http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , New Zealand , South Island , Wanaka en-us Thu, 31 Dec 2009 02:09:39 +0000 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 02:09:39 +0000 Next day Simon took us all including George his son and Jorge a visiting student out on the lake in the boat. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-462402.html Next day we took a long walk around Wanaka Lake http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-462399.html Next day we took a day trip to Cromwell with Simon and Lucy. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-462398.html Next day we got Simon's jet boat running and walked up Mount Roy which is a tough 3 hour walk up a 'hill' overlooking Wanaka lake and the town. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-462396.html We stayed at Simon Mary's other brother and Lucy his wife's place the next night and then traveled down to Wanaka with Simon the next day. Spent the night in his beautiful new place in Wanaka and then trekked into the mountains the next day. This is what we saw... http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-462391.html 9th NovemberWe pulled in today to the most beautiful place any of us had seen so far in NZ Wanaka a wellkept relaxed town on the edge of a huge lake. On a clear day the lake is a perfect blue and it is surrounded by these amazing snowcapped mountains and huge rolling hills. At this point I had finally tired of the Kiwi bus and most of the people on it with the amount of drinking and shagg http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-455372.html We can't believe it is already Day 17Today we arrived in Lake Wanaka only 3 hours from Lake Tekapo. The feeling here is more touristy but the scenery is unbelievable. I feel like I am seeing The Lord of the Rings or Brokeback MountainJust another day of pure relaxation and catching up on our US duties. Tomorrow we are doing a morning hike and then our Queenstown adventure beginsEnjoy th http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-452835.html I spent the rest of that day 27th making the most of the fact that I've got a whole dorm to myself and just worked on a couple of songs both which are now nearly finished they're called 'folded' and 'emptying my pockets'. I felt pretty stuck in Dundedin the more I've been here in NZ and seen all this great landscape the less I can stand cities now. I was just itching to see some nature but no http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-449789.html We left very early to start the journey to Milford Sound unfortunately in the rush a tragedy occurred Ted the turtle that I bought as a replacement for Barclay must have dropped out of the van and his final resting place was Te Anau bye Ted. Luckily Tel decided to drive and I was very grateful its basically a twisty turny road round hairpin bends and tunnels through the southern Alps amaz http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-445602.html Getting up in the early morning is never nice. Getting changed in a van with a cold wind blowing through it is even worse At 6am we rolled out of bed grabbed our clothes and began driving towards the ferry. In true Counet style we were quite early for the ferry so having checked in we made our breakfast in the back of the van. I have a new appreciation for the common snail it is really http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-444273.html Went to Wanaka nice little place. Walked up another hill so many hills again lovely views. Got woken up in the middle of the night by a fire alarmin the hostel so annoying. It was raining and and cold and there wasn't even a fire. Which is good obviously but if I have to get turfed out of bed I'd prefer some excitement. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-442790.html Magnifique fabuleux genial well no comment http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-438921.html Arrive a Picton 2 jours de routes dans des paysages hallucinants mais pas de photo plus de batterie Sur le retour promis Arrive a Wanaka c'est le debut des lacs et montagnes qui vont nous entourrer pendant plusieurs mois... http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-436290.html In the spirit of the past three days we left Franz Josef in the pouring rainThis blog once again is a short one but I thought the photographs deserved a blog to themselves. Effectively Thursday morning we left Franz Josef and headed down the coast road until we reached Haast. Having had lunch once again looking out to sea over the beach we set off on our crossing over the Southern Alps. This j http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-432269.html Wanaka is a pretty town well not that pretty but located in very pretty surroundings There are lots of mountains and hills and big blue lake also called Wanaka Whilst in Wanaka we went to the world famous Puzzling World and managed to find our way out of the maze which was quite fun Also they have some crazy illusions the best one is the room of faces covering the walls which actually look as http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-428541.html Early morning I got to the airport so I could fly to Christchurch. Weather for the flight was spectacularly clear with views of snow on Mt Ruapehu forests coastal zones lakes rivers. It was basically nature in glory I chatted to a guy on the way down about my travelling experiences on my round the world exploration trip. He was familiar with NZ travel but not much else. It was beautiful http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-424600.html Where was I A question I find myself asking myself with increasing regularity these days. And usually the answer is I don't know. Quite often these questions are asked out loud. But I better not say anymore or you'll all be ringing psychiatrists. And frankly I dont want that.Right so Wanaka. What a lovely place. I knew I'd be spending time in both Wanaka and Queenstown but on the advi http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-421320.html Woke up crrrazily early to catch the ferry from Wellington to Picton on the South Island. All went smoothly and honestly getting the ferry into Picton is the best introduction to the South Island you could imagine. It sails through Malborough Sound absolultely stunning and peacful and wonderful. Drove down to Kaikura more beautifulness drove through the Malborough wine region which was prett http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-420464.html This snowman was literally made 10 minutes ago. Its now 10pm here. 11am at home http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-414744.html So. Those of you who know and love us or even those who don't but have been following our little blog of our travels will know by now that Geen and I whilst arguably hardcore party girls intrepid explorers and open minded souls ahem we are NOT the kind of girls who will throw ourselves out of a plane at 15 000 feet and free fall for a whole minute before parachuting across Lake Wanaka. So gu http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Wanaka/blog-408289.html