Wanaka to Queenstown

These lie ins are great - makes me wonder why we chose to do so many activities! After checking out of the hotel we drove just out of town and ventured up Mount Iron, an easy 1 hour 30 minute looped walk to the summit which provides a glorious view across the whole valley. The only clouds are the few wisps that cling to the white peaks but even with the super-heated morning sun the breezes are cool and in the shade - chilly.

There were plenty of people coming up and down - tourists, joggers and dog walkers. It made us both wish we had a dog to share the walks with; especially here in Wanaka, a stable climate, suburbia, quiet with wonderful views, an hour from the hub of Queenstown and lots of walks - emigration level 10!

The last of our short drives led us past the renowned Clutha River - jam packed for fast boat fun. The rest of our drives are 3,4,5 hours - sigh! Central Otago is known for its expanding wineries and we passed a great deal that made half the land look Mediterranean (along with those tall, spindly trees), while the rest has suddenly taken on the appearance of the Big Country Wild West. This was especially so when we reached Kawarau Gorge with its stacked rock faces and threat of mountain slides and rock falls.

We spent a couple of hours beside Lake Wakatipu, with the bustle of Queenstown behind us (a nice, energetic but not overly packed place), and the Thomson Mountains to the South and the Remarkables to the South East. Stonkingly hot and yet standing you can catch the stiff breeze coming down off the ice-tipped peaks that surround us.