Driving beyond Lake Tekapo we left the main road and headed cross country following an enormous man-made canal channelling water from Lake Tekapo to Lake Pukaki, to feed a large hydro-electric plant. Whilst driving along the side of the canal we got our first glimpse of Aoraki Mount Cook (the name was changed by law a few years ago so that it the English name is prefaced by the original Maori one), the highest mountain in New Zealand (3754m).

A few miles later we reached Lake Pukaki where we were able to take the photograph at the top of this entry, and the picture below. We took as many pictures as possible as we were warned that we could go for days without the mountain ever coming out from behind clouds. Indeed, that is exactly what we are promised for tomorrow!