Aoraki Mount Cook

I hadn't had any intention of travelling right down to Pukaki today, seeing I'm going that way when I leave here anyway.  But I had some really upsetting news this morning, and I thought I'd try to take my mind off it by driving around.  

First I went south, to the Linids Pass, then headed to Twizel to do some shopping.  When I got there it crossed my mind that the sky was so clear there was a good chance I'd be able to see Mt Cook without its head in the clouds, so I drove on up to Lake Pukaki.

To those of you who don't know the area, this colour is totally natural and unenhanced by me.  The silica in the local ground creates this colour.  Pukaki is a man-made lake caused by the damming of the river as part of the Mackenzie country power scheme.  For that matter Benmore, where I'm staying at the moment, is also man-made, as are most of the lakes in the area.

If you view this in 'large' you'll get it framed in black, which is far more effective.

When I decided to come back to this area for another Christmas, I promised myself that I'd do "new" things, not just a repetition of things I'd done in the past.  I've done that to a large extent.  Stopped to take photos at different places, eaten at different picnic areas, and turned down a few new (to me) sideroads, just to see what was there.

But one of the things I decided that I must repeat was a soak in the hot tubs at Omarama. Last year, when I went there the weather was a bit overcast.  The same could NOT be said for this afternoon.  The weather was gorgeous, really almost too warm for a hot soak, but I coped.  

The tubs are wonderful - set in beautifully landscaped grounds, each one totally private and looking out on the lake and hills.  The tubs are heated by wood fire and the water is pure fresh snow melt - totally potable.

The only trouble with today's soak was that I had to keep holding the umbrella (which they provide) with one hand to keep from burning and my book high enough with the other to keep it dry, whilst propping my toe on the edge of the tub so it didn't soak for too long.  See photo extra for evidence.