Yesterday didn’t end with the helicopter ride. It was a beautiful afternoon and evening and the crowds were thinning out on the trails, so about 5:00pm we set out on the popular Hooker Valley Track for a 6.5 mile round trip to Hooker Lake. It was one of the must-do’s for me in New Zealand.

The hike winds up the valley to Hooker Lake at the foot of the Hooker Glacier and beautiful Aoraki/Mt. Cook. The trail includes three “swing bridges” which are way more scary than the helicopter ride.

Here we go with swing bridge #1.

These are a couple glacial streams running off the glaciers.

 

Swing bridge #2. The sign means 20 small people who won’t make it bounce too much.

We round the corner and get our first view of Mt. Cook from the trail. A few hours earlier we flew around the top. Now we are walking near the bottom.

It’s a beautifully maintained trail with some boardwalk. You can see the large crowds even though it is getting close to 6:00pm.

We arrive at Hooker Lake with Mt. Cook in the background.

Here again you can see the edge of the ice on the lake.

The evening clouds are beginning to pour in over the mountain tops.

Hikers enjoying a rest at the lake. Some with a bottle of wine. We enjoyed our peanut butter and jelly.

Another glacier and waterfall emptying into Hooker Lake.

Fall wild flowers along the path.

Me celebrating an amazing day!

Aoraki/Mt. Cook with swing bridge in the foreground.

A couple more parting shots of the Hooker Lake track.

 

And finally we close out our amazing day as the sun sets on Aoraki/Mt. Cook. What a wonderful day, a beautiful place, a blessing to be here.

Kia ora,

Coe & Janet