walk. Sam, not wanting to read sign posts, insisted that his particular route was the correct route and after ten minutes of walking in a round circle, we realised that we were going in a completely wrong direction. Somehow, we had managed to join a twenty minute walk to one of the many look out points of Mount Cook. Sam suggested that it would be better to keep to this route and that he actually didn't quite fancy the thought of the three hour walk anymore!

The view was incredible and we both stood there for a while, taking in Mount Cook's monsterous size and the whiteness of its snowy peak.

We spotted a few ambitious walkers hiking up another mountain to the side of Mount Cook and thanked ourselves for not thinking we should have done anything as strenuous or stupid as that! Before we left this area, we stopped in the local cafe and reflected on all we had seen so far.

Lunch was enjoyed taking in the peace and quiet of the serene, beautiful lake, before a load of Japanese tourists all fighting for the best photo arrived. With this, we jumped back into the Camper and hit the road for the long drive to Akaroa. Although we spent over five hours on the road, it was a lovely drive surrounded by beautiful scenery.

Sam's comments: A lovely place and I felt so lucky to catch it on a beautiful day.

E-J's comments: Mount Cook and the scenery around it is simply breathtaking. I just wish we could have had a bit of a longer trek around it, but Sam is always in control when it come to directions....