Hooker Valley Track

 I have been on this track at least five times now- and only once before had the clear views that I was so grateful to experience this day. But this day had a combination of early mist and later clear skies that was absolutely magical.

From the camping ground at Glentanner, I could tell that the top of Aoraki was all clear, but a wide band of cloud was at the base. I drove towards the mountain, in clear skies at first, but then in heavy mist. I started the walk hopeful that things would clear as the morning progressed.

 

I was past the third bridge before glimpses of the mountains began to show. 

 

At the viewing place by the glacier lake, heavy mist was still around, but I decided to stick around with a bunch of others, in the hope that the mist would clear. 

And as things cleared, it was almost a mystical experience. 

 

Sunlight poked through and showed the ice chunks in the lake that I had not previously seen.

 

Peaks started to show themselves, then would be covered with mist again. 

 

Aoraki was the last to show herself. By about 11am all was clear.

I didn’t want to leave the viewing place and had to force myself to begin walking back downhill.

This time the bridges were clear instead of shrouded in mist. And as I descended hordes of mostly tourists were ascending, and I was glad that I had started earlier in the peace (and cool) of the morning. What a precious day. Ka Kite Aoraki.

 

 

Lake Pukaki Foreshore Trail

After the previous day’s longish ride along the Tekapo Canal, I was quite glad to choose a shorter one next- the return trip along the Lake Pukaki Foreshore Trail.

When I reached the first lookout over the lake, on the highway from Tekapo, it was time to turn off down Hayman Rd, where after a km was the sign for a small carpark for the foreshore trail. 

 

I unloaded my bicycle from the car and I was off. 

It was a beautiful day for the ride- calm, sunny, and with great views across to the mountains.

 At the other end of the trail, some 8.5km away, there was a bike stand made with the plastic trays from the salmon farm I had seen the day before. (And yes, the fatter tyres on my bike didn’t rest easily on this, but could easily be leaned on the end.) 

On the map on the back of the sign, I could see that Twizel was only 11km away, but I kept to my ‘rest day’ plan for riding, in case it was a good day for the Hooker Valley walk next day.

The views were even better on the way back, though I met a few more cyclists, my timing coinciding with a paid group. 

The trail was well signposted for all though, in both directions.

My favourite spot along the trail was this little table, in a spot that was free from the campervan hordes! I sat and quietly enjoyed some morning tea before continuing back to my car.