Hooker Valley Track

No. Red light districts are not on the agenda. That is its real name and it is the most popular walk in the region because it takes you to the glacier lake at the foot of Aoraki Mt Cook. There is a second lake at the foot of Mt Sefton and the two lakes and numerous minor torrents feed into a wild river crossed by 3 suspension bridges. It is a spectacular 5kms out and 5kms back.

Looking back toward Mt Cook Village and Lake Pukaki

Lyn said, “I’m surprised at the lack of wildflowers and then we rounded a corner…

Mt Sefton and The first lake

Lyn not enjoying a crossing

The river swollen by yesterday rain

First good view of Aoraki

The end of the trail

Icebergs

Proving I was there

A last look

Lyn did a creditable 7km, enjoyed it, but didn’t push on to the end. I did, and felt privileged to see these places on such a beautiful day.

When Lyn returned to the start of the track there was a woman doing a survey. They got chatting and Lyn learned about the ill-prepared tourists who get in trouble here every day through exhaustion, dehydration, stupidity and lack of sunscreen. Perhaps somebody should explain that when Kiwis grade a 10km walk as “easy”, they mean it is a well-made track with a gentle gradient.

Independently we both observed many examples of the ill-prepared and discourteous. My vote for ‘person most likely to need rescuing’ was a woman twirling for an ‘instagramable’ photo in high-heeled black boots. My  biggest gripe was the habit of Asian tourists, and some young women in gym gear, of walking 2-3 abreast with zero consideration for those walking in the opposite direction.

We had lunch with a half bottle of Sauvignon Blanc and not surprisingly slept a large chunk of the afternoon away. Then we drove to the Tasman Valley short walk. Unfortunately it is “short” but also a very stiff climb with stairs. Lyn chose discretion and I chose the stairs which climb up the huge moraine which holds the lake. From the top I had a view in both directions. The glacier itself is retreating rapidly so I’m glad I saw it.

These are the Blue Lakes. Blue no longer because they are no longer fed by glacial meltwater.

The view back down the valley the way we had come

Lake in the foreground and glacier at the far end

This is our last night in New Zealand. Time to eat and drink our last supplies.