Days full of hiking amid stunning scenery continued in the Mount Cook area.

We stayed on the Lake Tekapo side, and hiked up and around the lake and the Mt John University Observatory.

On another day, we drove around to the other side and hiked the Hooker Valley Track, as well as some of the shorter trails to Kea Point and the Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier View walk. 

At night, we drove out into the hills, turned off the car and stared up at a sky overflowing with stars. With virtually no light pollution, the Lake Tekapo area is perfect for stargazing. The sky is so clear, and the stars so bright, that you can see the Milky Way with your naked eye. Very cool. 

After hiking both areas, we decided we didn't need the fourth day we had planned for and left a day ahead of schedule, headed for a last-minute addition to our itinerary...