This morning we woke to rain – not serious rain but drizzly with low clouds. We really were pleased that we had been on the Glacier yesterday and had been to Lake Matheson and Fox Glacier the day before since this would not be the day to do so. We are heading off today for a long drive to get to Wanaka which is on Lake Wanaka.
The drive is not too much of a bother other than the cost of gas in Franz Josef is $2.21 per liter.
As we drive we are reminded of the great views we are enjoying and find ourselves comparing them to areas of BC that we know.
The drive is not too much of a bother other than the cost of gas in Franz Josef is $2.21 per liter.
As we drive we are reminded of the great views we are enjoying and find ourselves comparing them to areas of BC that we know.
The scenic road over Haast Pass, the southern gateway to the West Coast, is most stunning. The journey offered a variable landscape of rainforest, wetlands, lakes, glacier-fed rivers and white water rapids. For example we were driving along and crossed a single lane bridge (one of many on this highway) and wondered why so many people were walking along the bridge looking down. We decided to pull off and discovered “The Gates of Haast” which is a narrow gorge with rushing water through the rocks foaming white water rapids. We took pictures from the bridge and then found the path down to below the bridge for closer pictures. We did not stay long since sand flies where present.
As we passed just north of Makarora, located within the World Heritage listed Mount Aspiring National Park we saw a sign for the Blue Pools Walk. Curiosity got the better of us so again we stopped to check them out. We followed a carefully maintained gravel path and boardwalks that wound through a native silver beech forest and lead to a swing bridge strung high above the Makarora River. The views back to the mountains of the Main Divide are absolutely breath-taking. The track continued deep into the forest, with bellbird and tui calls echoing through the trees, to a series of crystal clear pools that have been carved out of the rocks by centuries of erosion. The glacier-fed water in these deep pools is the colour of deep azure blue, and so clear that you can see right to the bottom, making the resident brown trout look like they are suspended in the air. There were several hardy souls swimming in the pool which must have been really cold. Wes was disappointed that he did not bring his swimming trunks otherwise I would have a picture of him in the water I am sure.
We continued onward after this short walk to find ourselves driving along beside a large lake. As we checked the map we learned that we would be driving beside Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea. The interesting thing is that first we were beside Lake Wanaka and then the road had to move over to Lake Hawea and we followed that road to the end and swung back around a mountain/hill to reach the end of Lake Wanaka – our destination. If you look at a map you see that Lake Wanaka stays on the west side of a mountain but the road has to go over the mountain at the end.
Once we got settled in at Wanaka we headed to Mount Iron to climb to the summit. Mount Iron is an impressive, glacier carved, rocky knoll that rises nearly 250 metres above the surrounding countryside. As a result, from the summit there are excellent 360-degree views of the The Pisa range, the Upper Clutha Basin, Lake Wanaka and the Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana.
We returned to the campsite to discover that the wind in this area is very strong. We do not need to be concerned about sandflies with the type of wind we had but at the same time it is refreshing. The clouds are still hovering around the mountains but in this area the sun is shining so we are all good.
At dinner time we went to the camp kitchen and met several really interesting and nice people. In particular we learned that this Saturday is an Iron Man competition and one of the ladies was here to participate in her first one. She is 51 and seems to be ready (although very nervous). Others here to support and encourage her are her husband, their two kids, and another family with their kids. We spent several hours visiting with them and had a wonderful time.
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