We leave Queenstown and head towards Wanaka.
We climb up one of the more twisty steep roads up the side of the mountain. At the top we stop.
On top of the world again.
From there we ride the crest until inevitably we descend the other side. Less steep so the hill down goes on and on.
In fact most of the way to Wanaka. I feel sorry when we meet cyclists on the up slope. I’m sure they know what awaits,probably relishing it, looking forward to it, I hope.
For us it is back to Wanaka from a different direction and with much better weather.
The lake today isn’t nearly as rough and seems like a different place altogether from the last time we visited.
There even is a wee pooch much like Rosie
There are even a few Brave souls who have stripped off. They are enjoying it, nobody has quite braved the water. I wonder why?
Still makes you feel warm.
We leave and leave Fiordland behind and head along the shore of Lake Wanaka heading towards the Glacier land.
Once again the drive is surrounded by natures beauty and through the Hastings Pass is a great drive.
You pass down the left of Lake Hawea then down the right of Lake Wanaka before climbing to about 500 meters through the pass. It isn’t dramatic and after the climb up this morning it is a bit anti-climatic.
Further on we lift a German girl who has been tramping the mountains for 5 days. She leaves her car at the start and when she reaches road again hitches a lift back to her car. She is Brave and self reliant.
We travel onwards after depositing her at her car. The secret to leaving your car for days in the wilderness is to have one nobody wants then they will leave it alone.
On the way we pass numerous one lane bridges across ice blue rivers taking the melt water to the sea from the glaciers.
It is controversial but the parks authority are putting down poison to kill stoats, ferrets and possums. These non native species are responsible for killing Kiwi and taking their eggs.
Still the use of 1080 the chemical used is disliked as it is non discriminatory and kills all wildlife that it affects. There are plenty of notices up saying ban 1080. It confused us until it was explained.
Once back on the west coast, we head north into glacier land.
The first stop is the Fox Glacier.
The glacier is up a winding gravel road. At the end you have a one hour hike up to the base of the glacier. It’s the river bed from times of flood and many are here to make the pilgrimage.
We both start out with good intentions but in seeing the hill ahead one of us decides they have seen the glacier and don’t need to get any closer. The other continues on the climb.
The journey is more interesting than the destination and the glacier is there sitting waiting to make it’s way to the sea.
It isn’t the most impressive glacier I have ever seen but I’m glad we made the trip anyway.
No sign of the mints.
Not even sure they named them after here. Suppose I’ll find out.
From here we head back along the coast past Bruce Bay. Apparently voted one of the 10 most loved beaches in New Zealand. I don’t know why.
Eventually we reach the Frank Josef glacier. In truth this looks more impressive but it is an hour and half walk so in laziness and in respect for the hour we take a look from a distance and hit the road.
Our next port of call is Ross as it sounds slightly quirky and interesting.
This will be our stop for tonight.
More about that in the next post.
