| Te Araroa stretches from the Rangitata River in the north to the Ahuriri River in the south. It starts and finishes in the High Country but midway it traverses the vast Mackenzie Basin. The lakes here are turquoise, the mountain views scintillating. The snow melt from the Alps is channeled south across this dry basin to power a series of stepped hydroelectricity stations. Te Araroa follows along the hydro canals, turns its head to catch the picturebook views of Mt Cook as the trail passes along the shore of Lake Pukaki, then enters the town of Twizel. Beyond the town the trail follows another canal, the Ohau lake shore, and then climbs steeply over the Ohau Range. |
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