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.

Lake Taupo to Tararua Forest Park

Lake Taupo, really a Lake?? haha... 

Couple of black swan enjoying themselves by the lake shore, taking in the cool breeze...

Fly Fishing at Tongariro National Trout Center

Fly Fishing... which is using an artificial 'fly' to catch fish. They make the artificial 'fly' resembles an insect flying above the surface to lure the fishes. Omg we think this fishing technique requires so much determination, the cold river + quick current... But the end result are the beautiful SALMON & TROUTS!!

Mount Tongariro

Passing by Mount Tongariro as we move south from Lake Taupo to Wellington. We shall be back after our travels from South Island and do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing!

White Goatie welcoming us @ the free camp...

Free camped that night at Tararua Forest Park, 1.5 hrs away before reaching Wellington. It is a DOC free camp with toilets hidden in the trees and bush walks in the area. 

Wellington, here we come!

Skiing @ Mount Ruapehu Day 2

2nd day at the ski!!

Another new day, even with sore muscles, we were still excited to fall down! LOL

We bought the Explorer package this time, for $150 pp. Well, skiing is definitely an expensive sport and requires a lot of effort! With the explorer package, we got an intermediate lesson and the 'all mountain' chair lift pass. So we took the chairlift to Parklane with the skis, which is also the beginner area, but longer slope and still a lot of people. Its really funnnnn...

Is the snow yummy Peter?

How cute... =)

 There are only 6 of us in the intermediate lesson group, so the instructor was able to see our weakness and point it out. We learned how to make smooth parallel turns and stop like professional skier. Okay.. Now we think we are ready to go further up, to the Movenpick. We took the chair lift even higher to reach Movenpick (which is nothing for intermediates) but for us it is scary... The slope is so steep that we can only see the downhill when we are right upfront... If you know what we mean.. Got a bit taken back after seeing the slope, but we don't want to use the chair lift to get down. So the only way is to face it!

Gosh... It took us ages to get down... Not because it is so so high, but because we keep losing control and fell down. Its really difficult to get back on our feet... Scary but exciting! What a game! Finally we got down in one piece. Peter would win the most styles of falling, and his skis would fall off each time. No wonder he had terrible pain all over his body the next day!

Really worth it, the adrenalin rushing through our body when going down steep hill with speed.. Cool! New Zealanders or Kiwis are so lucky that they have such snow mountains and so many small kids learn how to ski from their parents. It is just one of the sport that trains up the bravery and physical ability of the people here.

We saw a father on skis carrying a baby on his shoulder while his arm holds another toddler who is learning how to ski. Really superb!

Relaxing at Auckland

Skiing @ Mount Ruapehu Day 1

 Mount Ruapehu*****

Peter's cousin, George had invited us to go skiing! We have never ski before and thought it would be a great one since later summer, there won't be snow in the south island. So off we go during the weekend. Still can't believe we can go skiing at NZ only after 3 days in NZ! We woke up at 3.30am on saturday and George's friend Rana drove all 4 of us towards Mount Ruapehu, the only place to ski on the northern island of NZ. It was a 4-5 hours drive, very beautiful drive. Although P&A slept through most the journey but when we are about to reach thr mountain area, the scenery is just beautiful.

 So excited!! Everyone is getting ready for the skiing at Turoa Ski Field...

By 8.30am we were already going up the mountain at Turoa ski area but the traffic is slowwWW.... We had to park at the lower carpark and take the shuttle bus up the entrance. George and Rana are into snow boarding. Well, we thought the snow board is quite difficult to learn and balance, so we decided to take the snow skiing.

We bought the Discovery package (NZ$108each) which includes the scenic chair lift, a beginner lesson for 2 hours, and rental of skis and boots. This package is actually cheaper than if you buy the full day mountain pass ($95), ski rental ($39) and lesson for $60. The only catch is this package do not allow you to get on the chair lift with your skis on, since you're a beginner. So we can only ski at the Meadow alpine.

Getting the Boots and ski equipment alone took us about half an hour. So we finally got ourselves booked in for the 12noon beginner lesson. So before the lesson, we practice at the Meadow Alpine area which is the beginners area. Phew... Now here goes the falling spree!!

It was not as scary and we still manage to learn how to stop after yesterday's youtube video on 'how to ski'.. Hehe... Gosh, the small toddlers (like 4yrs of age) can even ski better than US! Paiseh nyer...


After the two hours lesson, both of us learned more on the basic skills, like how to walk uphill, stop properly but still struggle to make turns smoothly. However, the group is quite big (10 of us), so the instructor don't pay much attention to all.

Taking the scenic chairlift up to Parklane.. 

It is very FUN, snow skiing... We had a great time, even though just skiing at the lower alpine area, which is overcrowded... Then we sat on the chairlift and have a look around the Parklane area. Getting on and off the chairlift for the first time is so nervous! We had to get on the chair quick and even quicker getting out. Such beautiful views!!

 We carried only Our small Canon camera so picture quality is limited :p

Before we know it, its 4pm. Closing time! Aaww....

Having a beer after skiing is a MUST for these GUYS! (Rana, Peter, George)

 

That night we checked in at the Top 10 holiday park cabin at Ohakune.

DAY 2 Skiing @ Mt Ruapehu