Mount Cook, New Zealand Road Trip

As we drove down State Highway 8, my anticipation for Mount Cook grew. The area of Mount Cook offers a variety of trails for all fitness levels, but I settled on the Hooker Valley Track since it’s family-friendly. At 8.6 km, it’s a South Island icon. My plan was for the whole family to enjoy a relaxed walk on the gentle terrain while soaking up the breathtaking glacial scenery.

As we turned onto State Highway 80, the scenery underwent a dramatic transformation. The vibrant turquoise lake gave way to a rugged, stark wilderness, with majestic mountains towering in the distance as if waiting for our pilgrimage.

Rounding a bend, a vast expanse of purple suddenly burst into view—an endless ocean of lavender that instantly caught our eyes. We couldn’t help but slow down our pace and leave the rush behind. While lavender is one of my favorite essential oils, I’ve rarely had the chance to actually touch them while they’re still rooted in the soil. Therefore, we decided to add this spot to our itinerary. (The spot is called NZ Alpine Lavender)

We wandered through the lavender fields, surrounded by a sea of purple. The delicate scent was incredibly refreshing. In such a stunning setting, every photo we took captured the most beautiful colors.

As the sun peeked through the clouds, the kids enjoyed some lavender ice cream. Even though I usually avoid dairy, I couldn’t resist the temptation and took a bite—it was truly divine.

On the road from Lake Tekapo to Mount Cook, I would say that this lavender field was the perfect pit stop. After bidding farewell to the farm, we continued our journey. As we approached, Mount Cook loomed larger and larger, standing before us like a titan that commanded the horizon.

The weather was a stark contrast. It had been clear and sunny all the way there, but as soon as we arrived at Mount Cook, it was pouring rain.

The hike I had been so looking forward to fell through, but we made the best of it. We stayed in our cozy campervan cooking instant noodles, our little sanctuary from the storm. Watching the mud-stained hikers return from the rain while we sipped our hot soup, we couldn’t help but feel incredibly lucky. The most beautiful track in the South Island will have to wait for our next visit.

On our way from Mount Cook, we stopped by a renowned salmon farm. The salmon here are reared in glacial meltwater, resulting in amazing quality. We made it just in time to grab some fatty, melt-in-the-mouth sashimi. (The spot is called High Country Salmon)

The rich and buttery fat melted in our mouths, instantly refueling the energy I had spent concentrating on the long drive. It’s an ideal pit stop for a high-quality protein boost, providing the perfect relief from the fatigue of being behind the wheel for so long.

We pushed on without stopping and finally arrived at our campsite before dark. In my opinion, this was the highlight of our trip in terms of accommodation—the Omarama TOP 10 Holiday Park. We stayed at this campsite twice—once on our way out and again on our way back—because it was truly that great.

The campsite is spacious with generously spaced sites, ensuring we weren’t disturbed by neighbors at night. The kitchen and bathroom facilities were spotless, while the kids had a massive sandpit and a trampoline to burn off their energy.

That night, we ended up having dinner with a distant view of the snow-capped mountains under the evening sky.