Chapter IV - Lake Tekapo × Lake Pukaki

Arriving at Lake Tekapo, I meet up with Kinga, Johana, and Victor, who have already spent a few days skiing there. The next morning, we go for a short walk to Mt. John, which is right next to the small town by the lake. It offers a superb view of the surrounding mountains, which are reflected in the crystal-clear, turquoise-colored water. The ski resorts around the lake, where various ski national teams like Germany and the USA train during winter, are unfortunately already closed. After visiting the famous 'Church of the Good Shepherds', which is probably the most visited church in all of New Zealand, and the town itself, we head to our next stop, Lake Pukaki.

At the end of Lake Pukaki, the highest mountain in New Zealand reaches into the sky - Mt. Cook, with a height of 3,724 meters. Even from the viewpoint on the main road, the summit can be seen on a clear day. Unfortunately, we have some bad luck with cloudy weather, so we don't get a full view of the summit. Nevertheless, the sight is still impressive. If you turn right in the town, after a few kilometers and winding country road along the lake, you reach 'Mt. Cook Village'. With every kilometer driven, the mountain appears larger. When we reach the end of the road, we can only continue on foot on some beautiful tracks at the base of the mountain. On the right side, the next glacier immediately appears - the 'Tasman Glacier'.