We're back down south! Epic weather, epic views - pretty hard to beat!
In this episode Daniel heads out to explore the canals and rivers around Twizel before the fam' heads up to Aoraki Mt Cook National Park to check out the Blue Lakes on foot before heading back down the lake to recreate a photo Daniel took years ago.
A short run through the braided Pukaiki River, often used as a handy shortcut linking Lyndon Road towards the Omarama Saddle. It packs plenty of fun into a small distance and is a popular choice when the levels are kind.
The route crosses the river braids several times, and difficulty depends entirely on river flow. The braids run over loose rock bottoms with large river stones, which can make individual crossings awkward, worth thinking about for heavier vehicles. When levels are low the crossings are straightforward and it's a scenic trip; at higher flows they get a fair bit more challenging. Snorkels are reassuring at higher levels but not essential when the river's low.
Keep an eye on the western flows, where you'll spot plenty of young salmon. Check lake and river levels before you head in, as the river can rise quickly and wash you away.
Long run up the side of the Pukaki River through the Mackenzie high country, with grand scenery and a real sense of remoteness. There are some good camping spots along the river, and you'll often spot salmon in the water near the iron bridge.
The going is bumpy but mechanically easy gravel. Most reports knock it out in 2WD, so it's a good one for beginners getting some time off the seal, though the relentless corrugations reward airing down and taking it slow. Speeds vary from a crawl of 15-30km/h over the rough sections to faster open stretches. A couple of things break up the drive: a narrow old iron bridge that creaks as you cross, a touch nerve-wracking in wide vehicles, and the lone chimney that's all that's left of an old hunter's hut.
The track end follows the riverbed near Lake Pukaki, where Meridian periodically releases water from the dam and spillway. Worth keeping an eye on lake levels and staying clear of the river beds when releases are on. Plenty of drivers loop out via Haldon Arm Road to save their suspension on the way back.
Up at the head of the Tasman Valley near Aoraki/Mount Cook, this short track gets you about as close to the glacier-fed lake as you can manage in a vehicle. The payoff is the view of the lake dotted with icebergs calving off the ice above, and it punches well above its length.
It's rocky and bumpy the whole way, so the going is slow and you'll likely pick up some pinstriping. Leave the low or pavement-bound vehicles at home. The track doesn't run as far as it once did. A mountain stream on the western side has carved the gravel wall away down into the glacier lake, and that slip is considered unfixable, so the route ends a few hundred metres past the avalanche area.
Access can be restricted by a chain at the second avalanche area, and the track is sometimes closed over winter after heavy snow to cut the avalanche risk. Worth checking before you commit, but if it's open it's a rough little adventure well worth the detour.