Our first stop on New Zealand's South Island was Lake Tekapo, with the flowering lupines by Lake Tekapo. It was absolutely stunning with the fields of lupines with the mountain as a backdrop.
After that, we made our way to Auraki and Mount Cook national park, and we did most things that we could do there. Haha
We started off with Hooker Valley Track. A bit of a crowded walk, but for good reason, you get all the way up to the base of the glacier lake, right bellow Auraki, the highest mountain in all New Zealand. We also took a detour to Hooker Hut, which is well worth it. It's a short path from the main track, but you get to spend some time alone in this amazing piece of the world.
We also walked to Tasman Glacier, the largest glacier in the country. The valley to that glacier is much larger, so you're able to take in the views a lot better.
To finish off, we got to Mueller Hut to celebrate the new year, a farily hard hike, especially with overnight packs on. You have to hike 1000 meters of elevation, on two or three kilometers of hiking. It's closer to a ladder than a tramp.
And that's where we decided to say good bye to 2024 and start the new year of 2025
We are also on Instagram!
@wanderingjournaling
0:00 Intro - Start to Mueller hut
0:50 Lake Tekapo lupines
2:47 Meanwhile on the way up...
3:44 Mt John Observatory
4:28 Meanwhile on the way up...
5:11 Sunrise Lupines
5:54 Meanwhile on the way up...
6:15 Petting Zoo
8:11 Meanwhile on the way up...
9:32 Hookey Valley Track
11:50 Meanwhile on the way up...
12:43 Tasman Lake
14:41: Mueller Hut - Finally
16:48 Outro