This afternoon, I am going to kayak on Lake Mapourika at Franz Josef for a 2.30 hour sunset cruise with Fergs Kayak.

Usually, the wind rises in the afternoon and the best time to go kayaking is in the morning. But this time I am lucky and the lake is mirror like. We first cruise slowly across the lake to a secluded bay.

Our Maori guide takes pictures of us with the mountain in the background.

Note that they give you the CD of the high resolution digital pictures taken during the cruise and this is free. Many thanks!

The lake colour is particularly dark. This is the result of decomposed trees and vegetation.

Our guide tells us that the water is drinkable and it actually tastes great!
We then cruise to another bay. The combination of the sun, shadows, foam, trees and mirror lake create a magical scenery.

We then enter a flat river with no almost no current and start to explore the gorgeous area.

After a kilometre or so, we turn back and leave enough space between each other and I have the river scenery for me alone! The river has a mirror like surface and reflects the vegetation and trees.

Our guide waits for us at the end of the river for a sunset picture.

We then cruise back to the other side of the lake. The sun is slowly getting down behind a distant hill and the colours of Mt Cook and the surrounding clouds starts to turn to a beautiful red shade.

This kayak cruise was very relaxing and I enjoyed it very much!

But what is even more relaxing is to soak in my accommodation hot spa.
Wahoo! What a great day here at Franz Josef!