New Zealand, Part 5: Teal Lakes | Mountain Valley

May 5

Written by Adam Manninen

Day 7: Te Anau to Omarama

Leaving Te Anau, we backtracked to Queenstown and then headed toward the much drier Eastern side of the Southern Alps. The goal was to see Mount Cook and the other peaks from the East side.

Little Pied Cormorant (aka Little Shag)

Little Pied Cormorant (aka Little Shag)

Ahuriri River

At the relatively hectic pace we were setting to see everything, I was happy for the opportunities to spend time in a single spot, wander around, set up for my composition, and just wait.

Day 8: Omarama to Mount Cook National Park to Lake Tekapo

Mount Cook National Park

A long drive up Lake Pukaki brought us into the valley under Mount Cook, and a short but steep hike gave us an overlooking view of Lake Tasman and the surrounding peaks.

Mount Cook, Lake Tasman, and the dirt-covered leading edge of the Tasman Glacier

A better look at the Tasman Glacier, along with some boat tours

Our clearest and closest view of Mount Cook this day

One of the Blue Lakes, which used to be glacier fed but are now cut off and turned green with algae

The south end of Lake Tasman feeding out into the Tasman River

After leaving the Tasman area we drove over to the next valley, for another short hike up to another glacier and lake.

Mueller Glacier

Mueller Glacier and Mueller Lake

Mueller Glacier

Heading back out, we stopped at several of the lookouts along Lake Pukaki.

Looking back into the Tasman valley

It really was this blue and this bright

Our final view of Mount Cook

Lake Tekapo

Australasian crested grebe (& and its very vocal baby)

Australasian crested grebe (see, look at the baby yellin')

2026New ZealandMountainGlacierLakeshoreRiver

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