This first route of the 3-day tour through the central part of New Zealand's South Island starts in Alexandra on the Clutha River in the Central Otago region. Alexandra is known for its vineyards and gold mines.

The region is sparsely populated and facilities are therefore far apart. Do not forget to refuel at the start of this route and leave on time. The earlier you start, the more time you will have for walks and admiring the overwhelming nature that characterizes this area.

New Zealand's energy supply is largely hydropowered and the third largest is at Alexandra. From the parking lot you have a good view of the dam. The dam was built between 1982 and 1993, contains 1 million m3 of concrete and supplies 432 MW of electricity.

The route continues along the river towards Cromwell and then turns north along Lake Dunstan. From here you can already see the mountains in the distance and the road goes steadily up to the Lindiss pass, which is the highest point of this route with a height of 971 meters.

The town of Twizel is the last piece of inhabited world before you drive into the rugged nature. A coffee stop and refueling is possible here. The route also ends here unless you want to spend a fortune on a hotel further north. Affordable hotels/motels/B&b can still be found here.

Lake Pukaki is the next destination on the route. Lake Pukaki is the largest of three roughly parallel alpine lakes that run north-south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin in New Zealand's South Island. The others are Lakes Tekapo and Ohau. All three lakes were formed when the terminal moraines of retreating glaciers blocked their respective valleys, forming moraine-dammed lakes. The supply of glacial water to the lakes gives them a distinctive blue color, created by glacial flour, the extremely finely ground rock particles from the glaciers. Lake Pukaki has an area of 178.7 km² and the surface of the lake normally ranges from 518.2 to 532 meters above sea level. The lake is fed at its northern end by the braided Tasman River, which rises in the Tasman and Hooker Glaciers, close to Aoraki/Mount Cook.

North of Lake Pukaki is the Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Aoraki Mount Cook National Park is home to the highest mountains and longest glaciers. It's alpine in the purest sense - with towering peaks, glaciers and permanent snowfields, all under a star-studded sky. According to the legend of Ngāi Tahu, Aoraki and his three brothers were the sons of Rakinui, the Heavenly Father. During a sea voyage, their canoe tipped over on a reef. As the brothers climbed onto their canoes, the icy south wind turned them to stone. The canoe became the South Island (Te Waka o Aoraki); Aoraki and his brothers became the peaks of the Southern Alps.

Although Aoraki Mount Cook includes 23 peaks over 3000 meters high, it is very accessible. State Highway 80 leads to Aoraki/Mt Cook Village, which is adjacent to scenic Lake Pukaki and provides a comfortable base for alpine activities. Far from the city lights, the stargazing here is magnificent - Aoraki Mount Cook National Park makes up most of New Zealand's only International Dark Sky Reserve.

Mountaineers consider the area the best climbing area in Australasia, while less experienced adventurers find great satisfaction in the mountain walks that lead to tarns, herb fields and spectacular glacier views. Encounters with cheeky kea (mountain parrots) are part of the fun. At 17 miles in length, the mighty Tasman Glacier is a powerful piece of landscaping. As it slowly carves out the valleys, it provides a landing site for small ski planes and helicopters. Surreal, milky lakes are a feature of the park - hanging, glacial-ground rock sediment makes the water opaque.

Before the route reaches the large parking lot, you can have lunch at one of the restaurants. From the parking lot there is a nice walking route to Hooker Lake. It is an easy walk but allow 2.5 to 3 hours total time to walk to the lake, enjoy the phenomenal views of the glacier and snow capped mountains of which Mount Cook is the highest, and walk back to the parking spot.

If there is time left, continue on to Tasman Valley. Here you can once again enjoy the view of a glacial lake and the snowy mountains.

The route returns from here to Twizel where you can spend the night. The hotels and resorts closer to the lake are very pricey, but if that is not a problem, that is also an option. At the end of the day you will probably still think about the mighty nature that you have been able to admire today.