Aoraki - Cloud piercer - 3754m

Of course, we didn't want to miss the opportunity to see the gigantic Mt. Cook up close. On the following day, we made a stop and went for a hike at the base of this impressive mountain. The starting point was the small mountain village of Mt. Cook Village, where even the Visitor Center impressed and provided plenty of information about the exploration history of New Zealand's highest mountain. In addition, there were numerous information about the animal kingdom, vegetation, and the decline of the glaciers.

The hike passed by two glaciers and their lakes, cold rivers, and numerous breathtaking views... but we don't want to tell too much because pictures often speak louder than words...

Afterwards, we visited the largest glacier in New Zealand, the Tasman Glacier, currently measuring 27 kilometers in length. The former border of the glacier ice is clearly visible in the picture. 40 years ago, there was no lake in front of the glacier, but today this lake is 7km long, up to 2km wide, and over 200m deep. Even though everyone has heard of it and probably everyone knows Al Gore's documentary 'An Inconvenient Truth', it is more than shocking to see with your own eyes how incredible the mass has changed in such a short time.