Mount Cook Enter through the area known as the Mackenzie Country, either from the north through Geraldine or the south through Omarama. A high inland basin beneath the Southern Alps, that has been shaped by nature. The land has been scoured leaving a trail of lakes and rivers across the landscape. Today you will see the awesome mountain ranges of the snow capped Southern Alps stretching across the western horizon. Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain at 3,754 metres above sea level, towers over the expansive countryside. Hidden in the mountains are magnificent glaciers including the famous Tasman Glacier, which, at twenty-seven kilometres in length, is one of the longest glaciers in the world to be found outside the Polar Regions. Lake Tekapo: A stop here is a must. Some fabulous shops and a chance for a picture at one of the most photographed churches in New Zealand. Being on the shores of Lake Tekapo and under the shadow of Mount Cook means the Church of the Good Shepard has one of the most spectacular backdrops in the world. Things To Do: Scenic Flights and Snow Landings: Helicopter Flights The ultimate Mount Cook experiences. Discover the glacier-fed lakes, soaring peaks and the most spectacular views with flights over the Southern Alps and a landing on the mountain. Hydro Lakes: The basin is home to a number of beautiful lakes created from the melting snow from the glaciers and mountain peaks that gives the lakes their distinctive turquoise blue colour. Lake Tekapo lies in the centre of the region and it is here that the hydro-electric canals begin to channel the water into electricity for New Zealand. Canals built throughout the 1970's link the lakes with the dams and also provide fresh water for the farming of salmon Farm Visit: What better way to enjoy the sights and smells of South Canterbury than a visit to a sheep and deer farm. You can interact with the animals and experience the wonders of a working farm
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