Sunday, July 10, 2016

We visited the mountains – Star gazing at Mt John – Helicopter ride at Mt Cook – 28 and 29 May 2016



In addition to their Information Centers, every shop, kiosk, airport, bus stand, restaurant and hotel is full of tourist booklets, pamphlets and pullouts.NZ has taken an integrated view of tourism. One thing good about NZ is the way the tourist experience seamless travel. All activities, be it hiring a car, renting accommodation, visits to various tourists’ spots, adventure activity, eating out has been woven neatly into the overall picture, making a visit to NZ special and truly memorable.
 
A memorable event
 
Aspen Court Motel

Riot of colours - Autumn in Twizel

Twizel sky line from the motel
Country side Twizel

Another fascinating view



We were able to watch Jupiter and two of its moons very clearly through the huge telescope. In the Southern hemisphere the objects appear opposite of what we are used to seeing in the Northern hemisphere. We watched the Southern Cross, Clouds of Magellan, Jewel Box and Omega Centauri clearly through naked eye. Orion, the Southern Star and the Milky Way are also clearly visible.

On the whole it was a unique experience gazing at the stars.  

The next morning we drove down to Mt Cook and took a 40 min helicopter ride. The aerial view of the Southern Alps mountain range is really amazing. Mt Cook is the highest peak in the range at 3,754 meters. The most exciting part of the trip is the helicopter flight through the valley and the landing on the glacier. After a ten minute halt on the glacier we returned to base totally satisfied with what we had done.
 
Coffee before the helo ride


Waiting for the helo
 
At the heliport

Kolourful Kats

Photo op


All smiles

Finally

Mt Cook at a distance

 
On the glacier

The Southern Alps


A different view

Naveen all thrilled

Flight to cherish

With the pilot

Sun on Mt cook

Flow of glacier water

Closer view

From a distance

Prior to landing

We then visited the Sir Edmund Hillary museum at the Hermitage before returning to Twizel. A day well spent.  
 
With the great man

Sir Edmund Hillary in Bronze - a magnificent statue at Alpine range where he practiced mountaineering prior to conquering  Mt Everest

 
Road back to Twizel
Another interesting feature in this area is the omnipresence of Lake Tekapo which is the Tenth-largest lake of NZ. It covers an area of 83 square kilometres, and is at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level. The drive around the lake is simply breath taking. Sharing this wonderful space is Lake Pukaki the seventh largest. Between the two of them they offer nature’s best to the tourist. Lake Pukaki covers an area of 178.7 km², and the surface elevation of the lake normally ranges from 518.2 to 532 meters above sea level.
Lake Tepako

Lake Pukaki
 

1 comment: