Day 27: Haast - Queenstown

As far as South Island highlights go Haast doesn't make the top 100, a conclusion also reached pretty quickly by the young Swedish couple I was sharing a room with last night. Unfortunately Amanda & Anton had booked and payed for two nights in what is basically a stopover village on the way south. I said I was heading to the same place as them today, Queenstown, and that if we packed everything smart we'd find space for them and their backpacks in the car. They duly cancelled their 2nd night as quick as a flash and I had company for the day.

The drive up the Haast Pass is spectacular but in the great scheme of things it was only a taster for the most incredible scenery we were about to encounter today.

After a couple of hours we reached Wanaka, an idyllic lakeside town which (as a friend Colin said) I could happily live in from Oct-Mar every year. It also has the best Gelato shop on the planet, perhaps the solar system!  recommended by another friend Josh.

I'm always curious when I see a road leading to nowhere up a valley so that's where we headed next. 51 kms up a valley, mostly gravel road, to be precise. But boy was it worth it. The road takes you towards Mount Aspiring, the highest peak outside the Mt. Cook area and here I have to apologize - I can't edit down the number of pictures to any less than the following.....

Awesome finally found the moment when it was an appropriate word!

We then headed back to Wanaka for a late lunch / sunbathe by the lake.

From Wanaka, via the scenic route, it's only 67 kms to Queenstown, via quick stops at the very quaint Arrowtown and the viewpoint on the top of the pass before dropping down to today's destination.

We were all staying in the same backpackers, the YHA lakeside, which made things easy so we got quickly checked in then I shot off for a shower and a walk into town for a bit to eat and, in honour of 2nd advent Sunday, a couple of "lights". So for only the 2nd time in the whole trip I'm staying in the same place for two nights, this time in what is dubbed the "adrenalin capital of the world".

Today's "panorama of the day" was taken from a bridge and I can honestly say I have never stood on a more beautiful spot.