Our last major stop in the South Island — Aoraki / Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest peak. From the moment we arrived and set up camp, it was clear this place demanded to be photographed. The mountain greeted us with a view that was simply asking for a serious photo session, and that is exactly what happened — right up until late at night.
That was probably one of the most impressive views we have ever had from our tent in New Zealand. The landscape in this area is simply breathtaking — lake, glacier, and summit all converging into a single frame.
The Mountain and the Lake
Lake Pukaki, on the approach to Mount Cook, deserves its own mention. The glacier melt gives the water a surreal turquoise colour unlike anything we have seen. Driving along its shore with the mountain ahead felt like approaching something sacred.
Because of bad weather the next morning, we only managed a short hike around the area. Better than nothing — and even a short walk here rewards you with views that would be the highlight of a lesser national park.
Five Hours That Became Eight: The Road to the Ferry
Today our planned five-hour drive to the ferry turned into eight hours on the road, and we were reminded once more of how powerful and unpredictable nature can be.
We were riding along the East Coast highway — the same road that was completely destroyed by the earthquake in November 2016 and is still under reconstruction — when road workers brought everything to a halt. Because of terrible wind conditions, falling rocks, trees and construction debris were landing on the road, making it too dangerous to pass. Traffic stopped entirely for three hours while crews cleared and reinforced the route.
What struck us was the atmosphere during that wait. Even under extreme heat — the asphalt was actually melting — construction workers handed out candies and water to the waiting drivers. Nobody was angry, even with hundreds of people potentially missing their ferries. There is something quietly impressive about that.
In the end, we were among the lucky ones: the ferry was delayed by two hours, so we arrived precisely on time. We are now crossing back to the North Island with five days left in New Zealand.
