Road to nowhere - Mount Cook Village, Lake Pukaki and Alpine Salmon

There is just one road in and out of Mount Cook National Park – State Highway 80 - a slightly uninspiring name for such a memorable drive. The hardest part was trying not to pull over every few minutes as another jaw dropping vista came into view. The road snakes alongside Lake Pukaki, arguably the jewel in the crown of the Mackenzie region. Lake Pukaki is the largest lake and just maybe the most striking, although it has some tough competition. Extremely fine rock particles or glacier flour create a quite brilliant glinting turquoise colour in the lakes water. Lake Pukaki Information Centre is potentially the most perfect spot for a photograph anywhere, with the backdrop of the Southern Alps creating a picture-perfect frame around the edges of the lake. It is also home to the retail outlet for Mount Cook Alpine Salmon which was the ideal excuse needed by me to pull over. I grabbed a sashimi tray and devoured the decedent salmon pieces whilst appreciating the fresh alpine air.