Today we head right into the heart of New Zealand’s Alps after leaving Lake Tekapo, past the teal blue Lake Pukaki and up to Mt. Cook National Park. Both lakes, glistening in the morning sun, remind us of Northern California’s Clear Lake or even Lake Shasta. In the distance we see the snow-covered Mt. Cook and as we arrive in the village I’m reminded of a similar scene growing up.
Mt. Cook to seems very similar to Washington’s Mt. Rainier. Just like the latter’s Paradise entrance, you can drive almost right up to the glacier and stay at a mountain chalet/lodge. Feels like I could hours just taking in the view of New Zealand’s tallest mountain. There’s something about being in the presence of glacier-covered mountains that soothes my soul. It seems to be the subconscious acknowledgement of lastingness. I can’t put exact words on it today, but hailing from the Pacific Northwest and spending weekends at my family’s lakeside cabin fed by Mt. Rainier’s east flank glaciers – there is a strong presence of a tall mountain that is reassuring to me.
But today, we have much ground to cover if we’re to make it to Queenstown, the outdoor playground of New Zealand’s South Island. We head down the mountain to Lake Wanaka, a small but bustling lakeside town before heading to Queenstown.
Feel of the day
Civil. Everywhere we’ve been so far in NZ has been clean, safe and full of nice and respectful Kiwis who seem to appreciate life and have an acute awareness of their surroundings. So refreshing.