Wanaka October 2019

This post sat in my offline box and never got published, so I am rolling back my life by 6 months here!

What a phenomenal trip I had south. I hd contemplated postponing because I was still feeling rather tired, and was also concerned about the repairs to my kitchen, but I could not bear waiting longer to see David, so decided to take the 430 km drive easily, with very frequent stops. And why would you not stop with such breathtaking scenery? Where I was, the sin was shining and the sky was clear. On the other side of the Alps, starting on the far side of Lake Pukaki, it was stormy and the roads were closed due to snow! Mount Cook, was shrouded in storm clouds!

I had been a bit anxious  about the road conditions through the beautiful Lindis Pass, but the road was completely clear, and the hills on each side looked stunning with their dusting of fresh snow.

Edgewater, paradise on earth! It was fantastic after a long, yet fabulous trip to arrive in Wanakaat Edgewater resort and to have this magnificent view from outside the bedroom. It does not matter how often I come here, it never ceases to take my breath away.

Only minutes later, there was a knock at the door and David was there! Perfect evening ahead, catching up on months of news and sharing our love of this gorgeous place together.

Wanaka is undoubtedly one of the loveliest places on this planet. Despite phenomenal growth in recent years, it still has so many unspoilt areas, and although the town is busy, it is easy to escape the crowds. You just need to avoid Instagram- renowned spots!
The weather was once again great and the snow- capped peaks looked lovelier than ever, contrasted against the deep blue sky. The lake is very low after a dry winter. I don't think I have ever seen the water so far out.

That lone Wanaka willow is now accessible to the swarms of tourists who flock there for photos, mostly selfies. It is a fascinating people- watching place, as well, of course, as being a place to enjoy the spectacular scenery. 

I am sure previous blogs have had similar shots, but of course different seasons always provide new delights.
I am not a person who generally loves routine, but when I am in Wanaka, I just yearn to walk the track from Glendhu Bay to the Waterfall. Luckily, it has not yet been posted on Instagram and has therefore escaped overcrowding. We saw a total of six cyclists during our four- hour walk. It was really marvelous, starting with such breathtaking views of Treble Cone skifield to the left and Mount Aspiring in the centre of the photo.

As usual, we stopped for a picnic at Damper Bay, just under half way. Wow, what fantastically clean and clear water!

I love the gorgeous patterns in the sand.

Believe it or not, the colours in this photo are accurate. The water was so many shades of blue and is so clear.

It is an 11-kilometre walk, with lots of ups and downs, but always with sensational views and fascinating cloud formations.

David is great to walk with, being very patient whilst I tackle the hills. It is a great track, rewarding in every aspect.

On the final day with David we ventured into unknown terrotory, which turned out to be another fantastic track downstream from one of our regular Clutha river tracks. It was very pretty, and a must to visit in autumn when the trees turn gold.

Sadly, I only had a few days together with David this time, but they were really fantastic.

After a huge and delicious late lunch at another favourite spot, the historic Cardrona pub, we went our separate ways.

I stayed two more nights in Wanaka with good friends from Akaroa, before heading back to Christchurch on yet another idyllic day for driving. Well, almost!  These vineyards covered in frost caught my eye as I left Wanaka. They were absolutely fabulous to look at, but also a warning that I needed to be extra careful on the roads in the shade and through the very winding roads of the Lindis Pass. Luckily, there were very few cars on the road, so I could take my time and just enjoy the joirney.

The Lakes were even more stunning than they had been on the trip down because the clouds had lifted over The Alps, and Mount Cook really looked majestic. It is hugely distracting trying to drive with such awesome scenery! I was pleased I was alone and could simply keep stopping to enjoy the views.

Last year I was lucky enough to see perfect reflections in Lake Pukaki, and today I was not only enthralled by the reflections, but also the unbelievable turquoise waters. It was one of the loveliest sights I have seen.

Another brilliant holiday, this time home in New Zealand.