Aoraki Mount Cook, South Island, New Zealand. 12th March 2023

On Friday we drove from Lake Tekapo to Aoraki Mount Cook where we stayed two nights at the Aoraki Alpine Lodge with great views down the valley to Mount Cook.  We arrived at lunchtime having stopped en route to do the hike up to Lake Tasman Glacier; the glacier, as with glaciers throughout the world, is receding fast and now can be seen in the distance from the viewpoint when at one time would have been much closer.  After lunch we did a one hour hike which climbed up through the forest.  Many of the shrubs that are familiar in UK gardens are trees here in New Zealand.  Yesterday (Saturday) we hiked the Hooker Valley Trail which is the most popular trail in the area and at times seemed like a procession (as you can see from the photo below).  However there were stunning views all the way to Hooker Lake, a glacial lake with many floating icebergs.  Whilst walking back we heard a tremendous rumble and crash; some people said it was an avalanche and some said it was the glacier carving.  It was a four hour return hike and we were both pretty weary by the time we got back to the Lodge.