Some fairly poor planning on Kim's part saw us drive past Mount Cook to stay at Lake Tekapo and then doubling back on ourselves to then visit Mount Cook (a 3.5 hour round trip). However given that the weather on the first day was terrible and the day we visited Mount Cook was gloriously sunny Kim now categorically states that she had a sense about the weather and it was all part of a grand plan...

The drive to Mount Cook was stunning, past milky turquoise lakes (the photos don't do them justice) and snowy mountains. When we arrived we had a look round the visitors centre (pretending we were planning a major mountain expedition like everyone else of course). Kim was interested to learn about Freda du Faur the first woman to climb Mount Cook (in 1910) - an impressive feat given that she climbed in voluminous long skirts and ignored protocol not taking a chaperone, much to the horror of society. Good on ya girl! We were, however, sad to see two thick memorial books commemmorating all those who had died climbing the mountain - there were hundreds of people.... made us feel better that we weren't doing it ourselves!