Okarito South Westland

Mount Cook - Aoraki - the cloud piercer - this was the Maori name for NZ's highest peak, named by early Europeans for Captain Cook an early explorer. The other peak is Mt Tasman, named for another early explorer. This is a view from the lagoon at Okarito.

Around the lagoon there are sedges and in the early morning light there are hundreds of cobwebs on them.

The royal spoonbill, with a mating crest, king of the lagoon.