Friday - January 10, 2014 Wanaka, NZ

FRIDAY – JANUARY 10, 2014

BOTTOM LINE:

Drove from Franz Josef to Wanaka

BACK STORY:

Our departure from Franz Josef Glacier Village was welcomed with warm sunlight and a beautiful last view of the glacier.  Our driver took us across the bridge at the Gates of Haast.  He told us that when the bridge was erected a plane could pass under it.  Silt and rock from the mountains and the melting of the glacier have washed down and clearly built up in the river making it impossible for a plane to fit today.

 

Tinker Toy Bridge (temporary)

The road took us over Haast Pass and down into the farmlands where we could look back and see an even more stunning view of the Fox Glacier and Mount Cook…New Zealand’s highest peak.

   

Farmland view of Fox Glacier

Fox Glacier

At the town of Haast we turned down a country road, which wound around to a car park for Lake Mathieson.  If visited on a calm and sunny morning, people are able to take pictures of the snow capped mountains, which mirror images on the lake water.  It was a perfect morning for a hike through a rain forest to the lakes edge where photos were taken.

Mirror image from Mathison Lake

After a one hour stop we headed back to the main road, which we found was the site for skydivers.  Surprise!

 

Para-shoot jumper

Up the road we made a short stop at Thunder Creek Falls for a photo- op and pit stop.  Although real, a corny shot of Bruce looks fairly staged and fake.

 

 

Bruce has everything in hand!

The scenic beauty of todays drive was very diverse…lush mountains with waterfalls and rivers, the Tasmin Sea coastline and then a dramatic change to dry lands with scrub flora.  The finale came as we approached a lookout for Wanaka Lake and then Hawea Lake…sister lakes to one another.  Both lakes are natural, very deep and a stunning aqua color.

 

Lake Wanaka

  

  

Lake Hawea

End of Lake Hawea

Lake Hawea

We all stayed at a “Base” backpackers hostel and agreed that it was one of the nicest private ensuite rooms we’ve had.

On the way to the town of Wanaka where we are staying, we were told that a private double or twin room was not available for the next three nights and we were encouraged to call around Queenstown and see if we could find something.  We called about 10 hostels and searched online for a hotel room.  Not one facility had a double available for tomorrow night.  We decided to just cool our jets and accept what was available…a dorm room!  YIKES!!!  Another Kiwi Experience!

Sunset in Wanaka