The Grand Traverse of Mount Cook

The highlight of our trip, besides our wedding of course was our flight over Mount Cook with Air Safaris. We were on our way to Lake Tekapo when the skies began to clear and we stopped at the Air Safaris airport to book a flight. We requested an hour long flight in the smaller aircraft, a seven passenger x3 Gippsland Aeronautics GA8 called The Grand Traverse of Mount Cook. Mount Cook is New Zealand's highest and most famous peak. Soon we had a small group and the pilot, Jamie escorted out to the plane. Dale asked if he could have the front right seat and was thrilled to get it. Jaime seated us in the plane and gave us a briefing on the plane and about our upcoming flight.
We taxied down the runway and soon we were up in the air. Immediately we saw the beautiful turquoise blue waters of Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki as we began to climb. We flew over the high-country sheep farms were merino sheep are raised for their fine wool. As we continued to climb we could see the rivers that carry the glacier flow and carve out rivers below.
We were able to see both Franz Joseph and Fox Glacier below us, and also the long Tasman glacier. Jamie pointed out the West Coast of the South Island as we continued to climb among the mountain peaks covered in pure white snow. Soon we had a spectacular view of Mt. Cook out the right window at 11,800 feet, the snow white peak glistened in the afternoon sun. Jamie then circled the peak for those of us sitting on the left side to get a great view. The view of the Southern Alps was breathtaking!
As we headed back to the airport we slowly descended around mountain peaks and in glacier carved valleys seeing clear spring fed lakes. After almost an hour in the air we were safely back on the ground with big smiles on our faces. We visited with Jamie and another pilot and got a chance to take some photos.
This great flight was like the icing on the cake of our trip, a flight I will always remember.