Mighty Mt. Cook

After getting drenched on the Routeburn track we were worried that we might have to skip Mt. Cook for now as there was no point in going all the way up there if it was raining. But when we woke up, the skies were clear! It looked like the luck was on our side, and the drive towards Mt. Cook was really beautiful one in such a fine weather.

No clouds at all

Mount Cook and Lake Pukaki

For my birthday in January I was given a special present - a flight in helicopter over the glaciers of Mt. Cook National Park. We decided to stop by at the Mt. Cook airport to find out what the options were.... and we ended up booking a flight that would leave right away! The sun was shining high and there were no clouds whatsoever and we didn't want to risk missing on such good conditions. No helicopters were available so we ended up flying with the super small Cessna 185. We cruised above the Tasman Lake and the large Tasman Glacier, and along the impressive 3754m Mt. Cook (Aoraki in Maori), the highest mountain of New Zealand. It is hard to describe in words how beautiful it was.

Our little plane

Tasman Lake below Mt. Cook

Tasman glacier

From the top

Crevasses in Tasman glacier making it impossible to land

I enjoyed every minute of it, but D not so much, holding on tightly onto the handle next to his window and looking kind of yellowish. I admire that he insisted on going up with me even despite his vertigo. He was very relieved when we crossed the divide between the Mt.Cook National Park and Westland National Park and landed on the Franz Josef glacier. The landing on the glacier surrounded by the mountains, ice and snow was just breathtaking. Everything was quiet except for me demanding more and more pictures to remember this special moment.

He couldn't believe he made it up here alive!

And started to meditate...

Loved it!

Our pilot!

Landing tracks

On the way back D was more relaxed and could enjoy more the scenery below, too bad we couldn't fly longer! The best birthday gift ever!

Going back down the Tasman Valley

We stayed in the Mt. Cook Village which is not really a proper village, just several hotels and hostels, national park office and a camping ground, all built for the tourists only. There isn't even a store or regular gas station. We spent our two days in the park hiking, enjoying the amazing views of the omnipresent Mt. Cook and getting roasted by the sun. We couldn't have been more lucky with the weather! Our suffering in Routeburn was fully compensated.

It was hard to leave this place that left us in a complete awe, but there is still a lot to see. We are only beginning to discover New Zealand! And it is time to start to look for some wild life.

One last sunset and it's time to go