Starry Night & Aoraki/Mt Cook

Over the past 50+ years, I’ve had the privilege of traveling around the world, and when asked about my favorite countries, I always mention New Zealand and Thailand. This year, I was fortunate enough to visit both of them for the second time, bringing Darryl along for his first visit to both. Neither country disappointed, and the past two days in New Zealand have been nothing short of spectacular. And with another 9 weeks to go on this trip, there’s plenty more to come!

After renting a car in Christchurch, we drove three hours to Lake Tekapo. As we neared our destination, the road curved and revealed the stunning aqua/teal waters of the lake—it took my breath away. We parked at the Church of the Good Shepherd and marveled at the incredible scenery—lake, mountains, and fields of flowers. Though it was exceptionally windy, we took a walk around the lake to enjoy the views.

We checked into our lovely inn, where the hostess had thoughtfully delivered dinner ahead of our arrival. Surprisingly, it turned out to be one of my favorite meals to date—lamb shank, mashed potatoes, and broccoli (a generous portion, since vegetables are often scarce here).

We spent some time relaxing in the spacious living room of our cottage before heading out for stargazing. Lake Tekapo is famous for its clear night skies, thanks to minimal light pollution (the entire town uses LED lights).

At 10:45 PM, we arrived at Chameleon Stargazing. Though the full moon was bright and lit up the sky, it was still a beautiful sight. Our guide was fascinating and informative, using a laser pointer to highlight planets—Jupiter, Saturn (my favorite), and Venus—along with various constellations and stars. Through two telescopes—one of which was digital and captured stunning images—we observed the moon, the three planets, and several nebulae, including Orion, the Tucanae Nebula, and Carina. We also saw two shooting stars and the International Space Station moving quickly across the dark sky. The experience ended around a campfire with hot chocolate and marshmallows. It was truly a spectacular night!

The next morning, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast at The Greedy Cow before setting out on a 1.5-hour drive. Along the way, we made at least five stops at scenic viewpoints, each offering stunning views of the mountains surrounding beautiful Lake Pukaki.

We arrived at Aoraki/Mt Cook and hiked the Hooker Valley Track, and we both agreed—this is the BEST HIKE we’ve ever done! The snow-capped mountains and surrounding natural beauty were absolutely breathtaking. The 10-kilometer trail featured three suspension bridges spanning the fastest-flowing water we’ve ever seen, making the experience even more exhilarating.

After our incredible hike, we checked in at the nearby Hermitage Hotel to relax before dinner. Our table was by the window, offering spectacular views of Mount Cook and the surrounding peaks as we enjoyed our meal.

The next morning we did a more modest hike of 3 kilometers to Kea Point.

After our hike we started our three hour drive to Queenstown where we stopped numerous times to take in the luscious landscapes that New Zealand has to offer.