Bucket List trip to Wanaka, off the beaten track

Summer is just around the corner and so before it gets too hot, I am leaving Mike,  to head south again. Poor Mike, in this photo he  is being terrorised by the blackbirds he normally chases, as they pelt him with cherry stones while he tries to lounge in the shade of the cherry tree!

Despite some grim weather forecasts, It was a great day with just some gusty winds as I approached the Lakes. First up, Lake Tekapo with its colourful lupin foreground.

For years I have thought about a trip to our highest mountain, Mt Cook, but have  never taken the extra days to do it justice. I will certainly be back there.

Even the 55-km drive from State Highway makes the whole trip worthwhile, with such spectacular colours and Mt Cook looming larger and larger.

With bad weather due later on, I lost no time checking in and heading out to the walk to the Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier viewpoint. It was a hot climb up the steps to the lookout, but truly spectacular scenery. The  plantlife here is remarkable, but not always friendly, like these very vicious-looking, spiky 'Spaniards'. Not sure how they got that name.

The view from the top really did take my breath away. Never have I seen such a remarkabke turquoise lake. What started as a small lake at the end of the glacier is now a  lake 5 kms long. What an awesome place to stand, completely alone, just me and this incredible scenery!

   Even the car park was virtually empty apart from a rather desperate looking paradise duck looking for food I assume. 

Down the next valley is the walk to the Hooker Valley. It was getting late, so I only managed the walk to the first Swing bridge, but still enjoyed the views down to Mueller Lake.
                               

As I returned to the hotel, the peak of Mount Cook stood out, pristine.

Time for a drink at the famous Hermitage Hotel, which was surprisingly busy. Having seen so few people on the tracks, it seemed remarkable. 

Anyway, I got the best seat in the bar and sat captivated by the beauty of Cook ahead of me, even in my glass! What I had imagined would be a quick drink turned out to be a full meal and many hours just enjoying the fantastic vista, watching the clouds starting to creep over the mountains, heralding the changing weather.

And change it did!

I left a murky, very wet Mt Cook village behind me the next morning and headed back into the sunshine at Twizel!

Next day I fulfilled a couple more bucket list desires as I firstly took a road down to Lake Benmore, driving along beside the hydro canals, with Cook in the distant clouds. It was stunning.

Then, the moment I have been waiting for for decades - a trip to these fabulous cliffs, The Clay Cliffs, at Omarama. So often I have driven past but not found the time to go 10 km off the main road to visit what is surely one of New Sealand's best kept secrets!

After 8 km of a good unsealed  road, you turn a corner and 'wow' there they are, majestic peaks of sandstone, weathered by the wind and rain over millions of years.

No photo can really do them justice. You just have to go there to appreciate the size, colour and shapes.

My picnic lunch spot could not have been more beautiful next to the Ahuriri River, with the river banks a sea of lupins - so many colours- and in the background those gorgeous cliffs.

Time! That is what we need to make the most of, and to fulfil these little dreams.