NZ Day 2 Journal (11/10/16): After stargazing in the early hours, we started the day with a back road, wash board drive from Lake Tekapo over to Lake Pukaki. Hiked to Tasman Glacier deep in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, and capped the day with an epic sunset!
Lake Tekapo is a “dark sky reserve” which means the region is committed to limiting light pollution. The result is the clearest sky I’ve ever seen, with so many stars visible to the naked eye it almost doesn’t seem real.
More lambs along the back road from Lake Pukaki to Lake Tekapo. Can’t get enough of these guys!
After getting an overview look at Tasman Lake, Clara and I went off-trail and rock-hopped down the steep ridge to the bank to get up close with the icebergs.
Here I am photographing the shoreline and glacier just above the bank of Tasman Lake. Photo credit Clara Kerley.
The Tasman Glacier, flowing into Tasman Lake, is eerily beautiful. While peaceful, this region is a reminder the glaciers are receding at an alarming rate.
Mt. Cook glows above the turquoise waters of Lake Pukaki at the close of our second full day in New Zealand’s incredible Mackenzie Country.