New Year's Eve

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Wanaka to Tekapo and Mount Cook
We left early and travelled to Tekapo, the sun shone and the journey was like travelling around the world. We saw landscape that resembled Wales, Scotland, Dorset, Africa , Switzerland, Bahamas so different in two and a half hours driving. Arriving at Tekapo we went to the spa which overlooks the lake. It was relaxing in the sunshine but not quite as big as Hamner and there were no jacuzzi jets. We had lunch in the cafe at Tekapo then drove to Mount Cook taking a road that skirts lake Punakaki. A fabulous drive but as we neared Mount Cook the weather changed and the clouds rolled in above the mountains. Undeterred we continued on and took the track to Mount Tasman. We walked up to a ridge overlooking a glacial lake where you could see what appeared to be small icebergs floating at the far end. It was difficult to judge their size until we saw a speed boat with passengers totally disappear behind the iceberg. We met some young people who were from NZ but living in Colorada and on holiday in NZ. They said they lived abroad because it was difficult to find jobs in NZ. Travelling back the 2.5 hours to Wanaka you see it all again but from a different perspective. The road was free of traffic and the driving a real pleasure.On arrival in Wanaka we got ready for the party and went to Helen and Richards house friends of Rob and Amanda's . They had a bar-b-que which Richard cooked just before the rain came, so like the UK! There were more pommes there than NZ's but all had a great time and we sang Auld Lang Syne at midnight but no Big Ben sounds then after some dancing came the party games and we finally got home by 2.30

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