We didn’t expect to be fighting our way through thick jungle today, only went to find the local DOC (Department of Conservation) office! Word of warning to anyone else using google maps to find it, this is where they’ve put the pin and there’s certainly no office here..
Aoraki Mount Cook Village was not the cosy collection of characterful old mountaineers lodges I was expecting. But modern, glassy and steel beamed. Edmund Hilary exhibitions, a gift shop, and 3D cinema no less. Stressed out DOCs in the DOC office were feverishly whizzing abacus beads around booking lines of tourists into huts, forcefully insisting they carry a plastic ‘Poo Pot’ with them in case of emergency, whilst frantically trying to keep anyone from deciding to investigate the main attraction itself ( Mt. Cook ) ‘too closely’. And for good reason. This mountain, the Everest of New Zealand, is a killer.
It was early afternoon by the time we arrived at the ‘village’, which is essentially a big sprawling hotel complex called The Hermitage. My plan was simple, head up to Muller Hut where I was informed great views were to be had, then stake out Mt Cook until I got an awesome photo!
After trying to book a couple of bunks in the hut for tomorrow (abacus says no), we decided to avoid the huts and stick to camping, which I think turned out to be a blessing in disguise. DOC lady didn’t seem too happy, but I told her we had plenty of ziplock bags if we couldn’t hold it in ;)
