Timaru, New Zealand

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Tour Day 42, Cruise Day 42 – Alpine Lakes & Mountains Scenic Drive (8 hours) - Travel by coach through a landscape of crop, sheep and beef farms en route to the Mackenzie Basin. Here, the landscape and farming change dramatically. It is the domain of merino sheep and iconic high-country stations in a landscape dominated by the Southern Alps and glacial lakes. Pause at Lake Tekapo -- a remarkable turquoise lake with brilliant views of the glacial valleys that feed it. Don’t miss the beautiful Church of the Good Shepherd (1935), whose altar window frames a postcard-perfect view. Traveling to Lake Pukaki, you cross one of the many bright-blue hydro canals crisscrossing the Mackenzie Basin. Lake Pukaki is surrounded by big country and borders the eastern slopes of Aoraki Mount Cook National Park – named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its outstanding scenic value. Skirt the hydro-town of Twizel and Lake Ruataniwha before reaching a salmon farm. Walk through the town of Omarama, whose poetic name means The Place of Light, and purchase lunch (at your own expense) in this location renowned for hang-gliding and clear night skies. Pass Lake Benmore, Lake Aviemore and rolling farmland en route back to Timaru. Notes: This is a scenic driving tour; total distance traveled by coach is approximately 350 km (225 miles). Estimated time on the coach is about 4 hours 40 minutes.

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Photos

Alpine Lakes & Mountains Scenic Drive
ms Noordam Hiding Behind Numerous Containers

Alpine Lakes & Mountains Scenic Drive
I Was Surprised at the Amount of Tillable Acreage

Alpine Lakes & Mountains Scenic Drive
It Appeared That Firefighters Had a Recent “Fight It from the Street” Event

Alpine Lakes & Mountains Scenic Drive
The Investigation Was Underway

Alpine Lakes & Mountains Scenic Drive
Climbing Toward the Alpine Lakes

Alpine Lakes & Mountains Scenic Drive
Well Worth the Effort

Alpine Lakes & Mountains Scenic Drive
The Himalayan Tahr Was Introduced to New Zealand in 1904

Alpine Lakes & Mountains Scenic Drive
Note the Snowcapped Peaks in the Distance

Alpine Lakes & Mountains Scenic Drive
Our Lunch Stop Had a Really Cool Chicken

Alpine Lakes & Mountains Scenic Drive
Not Exactly a “Feed Lot” By Texas Standards

Comments

[Dawn Winkelmann]

Miss you!
Miss you Uncle Larry! Looks like you are having an amazing time! Love you!