Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, The Church of the Good Shepherd

After our adventures on the mountain, we rejoin our tour and head for Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.  

View of Aoraki National Park as we go to the hotel

As Kate and I enjoy the views from our balconies at the Hermitage Hotel , I see a nearly invisible bus going through the park. It’s in the lower third of the photo below (I circled it to help you see it) on a narrow road that cuts across the flat area at the foot of the mountains.  Gives ya some perspective, doesn’t it?

The bus helps give an idea of the size of the mountains.

In the morning we depart for the last leg of our trip.  En route to Christchurch, where our flights will take us home, we stop at the Church of the Good Shepherd, a humble house of worship built  from stones found in the region.  The Church is at the edge of Lake Tekapo and the contrasts are arresting:  the simple stone church,  the placid lake surface, and the regal mountains beyond.

   Church of the Good Shepherd on Lake Tekapo

 

Mounts Aoraki (Cook) and Tasman from the edge of Lake Tekapo

To bring me back down to earth,  Kate provides the following photo of Gary....Look--the mountain is smaller than his hand. 

The Church of the Good Shepherd is aptly named not only in a religious sense, but also as an acknowledgement of the importance of  sheep in the country’s economy  (remember the raves over New Zealand lamb?).  It’s only fair that  near the church there is a tribute to the dog, whose services are critical to the shepherd. 

Honoring the dog without whom shepherding would be---impossible.

And then it’s on to Christchurch, where the tour has arranged for us to stow our luggage while we take some time to enjoy the city before leaving for our accommodations near the airport.

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