Aoraki & Wanaka
This weekend was the Labour Day long weekend in New Zealand. We celebrated by heading South West of Christchurch on Friday night. We spent Friday night at Lake Pukaki, below Aoraki (Mt Cook) and walked the Hooker Valley Track Saturday morning. In the afternoon we drove to Wanaka and stayed at a free site near Diamond Lake. Sunday we took the Rob Roy Valley Track up to the Rob Roy Glacier, we played some disc golf above the town of Wanaka; and finally saw a movie at the famous Paridiso Cinema. After a quick bath in the Lake on Sunday morning we returned to Christchurch.
Lake Pukaki
A giant stunning blue lake with views of Aorkai. It was hard to take a photo which showed how awesome it was, but this one came close.
Lake Pukaki (Aoraki in the distance/me on the rocks)
Hooker Valley
The Hooker Valley track took us over three suspension bridges. The 3.5 hour round trip took us the Hooker Lake beneath Aoraki. There were still ice bergs in the water at this time of year.
Aoraki from Hooker Lake
Rob Roy Glacier
The Rob Roy Glacier was the destination of the best tramp we have done so far (excluding the Tongariro for Alex). Starting in the valley among some huge mountains and paddocks, the track took us up the Rob Roy Stream and ended with stunning views of Rob Roy Glacier. Even the drive in was amazing: the unsealed road took us through 9 water crossings, we waited for a cattle crossing, and we drove behind a clueless cow for about 100 metres.
Access road
Rob Roy Valley Track beginning
Rob Roy Stream
Rob Roy Glacier
Wanaka
The disc golf course in Wanaka came with a very nice view. We spent a few hours playing the course. In the evening we visited the Paridiso Cinema to watch Magnificent Seven. The cinema had comfy chairs and a half time intermission for freshly baked cookies (we forgot to pre-order though). In the morning we dippedour feet in Lake Wanaka (and I washed my hair). It was pretty cold.
A dip in Lake Wanaka
We both agreed that the weekend's highlight was the Rob Roy Glacier Track, but the whole weekend was one to remember.
James
