Return to Methven

Church of the Good Shepherd

Today was our last full day in New Zealand. We were able to sleep in at Mount Cook, since we only had a short drive to make. We had a nice long breakfast at the hotel, and were amazed that, even though the view of Aoraki Mount Cook had been perfect from the front windows of the hotel the day before, this morning it was completely obscured by fog. Incredible how things change here so quickly. You can be on the beach in the morning and in the snow in the afternoon. It can be a hot sunny day with a not a cloud to be soon one hour, and a rainstorm the next. Fascinating. We stopped at Lake Tekapo after we left Mount Cook National Park, and spent some time enjoying the beautiful lake and the famous Church of the Good Shepherd. It was built in the early 1800s right on the lakeshore. It's tiny, with only one room. They still hold services there every Sunday, and are a regular venue for weddings. It didn't take me long to realize what a special place this was.

View from in front of the pulpit

After some sightseeing, we journeyed further northeast back to Methven, the tiny ski town where we stayed last week. There isn't very much here in the summertime, since there is no skiing to be done, but we walked around town, had a nice dinner at the lodge (it was actually the first time I've had chicken since I've been here). Since then, we've been repacking our bags and marveling at the fact that this adventure is drawing to a close.

Spoiling New Zealand's most prized residents before I leave