Mt. Cook to Christchurch

Sunrise on Mt. Cook

The morning sunrise was spectacular - clear blue skies as the sun hit the east face of Mt. Cook, then Mt. Sefton, and slowly lit up the glaciers below Mt. Sefton. We left Mt. Cook's Hermitage lodge and began descending from the high country. Lake Tekapo provided a coffee stop as well as a pretty stone church, named the Church of the Good Shepard on the Lake. This church is shared by 3 congregations. As we descended into rich farm land around Christchurch, the food basket of New Zealand, we again passed lots of sheep farms, the growing dairy farms and a few deer farms. All very typical of this countryside.

Church of the Good Shepard of the Lake

We reached Christchurch about 4 PM and many set out for souvenir shopping since most of the group leaves tomorrow. The girls have a 7 AM flight to Sydney and then home.