Last time I went to Christchurch was in 2009 and I remember distinctly what a beautiful city it was. I remember arriving on a Thursday afternoon and the streets were busy, everyone was happy and walking around the streets. The most notable thing I remember, was how clean Christchurch streets were.
Mt. Cook
We arrived in Mt Cook after driving through the night from Milford and hitting a possum on the way that night.
Lake Mariam
We woke up at 430am to attempt this trail. Our aim was to get there by Sunrise
The trail is marked and fairly easy to navigate. DO NOT attempt this in the dark. We attempted this with head lamps and we were lost for a good hour.
The early morning mist hovering above the lake and the surrounding mountains were breathtaking. For anyone visiting Lake Mariam, it is an absolute must to sit down and enjoy your surroundings for a while. Forget taking photos, just soak it in. What I loved most was the fast moving fog that was constantly changing.