Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook, Wanaka

Happy New Year!! ;)
After setting off from Christchurch towards Lake Tekapo, we were already delighted by the beautiful landscape at the beginning. The drive went through vast areas surrounded by tall mountains and passed by rivers and lakes. We quickly realized that there could be a dreamlike view behind every curve. Upon arriving at Lake Tekapo in the afternoon, we went to the tourist information center. Due to the cloud cover and increasing hunger, we headed to the camping site 7km away. We set up our camp right next to the river and cooked penne with tomato sauce and grill skewers from the menu. After a digestion walk, we spent the first night in our Charles and even slept until 10 o'clock. With a cup of coffee and the morning briefing, the destination for the day was set: the highest mountain in New Zealand, Mount Cook, should be approached. We hiked a 3-hour route through the Hooker Valley to the foot of the mountain, passing numerous suspension bridges and constructed walkways. The target, a very windy viewpoint on a glacial lake with occasional icebergs, theoretically offered a good view of the mountain, but it was again covered by numerous clouds. The descent with tailwind and a few raindrops was somewhat easier. The further drive once again led along the coastal road past a beautiful turquoise lake out of the valley. After a short stop and shopping in the picturesque town of Twitzel, we found a camping site directly at Lake Middleton. On the remote road there, we could hardly believe our eyes and suddenly faced a breathtaking view of Lake Ohau. The snow-covered mountain peaks rose above the ice-bonbon-colored lake, which was flanked by moraine-covered mountain slopes. After a short break from this view, we set up camp in the campsite and enjoyed the last rays of sunshine of the day. The next morning we continued over the Lilies Pass to Lake Wanaka, where we once again took a hike to a summit. From there, we had a spectacular view over the lake, the rivers flowing into it, and the town on the shore. A short drive to the pebble beach ended with a refreshing swim in the ice-cold lake. Before continuing, we were able to take advantage of the free warm showers in Wanaka. On the further drive, we passed along the almost equally large and impressive Lake Hawea before stopping at a high-altitude camping site above a riverbed. In the early morning, we hiked through the mossy forest to the popular Blue Pools, which really had a deep blue, crystal-clear color. Our path led us back to Wanaka for New Year's Eve shopping, which apparently every New Zealander and tourist does. Loaded with supplies, we set course for Queenstown and set up camp on a free campsite at a viewpoint over the mountains and the city. We certainly didn't miss the opportunity to climb the peak after the exhausting march. After cutting the salad and the meat, we enjoyed our New Year's Eve dinner, fondue, in the bus because of the strong wind. After the delicious meal, we enjoyed the last rays of sunshine of the year with a plastic cup of wine. At midnight, we popped the cork and watched the fireworks over Queenstown from the viewpoint. We wish you and your families and friends a Happy New Year!! :D
See you soon,
Malia