Mount Cook - Sealy Tarn Track

Good morning salmons!! @ Twizel Salmon Farm..

Yes, we are excited too!!! Making our way to Mount Cook today!

From highway 8, turning into SH 80, we saw Mount Cook for the very first time. The road towards the tallest mountain of NZ, Mount Cook (world heritage listed) is so beautiful, with Lake Pukaki on the right hand side.

We visited the DOC info center to learn about the weathers and short walks available. We knew that today's weather going to be sunny while tomorrow is looking at rain and cloudy. So we will try to do the Sealy Tarn track (3hrs return) today! But the weather forecast in NZ is always not so accurate :p The weather can change anytime, especially here at Mount Cook where the westerly winds blows towards the mountain....

Reaching Mount Cook Village.. Oh no cloudy again...

So we proceed with our walk at Sealy Tarn*****, accessed from the White Horse Hill campground. It was a steep climb! More like climbing a long long staircase for 1.5 hours. So much pressure on the ankles and knees. But finally we made it! And the view is so so rewarding....

A good view of Mount Cook and two glacier lakes, Hooker Lake and ... Forgotten Lake Name =P

While taking our time to capture Mt Cook, avalanche is happening every now and then.. The sound is so loud and large snow falling down so heavily.. GOsh imagine having to hike under such condition...

Sealy Tarn track View

Ma Ma Miaaaa~~~

Sunset view @ Kea Point

Mueller glacier moraine wall (the grey part), the glacial debris formed this massive wall..

There is a Mueller Hut 3 hrs climb to the top of Mount Sealy to get a panorama view and watch Mt Cook during sunset &sunrise! But the track is covered in snow, so we did not even try to think of going. Not to our limits with only one sleeping bag and unsuitable footwear. So we can only try to see Mt Cook during sunset at Kea Point, again. We did not manage to see the 'pink' colour of the Mt Cook during sunset, it was too cloudy, but we did manage to see the peak of the mountain, finally!

This cute cloud formation keeps appearing then disappear above Mt Cook =)

The only DOC campsite at Mt Cook village, White Horse Hill Campground $10 pp... With good cooking shelter and clean toilets... Shower available for $2 for 5mins at the Day Shelter near the info center at the village.

Last Day in Queenstown

FERGBURGER!!! 

Spent our last day in Queenstown souvenir shopping and savoring Queenstown or rather NZ's best burger, Fergburger~ This time we tried Sweet bambi & little lamby $12.50 each. Still, beefburger is the BEST =D

Queenstown Skyline

Goodbye Milford, here we come Queenstown!

Back to Queenstown, the adventure-land! 

After four hours of driving from Milford Sound and the restless walks we have done, we have decided to get some adventure packed gastronomy for our tummies :p Bought the $66 Gondola + Buffet dinner package from YHA (member's discounted price of $10). Since we will be paying $26 to ride on the gondola, we just top up $40 for the dinner... Which sounds pretty good.. The legendary gondola ride up the Bob's Peak is one of the must in Queenstown, and we know why!

Gondola ride..

There are also many other activities to do here, like the Luge (like a toboggan ride), paragliding, sledge bungee jump, Ben Lomond walking track, and mountain biking down the hill! All too expensive and others too adrenalin pumping, so we would very much prefer the buffet and take in the beautiful views!

It is so amazing, having a buffet dinner with such spectacular views for the eyes!! Well, the buffet dinner is really yUMSS... With seafood like salmon, mussels, tiger prawns, hoki and carvery like roast lamb and pork and grill pork scotch fillet.. Though the salmon really tasted just average... Too bland.. But the prawns and grill pork is really nice.. More appealing is the array of dessert... Creamy tiramisu is sooooo good!

Best VIEW restaurant =)

Cheese Platter

After the 1 hr 45 min buffet time, we brought our bloated stomachs out on the viewing deck.... Good for digestion :p the view is once again superb, and we get to see the moon rise about the same time the sun sets! So cool.....

Standing at 790m above sea level

Overlooking the Double Cone @Mount The Remarkables

Lake Wakatipu, length of 77 km

Night view of Queenstown

Lake Gunn Nature Walk, Lake Marian & Humbolt Falls

A beautiful morning! We started our day with an easy walk from our campsite at Cascade Creek, the Lake gunn nature walk. It says 45 min loop, but took us like 1.5 hrs! Its an ancient red beech tree forest, many birds flying around, with keas high up above the canopy.

Looks like an old tomato old man...

Next on, we went for the Lake Marian 3 hr return walk. Quite exhaustive with the climb up.. Passing few rock falls area which demolish some part of the forest. But the view of Marian Lake with surrounding mountains is totally worth it!

Marian Falls

Lake Marian*****

A must go in Fiordland... Such pristine lake... When there is no wind :p we spent 3 hours here just picnicking and relaxing.. The most beautiful lake so far, or maybe second best after Lake Manapouri. Hard to tell, Lake Manapouri is so massive, and this Lake Marian is small, like the perfect size with the mountains around.

Fun time at Lake Marian

Humbolt Falls***

Humbolt Falls 30min return, but we manage to make it in 15 min because we had to get out of the Lower Hollyford road before 6pm! That's because we spent half a day in Marian Lake and forgot other point of interest to see!

Beautiful Lupins at Mackay Creek DOC Camp

We stayed the night at Mackay creek doc campsite, $6 pp. Our most recommended DOC campsite along the Milford Road! Absolutely beautiful views of the Eglinton valley with snow capped mountains. And the pretty Lupins flowers that grows along the creek. So many colours! In fact they are not so beneficial to the plants and animals as they are too competitive!

Our last night in Milford Sound, see you again in future!