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One of many backroads I covered around Fairlie
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So that's why my truck normally looks so dirty.......remnants of the dust cloud following me as I drive the backroads
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Great to see Lake Opuha full of water again. We were here just over two years ago and there was very, very little water in the lake which had reached critical levels causing a lot of challenges for the local farmers. Looks calm here courtesy of a long exposure to smooth the water on the lake. Reality was me hanging desperately onto an umbrella being turned inside out by the wind as I tried to stop the camera getting soaked.....who says photos don't lie ;-)
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Dark skies in Fairlie gave way to clear skies in Tekapo. The transition from one to the other through Burkes Pass was stunning.
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Big clouds catch the nor'west winds as they rise off the valley floor heading to Fairlie
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Beautiful pockets of afternoon light break through the clouds to light up the tussock that gives Mackenzie District its incredible colour
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The evening breeze played with this cloud constantly reshaping it
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Hikers enjoying the views and short walk to Kea Point
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A stormy day at base gave some incredible light on the surrounding peaks as the clouds constantly rolled in and cleared away again
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Didn't take long for a camper to make its way into this image to give some scale to the scene
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I went all the way to Greenland to see icebergs ;-). Alarmingly the Tasman Glacier is retreating at almost 500m every year. Just over 100 years ago this whole lake would have been solid ice!
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I never tire of this view
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A rock pool provided a great reflection of Mount Cook
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Ice cold glacial water tumbles over rocks as it pours out of Hooker Lake eventually joining with Lake Pukaki
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In the distance is the Mueller Glacier which is melting and joins the Hooker River
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Now that was a great spot for an afternoon beer at the Hermitage Hotel in the village
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One of the very wet days at base
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It doesn't get much more kiwi than this. Mount Cook, the blue water of Lake Pukaki and a sheep :-)
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The start of a stunning night looking out at Mount Cook as the sun was setting
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Early morning light bathes the hills flanking the Hooker River
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Part way along the walk to Hooker Lake
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Our very early start was rewarded with a perfectly calm and mirror like surface to Hooker Lake. The scale and beauty of this spot never ceases to amaze me, especially when the lake is filled with large chunks of ice.
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Some mornings are definitely worth the early start :-)
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Found this lump of ice on the shore and it amused me how once upon a time it was probably up on the mountain
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A decent climb up 1300 steps leads to the Red Tarns......now that is a view worth climbing for
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I sat here one evening listening to the sound of the Hooker River flowing over rocks in the distance accompanied by the occasional crash of rock and ice tumbling down the surrounding mountains.
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The New Zealand Black Fronted tern is unfortunately on the endangered list. Hopefully current efforts to protect the habitats of this beautiful bird will be successful and allow it to recover.