Head west of Christchurch, New Zealand, and meet the town of Starry Sky and ancient glaciers
1. Lake Tekapo
The first stop will be the blue Lake Tekapo, a glacier barrier lake under the iceberg. Lake Tekapo presents a natural blue-green color, slightly mysterious and unpredictable in it. As the glacier from the rock beneath the lake moves through the surface, digging out the hollow of the lake, the friction between the rocks forms fine particles. Eventually, the water from the melting glacier flows down the mountain into the lake, where it is suspended, making the water milky and reflecting the sunlight, giving Lake Tekapu its rich, magical blue-green color.
From Lake Tekapu, you can also take the brunt of the Southern Alps, exposing yourself to the snow-capped landscape in all directions. Sitting by the lake, looking at the horizon, the snow on the mountain seems to never melt, as if it can last until “forever”.
2. Good Shepherd Church: Mount John
In addition to the famous Lake Tekapo, it is also a famous starry town. It has been selected as one of the “Four best stargazing resorts in the world” and is a place recommended by astronomers to observe the Milky Way and the universe.
The Good Shepherd Church on the shores of Lake Tekapu and the observatory at the top of Mount John are popular stargazing spots here.
3. Cook, Mount
Cook, Mount is the highest mountain in New Zealand and the second highest mountain in Oceania, known as the “Roof of New Zealand”, is part of the Southern Alps, and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Tiwa Shipunam.
Mount Cook is actually made up of 23 peaks that rise more than 3,000 metres above sea level. It is covered with ice all year round and has the most mysterious and ancient glaciers.
Cook, Mount is one of the best places in Oceania to climb, as beginners and mountaineers alike can find the right trails to enjoy the mountain lakes, ancient glaciers and flat grasslands of Mount Cook.
From Tasman Glacier to Fox Glacier, through the ancient glaciers, ice caves frame the sky into a different picture. You can also intuitively experience this vast wonder from the helicopter in the sky.