Snowball fights in Mt Cook National Park

There is nothing like a road trip through the mountains when it’s winter time, when a snow blanket coats not only the peaks of New Zealand’s mightiest mountain range but also the frost bitten ground. Even glacial rubble looks pretty with a layer of white glittering snow smothering it. Mount Cook or Aoraki is the name given not only to this national park but the village residing in it. A resort town it consists mainly of places to stay and eat whilst The Hermitage, the area’s largest hotel, offers everything from a gift shop, museum to planetarium. The main reason to visit this national park though is to get out and explore. There are numerous walking tracks a short distance from the village. Head out to Lake Tasman and the Tasman Glacier. The lake was formed only a few years ago as the glacier slowly resided. At all times of year huge chunks of ice can be seen floating down the lake as they gradually break up having chipped off from the glaciers terminal (or end point). It’s quite a sight to see. Follow the track down to the lakeside where there is a makeshift jetty. This is used by the small boats that take tourist groups out across the lake to get close up views of the ice burgs and of course at the lakes far end, the glacier itself. I was more adventuress than this and opted instead to join a guided kayak around the lake. The water is a grim grey colour and although it doesn’t look very appealing it is just melted ice, and therefore the purest water you are likely to find. The murky colour is just a result of rock salt built up over years in the glacial ice. I gulped a few mouthfuls as I kayaked across the water. There were a number of ice burgs floating down the lake for my visit, I was told they were the remains of a big displacement recently. I was able to manoeuvre my kayak around several, careful to not get too close in case some of the ice decided to chip off and make an almighty splash. The colours were brilliant blue and emerald greens and it was difficult to imagine that this ice dated back thousands of years as it had compacted and moved with the glacier. After a generous amount of time spent gawping at these mighty ice cubes we, myself and my guide made our way down the lake to the glacier terminal. We were only allowed within a kilometre of it, again for safely reasons, in case a Tsunamai was triggered across the lake by the breaking of a gigantic slice of ice. To be honest this was more than close enough, especially since it was several kilometres kayak back to the jetty! It is only by being so close and yet so far away that you get to appreciate the sheer scale of the Tasman Glacier. Standing at the viewing platform which you can easily climb up to from the pathway to the lake you cannot quite grasp the size. Everything in the area is enormous so why would you possibly be able to comprehend? But sat in a small kayak just in front of this colossal wall of ice gives you another perspective entirely. Everything is epic in scale in this mountainous area of wonderment.

Look out for my next post about the Hooker Valley Walk and where to stay and eat in Aoraki/Mount Cook Village