Wanaka

Our side of the bay looking north to Mt Alta with the Rob Roy glacier in the background.

We came down the wet coast and turned left at Haast. The road followed  the Haast River valley rising to the Haast Pass and then descended, following the Makarora River valley. We skirted the northern edge of Mount Aspiring National Park, which provided some inspiring views. Crossing through the mountains, we entered the rain shadow and sunlight - lots of sunlight.

Sunlight streamed down as we drove along the shore of turquoise-blue Lake Wanaka, crossed over to the shore of Lake Hawea, then swung south and arrived at Wanaka at the southern tip of Lake Wanaka. Wanaka is a small village of 7,000 wrapped around a bay.  Across the bay, to the north, there are views of the Minaret Peaks, Mt. Alta and on clear days, Mt. Aspiring. Looking north from our end of the bay we can see the Rob Roy glacier.

Our first view of Lake Wanaka

The slopes of Mt. Alta in the early morning sun.

Looking across the bay towards the town.

Queenstown is an hour away by car over the Crown Ridge. Here we are over the ridge and descending into town.

We are here for two weeks, already well into our second. We are in a lovely one bedroom condo on the ground floor with walk-outs to a patio and garden from both the living room and the bedroom. After being active tourists between Nelson and here, we are just relaxing and getting to know the town. The centre is a lovely 20 minute walk away through a park and along the lake. We have been here long enough to have found a favourite café and to be recognized by some of the merchants. Once again we find our days filled with leisurely breakfasts on the patio, reading, walking into town, having coffee and talking to the locals. The toughest decision of the day is deciding what to have for dinner, buying it and bringing it home. Some mornings we get up and go down to the lake to watch the sunrise. We have found the air to be wonderfully clean and refreshing in New Zealand since it  has no heavy industry. The biggest polluters are cars, cows and sheep. Being surrounded by mountains, the air here is almost sweet.

Main Street, our little town, looking towards the lake.

Wanaka is also known for sports - wind surfing, hang gliding and sky diving. Maybe next year.

Morning coffee in the garden.

Watching the sunrise.

Charles and Linda joined us part way through the first week for a few days. On the weekend the town hosted the regional A and P, agricultural and pastoral show, the largest on the south island. It is very similar to country fairs at home. On Friday Fran and Linda took in the horse jumping competition, toured the craft exhibits and finished the day listening to the evening concerts.

The same weekend Ken and Charles left to hike the Routeburn Track. And that will be the focus of the next entry.