Alpine tramping - Day 10 - Aoraki National Park

We had high hopes for today. Jane and I got up at our usual time and went wandering into Twizel for coffee. It was after 7am, so assumed that we could find a place, and we did manage to find one place open. It was staffed by seasonal workers, so while they were enthusiastic, the coffee was pretty average. I took the opportunity to buy some sandwiches for our adventures. 

There isn't much in town - the bank is non-branded and services the major NZ brands - but the playground is very large. 

Back at the backpackers, we started on breakfast and making wraps and corn for lunch. We made good progress on finishing up food that we had purchased for the trip. 

All packed and ready with food, water and warm layers by 8:30am, we then drove towards Mt Cook Village, excited for our day ahead. There was a fair bit of cloud cover, so we couldn't get the "money shot" of Aoraki and the Alps from the road in. The drive was mostly speedy and uneventful, though there was one small incident that we observed on a one-way bridge that we approached. The car in front of us drove onto the bridge as cars were driving across it the other way. Clearly they panicked, as they threw the car into reverse and accelerated quickly backwards and promptly came back onto the road, but didn't straighten the wheel fast enough and bumped into the barrier. It was very minor, but on went the hazard lights and of course someone got out to check. The line of cars just carefully drove around. 

Once we were in the village, we checked out the Visitor's Centre (the best in NZ) and decided the walks we would do. 

We grabbed our backpacks and headed down the hill for the Red Tarns walk. Last year, Logan and I had done the Sealy Tarns walk, so this one seemed like a good fit for the family. It is only a third of the altitude, but goes a good way up Mt Sebastapol and also gives a great view of the Hooker Valley from some natural mountain tarns. We all started walking together as a family, crossing the footbridge and up the incline. 

It wasn't long before the kids took off ahead of us as we ambled along behind. It was a beautiful walk with a view of the mountains at all times. Cloud came and went, drizzle came and went, the sun came and went. Jane found a comfortable spot about two-thirds of the way up and sat down in the shade. I trotted up the remainder of the stairs, stopping briefly to look at a small alcove dripping snowmelt and a tiny alpine butterfly. The upper part of the journey required a little scramble over the metamorphic rock and then I arrived at the Tarns, where Eliza and Jonty were waiting. Looking up the mount, I saw that Logan was scrambling through the brush towards the top of the ridge. Jonty, Eliza and I ate lunch and took photos by the lakes - while waiting for Logan to get to the top, pose for a bit, and return to us. The walk down was much faster. 

Snacks and lunch were then eaten, as the kids and I decided that we would like to walk the Hooker Valley trail. Jane dropped us off and then returned to the Old Mountaineer Cafe for a coffee. The track did not take long, given that it finishes some way before the second bridge crossing now, but Eliza got some great photos and the boys headed cross country to an interesting ridge line. We had a lot of fun, and also watched the cloud lift off Aoraki. We walked back slowly and started towards the village when Jane picked us up. 

After refilling water bottles, we went into the Tasman Valley and began a quick walk to the Tasman Glacier viewpoint. Once again, the kids bounded ahead, and when Jane and I were about two-thirds of the way up, the weather changed suddenly. I quickly put a jacket on, and the kids came racing down the stairs saying that the cold had come and visibility was nil. They began walking back down with Jane, but I ran up the final stairs and stood in the gusting wind looking at the Tasman Lake and glacier. This year, there are no icebergs in the lake, but the view is still awe inspiring. 

I drove us back to Twizel, and rested my shin splints. It was a relatively big day of the walking and so the swelling was noticeable. While I was removing strapping tape, showering and resting, the family got Thai takeaways for dinner. It was a great way to finish the day.