Blogs from Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania

Slept poorly despite having a room to myself because of the crazy storm outside and the wind whistling through the chimney going through the room (on a par with your ariel clanging in a storm dad!). We all have a very chilled out morning – I worked on a job application and organised my photos from the trip. This afternoon I had a great run, nice conditions with a light wind and a tad of drizzle but not too cold, on the biking/walking track to Albert Town and back. After a nice hot shower I headed to the internet to book up accommodation and buses for my next destination, (driving the big 4x4 again which is great fun.) We had a yummy dinner of quinoa and veg with a tad of chorizo, and then headed to ... read more

The ankle twinges twice as the wanderer steps out of bed this morning so a rest day is in order. So the day is spent watching the first day of the test match I would have been at had I stuck to Plan A. A good day for NZ up in Auckland but I think I'd rather be watching it remotely from the shores of this stunning lake, soaring mountains creating a ridgelined horizon. If the ankle recovers swiftly, then Mt Armstrong might be on the cards for tomorrow.... read more

The abundance of food and lack of exercise has started to get to me now, and this morning I take one of the mountain bikes which are at the house along the track which runs around the lake. This started off as a nice easy route, but soon turns into a track featuring sharp narrow downhill sections with boulders and tight corners and similarly steep uphill’s. It’s been a while since I have been mountain biking which shows by how tiring it is….slightly worrying! However the views are more than worth the sweat and panting it takes to reach the end. The morning mist is starting to burn off the lake, revealing the crystal blue waters beneath which are framed by the surrounding dramatic hillsides and snow-capped mountains. I am back by lunch and after a ... read more

When was the last time the wanderer had two rest days on the trot? During an NZ trip, I don't recall it happening before now... Rain is easing so the wanderer will be dragging his partially recovered feet out to the familiar beauty of the Matukituki valley tomorrow. Up to French Ridge hut for tomorrow night. Then up to as close as terrain will allow to the quarterdeck pass and/or Mt French, then down and up to Liverpool hut for the next night, then back out to "civilisation" the next day. Or something like that - depends on how the legs and feet and shoulders react to being taken out on the trail again.... read more

Rain, rain, rain, and some more rain. Good day to let the feet recover, wash the tramp out of my clothing, do some planning and generally not do much else.... read more

This morning we headed off around 9am after breakfast to conquer the mighty cascade saddle route! To start with it’s a fairly easy upward climb for the first 2hours, in the tree line – and we were starting to wonder what everybody was making a fuss about, it being such a hard climb! As soon as we are above the tree line however it turns into a serious climb – with longer sections of rock to scramble up and very steep sections, so yes, it is harder than the walk yesterday. At 1pm we reach the top and absorb the stunning scenery, at 1840m we are surrounded by mountains covered in snow, and we settle town and eat our lunch of very yummy veg and rice with tuna and extra hot Nandos sauce (SPICEY!) for some ... read more

Franz Joseph to Wanaka is a fair old distance and to be honest this was the worst travel day so far. A 7.30am departure and five stops later we arrived in Wanaka at 4pm. This part of the South Island is pretty picturesque and each time we stopped there was a fantastic photo opportunity. Our first stop was at Lake Matheson, renowned for its beautiful reflection of Mt Cook and Mt Tasman. Our other stops included Pleasant flats, Thunder fallsand Blue pools (which weren't actually that blue!). We had serious cabin fever from the bus and even some ice cream didn't seem to help! !We weren't particularly that motivated to go and see the sights of Wanaka that evening but I promised myself I'd get up early for a walk to the lake ... read more