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The drive from Queenstown took us through Arrowtown, a spectacular drive with snowcapped Mount Cardrona and the Harris mountains always in view. | ||
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NZ$500!
144 quid, gotta be worth more than that. |
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Wanaka is situated in the Otago region of the South island, lakes Wanaka and Hawea forming a perfect backdrop. It's much less commercialised than Queenstown and just as beautiful. | ||
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Wanaka was probably our favourite place. Lake Hawea (above) accompanies you on the right and lake Wanaka on your left as you drive towards the Northern end of the Mount Aspiring National park and the Haast Pass. | ||
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Lupins grow in the wild and these appear to be similar to the garden lupin of UK (Lupinus polyphyllus) but further up the lake embankment was a yellow variety probably Tree lupin (Lupinus arboreus) which grows wild in the UK but is a native of North America. | ||
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Lake Wanaka across to the Harris Mountains. | ||
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Harris mountains backdrop another busy day in Wanaka (actually Labour Day, equivelant to a UK Bank holiday!). | ||
| A panoramic view across Lake Wanaka from Ardmore St, Mount Aspiring National park in the background. | |||
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Ah Riverrun, our stop for two nights. What can you say. A working sheep farm, John and Meg have to put up with this every day. The main building was built from recycled materials and the whole place has been made into fabulous boutique accommodation. | ||
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Great views and walks right on the doorstep. Finish up with afternoon tea and buns on the veranda. | ||
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Broom is currently a problem plant in New Zealand and they're trying to eradicate it but I must admit it adds to the beauty of the scenery. | ||
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Mountain Man McKay with compulsory hand picked stick nearing the end
of Rob Roy track. The vegitation above the tree line remains lush but just
across the stream its ice and snow.
I'm actually looking at the waterfall across the stream and which plunges from a hole in the rock face to the valley below. |
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One walk we had to do from Riverrun was the Rob Roy glacier. It takes about three hrs and requires a good level of fitness, you're going up about 3000ft up in tough terrain. We were accompanied by Kea (mountain parrots) above the tree line.
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Raspberry Creek is the start point where there are car parking and toilets (of sorts!) facilities. Its about 40km from Wanaka along dirt roads and fords, interesting drive! The first obstacle is the rope bridge over the Matukituki river. Although Marian is smiling on the right, she certainly wasn't on the left. The path follows the stream through Beech forest. This is avalanche country June to November so get advice before going from Wanaka visitor Centre. | ||
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The evening sunlight gave some spectacular views across to the Harris mountains on the walk back. Dinner at our favourite eatery, Relishes, 99 Ardmore Street overlooking the lake. | ||
