Wanaka

We left Franz Josef at 7.30 on a mizzly sort of morning. It continued to drizzle on and off for a while and I had somehow mislaid my new breathable raincoat that I’d bought in Bicester just before I left the UK. This could be quite serious as I didn’t want to miss out on any of the little scenic morning walks we’d been doing, even in the rain.

I have noticed a great number of flat or nearly flat possums on the road in this area which will be a delight to the New Zealander as they are a great pest here.

We had a loo break at Haste, the last place on the West Coast and here I took the opportunity of buying a white bait pattie with a flat white. It was claimed this was the best white bait pattie in the area and white bait was just in season. I have to say it went down very well as I hadn’t made provision for breakfast this morning.

At the next little town, I spied a sale rack of raincoats. We had a 45 minute break here and I managed to get one for half price…. Still $20 but that was ok. Wouldn’t you know it, after this the sun came it and it was hot again.

We stopped to photograph the aqua blue river at Thunder Creek Falls

The scenery was very rugged here as we moved inland to the lakes. The snow-capped mountains became a constant backcloth by now and looked stunning against the blue sky but soon we were to have the addition of Wanaka Lake which was a sheet of turquoise glass. Wow a new chocolate box picture around every bend again, totally breathtaking.

I am noticing how tidy the countryside appears to be in New Zealand; you would almost think the verges next to the roads had been mown, and we were well into the growing season. The clear crisp colours are just exquisite! The sky a cerulean expanse broken occasionally with a fluffy white cloud; the lake a deep ultramarine with drops of viridian bleeding out in places and skirting the shallows around the edge.

I don’t think my eyes have ever taken in some much clear intense scenic beauty on a daily basis. I am having a love affair with this country!

After skirting the lake for quite a few kilometres we turned off to take a few of the kids for a Skydive which they did in Wanaka. The rest of us then went into town to check into The Base Hostel. Here I am sharing an 8-dorm room with girls I know quite well so it will be fun.

Next a stroll around the very nice little holiday town; skiing in winter and lake activities in the summer (which was now). I then went to the supermarket (New World) to stock up with basics before a blogging session.

And here is my steak being cooked in the hostel kitchen. It was quite busy tonight!

I sat down to enjoy my dinner and a French guy sat down beside me and I found myself striking up a conversation with him. He was just traveling and working alone around NZ. I think I may have converted him to the Kiwi Experience LOL!