Lake Tekapo is three hours drive south-west of Christchurch in the Mackenzie Basin, the Southern Alps. Lake Tekapo gets its intense milky-turquoise colour from the fine rock-flour (ground by glaciers) which is suspended in the water.
The first people to live in the Mackenzie Basin were Maori. European settlers didn't really know about the area until the mid 1800s, when a Scottish shepherd named Jock Mackenzie was arrested for sheep stealing. He ventured into this high country to hide his stolen flock. |
The Church of the Good Shepherd is settled at the southern end of Lake Tekapo
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sheepdog monument - a bronze statue overlooking Lake Tekapo sculpted to recognise the district's debt to the sheepdog "without the help of which the grazing of the mountainous country would be impossible".
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Church of The Good Shepherd to the glory of God
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the first stone of Church of The Good Shepherd was laid in 1935
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100% pure New Zealand
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100% pure New Zealand
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Rediscover the freedom of the open road on a driving holiday around New Zealand.
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a kind reminder by New Zealand Transport Authority along the way to Mt Cook
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The road to the Mt Cook national park runs along the Tasman Valley beside Lake Pukaki, which is fabulously blue due to the glacier-ground rock particles that are suspended in its waters.
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Mount Cook is well known as the highest peak in Australasia (3754m). In 1998 the mount was renamed to Aoraki/Mt Cook to incorporate its Maori heritage.
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jogging along Lake Pukaki against the backdrop of Mt Cook
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Not in a hurry! You are in the heart of Aotearoa beauty.
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The way to Mt Cook from the Mackenzie basin via Lake Pukaki by car is one of New Zealand’s scenic alpine roads.
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Mt Cook village has YHA, hotel, school, restaurant, bar, huts and other basic facilities.
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Rainbow always comes with or after rain.
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Mt Cook national park is home to the highest mountains and the largest glaciers in New Zealand. It has 19 peaks more than 3000 metres high, including Aoraki/Mount Cook (3754m).
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A variety of walking trails begin in or near Mount Cook Village – most take only a couple of hours. Two of the most popular are the Kea Point Walk and Hooker Valley Track.
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According to Maori legend, Aoraki and his three brothers were the sons of Rakinui, the Sky Father. They were on a voyage around Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother, when their canoe was stranded after striking a reef in the ocean.
Aoraki and his brothers climbed onto the top their canoe. The cold south wind froze them, and turned them into stone. Their canoe became New Zealand's South Island, which was then called Te Waka o Aoraki. Aoraki, the tallest of the brothers, became the highest peak. His brothers and crew became the other mountains of the Southern Alps. |
You may explore the Aoraki/Mt Cook national park in other ways - scenic flights, guided hikes, ski touring, glacier adventures and instructional climbing expeditions.
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stones were piled up as prayer by tourists and mountain climbers
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sunset over Mt Cook
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Kea Point Walk to Mt Cook
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the youngest climber (with his dad) of Mt Cook
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splendid view of Mt Cook and Tasman Glacier(30 km), one of the longest outside the Himalayas
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Ellen relaxes at the foot of Mt Cook
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step on Mt Cook
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There is always a seat available for you in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
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Gorgeous!
Wenderwoman · 2008-04-21: 20:19
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I like Mt Cook!
shine yule · 2008-04-22: 02:09
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