Wednesday 2nd March - Wanaka to Twizel and Mt Cook Village
Aurora_b
Mike and Liz Downing
Sun 27 Mar 2011 04:58
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Another great day as we headed from Wanaka inland again
and through another mountain pass, the Lindis Pass, which takes the road
through the mountains and up on to a high plateau - this is what they call
High Country. It's on the east side of the main Alps and so much drier and the
rainforests have all gone and been replaced by golden tussock grass once again.
It really is a dramatic change in scenery. The target was to get to Mt Cook
village to see Mt Cook from the other (east) side. It is much closer and easier
to view from the Mt Cook village side, but having seen it close up from the
helicopter at Fox, and in bright sunshine, we wondered whether it was
worth attempting to see it from the ground - could we get another clear
day? The answer was no, but it was definitely worth the visit.
The motel had been booked in Twizel, on the way to Mt Cook
village and about an hours drive away. So having checked in at the
motel in bright sunshine it was off to Mt Cook village traveling
along the side of Lake Pukaki. This is another of the high lakes and equally
beautiful, being a lovely blue colour (as it's fed by melt water from the
mountains) and surrounded by golden tussock covered mountains. As you
travel northwest along the lake, the mountains rise up to 10,000 to
12,000ft and form the snow-capped Mt Cook Range (Mt Cook is
12,316ft). Mt Cook village nestles in the mountains a few miles
beyond the end of the lake. Unfortunately as we drove along the lake, so the
weather turned from bright sunshine to low cloud and the mountains were
shrouded in mist - creating a completely different atmosphere of darkness and
foreboding, but just as spectacular and awe inspiring.
They have DoC (Department of Conservation) centres in many
places in NZ - they provide tourist information and a background to the area,
but the one at Mt Cook is by far the best we've seen. It's a modern museum
in it's own right with great displays all about the mountains, e.g. how
they were formed and the history of climbing in the area. (Sir Edmond Hillary
did all his training and preparation for Everest here.) It would be easy to
spend half a day there just going round the fascinating displays. The DoC staff
also provide information on the current state of the mountains and the walks
that are safe and worth doing. But being covered in mist, wet and down to 6
degrees C outside we made a unanimous decision not to go walking,
but to sit by the log fire in the cafe and have a hot chocolate! Having
seen all that we could, it was back down the road along Lake Pukaki
to Twizel and back into glorious sunshine once again.
 The scenery at the Lindis Pass and on the high
plateau.
 Clay Cliffs between the Lindis Pass and
Twizel.
 Our motel room in Twizel - built for
snow.
 Lake Pukaki in bright
sunshine!
 The first sheep we have encountered actually on
the road since coming to NZ. We've still seen many
more cows than sheep.
 Further along Lake Pukaki - still bright
sunshine.
 The view from Mt Cook village - the mist has
descended.
 Looking the other way, as it gets darker. The
village is tightly enclosed by mountains on 3 sides.
 Another view and a glimpse of
sunshine.
 We can just about see the tops of the mountains in
the foreground.
 We think this is the way towards Mt Cook. We'll
have to go back and check one day!
 It started to clear, but then in closed right in
and rained, so that was it for the rest of the day
......
 ...... other than for a hot chocolate in front of
the log fire!
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