Thursday, January 16, 2014

Day 7, Wanaka > Mt Cook, January 16th 2014

We woke to rain at Wanaka this morning, it wasn’t cold and the rain made a rainbow on the hills opposite the lake which was a bit unusual.
We ducked downtown to grab some breakfast............and hand feed the local sparrows.
We drove north through the Lindis Pass, it was an impressive road, probably much better on a nice motorbike I’d imagine. We pulled up at Omarama for a break and a coffee / tea, cool pool room, appalling coffee & tea.
We came across Lake Ruataniwha just south of Twizel and had to pull up and take a picture of the water, the colour was amazing.
A little further north was the turn off to Mt Cook. We travelled along Lake Pukaki for a while; it was also the amazing blue colour so we grabbed a few more pics.
The further up the valley we got the heavier the clouds got and the higher the hills got. It was like driving into another world and the wind was something else, very strong, maybe 100 - 120kmph.
We checked in to the Hermitage and scored a room on the 9th floor with amazing views towards Mt Cook and Mt Sefton but the rain was spoiling the views, but it was clearing slowly.
Around dinner time the clouds began to break and clear allowing up the opportunity to do some “tramping” on a couple of the many trails leading away from the village.
We went up the Kea Trail and had a look at the Alpine Memorial overlooking Hooker valley with Mt Cook in the backgrounds.
Pictures do not do this place justice, just come and have a look it’s simply amazing. Saw a small avalanche too, sounded like a jet plane.
We do a helicopter flight through the area tomorrow morning, I can’t wait.

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