The road to Queenstown

Out from Wanaka the road climbed and climbed and eventually came out to a pass with the most amazing view down through the valley to Queenstown. Wow!

Steep hairpin switchbacks all the way down the other side but really fun drive - like rally driving a tank!

Arrowtown

Stopped off at Arrowtown for a coffee and a beer and catch up on da blog!

Nice little town.

Stop off at Wanaka

Up early again and cooked breakie. Before setting off had our first experience of emptying the chemical loo at the camps dumping station! Something we were dreading but actually turned out to be not quite as bad as we thought. Van sorted we set off towards Queenstown.

Drive was really nice - more multi-coloured lupins everywhere and rolling hills and streams etc.

Stopped off at Wanaka and did hour hike on trail up Mt. Iron. Fabulous 360 views from the top with lakes and mountains all around. Nice setting.

Twizel

Pretty exhausted after the trail so headed out of the park for an easy drive to Twizel. Stopped off at local shops to get food for the night. Brian's card didn't work AGAIN so I had to get cash.

Found a local camp site where they managed to squeeze us in (literally!) and cooked up a pasta meal as our evenings entertainment. Ate al fresco wondering why everyone else was in their vans and then discovered the mosquito bites on our ankles when we went to bed!

Photo doesn't do it justice but nice town Twizel.

Sealy Tarns Trail

Up early and cooked breakie ready for the hike ahead.

Drove into the park and set off on the trail. Started pretty easy with Mt. Cook
in our sights then trail turned off to the left and then up, up, up for over an hour and a half. VERY steep. Missed the right path near the top and ended up climbing over rocks and skree and made it to the top where there was a little lake. We were greeted by a lady hiker who was surprised we arrived from the direction we did saying that everyone else came for over there as she pointed to an obvious trail to the right. Yeah whatever!

Fab views of the mountain and the blue blue lakes from the top :))

Sending bunnies to see Frith and a bobbly night

So our first night in Mt. Cook National Park. Drove into the village for dinner with a view of the mountain - nice :)

On the drive back hundreds of rabbits all over the road - well hundreds minus the one which went under our front right wheel!

Set up the bed in the camper only to find there was no bedding - argh! Spent the night wrapped in sarongs with fleeces for pillows. Slept anyway as we were pooped.

Journey to Mt. Cook

6 hour drive to Mt. Cook. The grassy plains all covered in purple, mauve, pink, red, cream and white lupins - quite a sight actually. Arrived in Mt. Cook and settled in to our new mobile home. Had dinner up in the national park overlooking the mountains - fabulous!

The realities of camping are slowly sinking in though as things are probably going to be pretty basic - ewwww :(

Can't believe we were waving flags in Tokyo yesterday.

Looking forward to some hiking tomorrow now as the scenery is stunning :)