20 February, this was my first visit to the Sacred mountain of Aoraki (Mt Cook). I was blessed with clear views. Spending four nights camping there at the Doc campground. I hadn’t showered, but who’s counting, I bathed in the mountain vibes.

It was a small bit of a mission, wheeling my trolley bag from the information centre to the camp ground. But maybe I was supposed to walk overland. I had got close because a young couple had given me a lift there. However, they weren’t going any further. We stopped on the way to take pictures of Aoraki on a clear day. It took our breathe away really. There it was.

In this post you will probably find there are far too many photos of the Mountain. However, editing is difficult with so much beauty. Aoraki sits closest to the heavens, as the tallest mountain in New Zealand, at 3,724 metres.

21/02

I would walk the track to the Hermitage Hotel every day. This was for my main meal of the day, which was a plate of roasted potatoes/kumaras. I ate in luxury with a view of the mountain. As the Hotel has large glass windows, so the mountain sits with you as you eat.

22/02. An evening walk to a viewing platform, with waters close to camp, and the sun setting on the mountain. It was the Kea Point Track, which is a one hour return walk.

Aoraki, and the brothers of Ka Tiritiri o te Moana

The sons of Ranginui, the Sky Father, were Aoraki and his three brothers. They became stranded on a reef. As they were on a voyage down from the heavens to visit Papatuanuku, the Earth Mother.…

Aoraki is considered by Ngāi Tahu, as a very sacred and significant mountain. The South Island Māori of Ngāi Tahu, carry the legend of Aoraki. Above is the start of the legend, to go deeper, go here.

23 Feb, on this day, went on the Hooker Valley Track walk and took my time. Along the way bumped into Sonia, whom had also been at Resonance Festival.

Sir Edmund Hillary, ascended Mt. Cook in 1948. This was quite a difficult climb in itself. It would have surely well prepared a mountain climber for Everest stakes.

The Hooker Valley Track walk, is a beautiful three hour round trip from the camp. With three swing bridges along the way, board walks and gravel pathways. If Sir Ed was walking with me, he surely would have had enough and gone on ahead. As I took my time. The third swing bridge leads to the source of the Hooker River. With the track ending at the glacier lake, it is a beautiful spot to spend some time. Put your feet in that pure icy water, wash your face and cleanse from everything. With outstanding views of Aoraki, the Hooker Glacier and Kā Tiritiri o te Moana (the Southern Alps). Returning on the same tracks and swing bridges back again to camp.

Camping at Aoraki

Camping at White Horse Hill campsite is a Doc site. It has a kitchen all set up there. That was great.

There is a beautiful channel by Lee Carroll (Kryon) recorded at Aoraki. It was recorded on the 21st of October 2016, if you would like to listen here. Kryon mentions that this mountain is very important as one of the twelve nodes of the earth.

And a last evening walk near the mountain, for the sun setting. My time in Aoraki, was to just be, to celebrate with the mountain. Somehow rejuvenated after my time there, from soaking in its vibrations somehow. The next day, 24 February, I was away, bussing down to Wanaka way for a shower.