Admiring Lake Pukaki with the Southern Alps in the background.

On the way to Mount Cook, you will pass by Lake Pukaki, and its gem-like blue waters will make you stop your car immediately. There is only one shop next to the parking lot, but it is exceptionally famous among tourists. As the name suggests, the Mt Cook Alpine Salmon Shop mainly sells salmon products. Their salmon sashimi and salmon roe are very popular. It is said that the shop uses salmon farmed in the glaciers of Mount Cook, delivered fresh. There are outdoor seats where visitors can sit down to rest or dine, with a direct view of the vast, azure Lake Pukaki and the Southern Alps on the opposite side. A small cabin next to the shop showcases the history of the area, and there is a large floor-to-ceiling window facing the snow-capped mountains. Most visitors probably won't miss the chance to queue up for a photo here.