Today
we left Queenstown for Whataroa where
we would base ourselves for our visits to the Franz Josef Glacier
and the White Heron Sanctuary.
We commenced this length drive by heading back towards Cromwell and then headed north whereupon we hit Lake Wanaka and took a pit-stop in Wanaka township itself. Lake Wanaka is, at 2,500 square kilomteres, New Zealand's fourth largest lake.
Lake Wanaka and Hawea, both on our journey and highway 6, contrast each other in their colour but both a utterly beautiful and marvelous to stroll along. Prominent peaks visible here include Mt Aspiring (3,033 meters), Mt Iron (740 meters), Treble Cone (2,058 meters), Mt Roy (1,578 meters) and Black Peak (2,289 meters).
Continuing
our journey, we continued through the Haast Pass towards the
coast. The Haast Pass is named after the Canterbury geologist
Julius von Haast who led a party over the Haast Pass/Tioripatea
in 1863. Scot Charles Cameron was credited with being the first
over the pass (arriving on the other side two days before Haast)
thereby challenging Haast's claim to be the first European
over the pass. Cameron Flat and Cameron mountain are named
after Charles Cameron. The mountain was named by TN Broderick
who found the inscribed powder flask of Cameron west of the
pass in 1881.
As we took our time driving to Whataroa and were a bit knackered, we did actually miss the last tour of the day to the White Heron Sanctuary. We may well rejig our schedule to take it in.
New Zealand's South Island - recommended hotels and motels - Recommended hotels and motels New Zealand's South Island
New Zealand - 9 great pubs and bars - 9 of the best pubs and bars in and around New Zealand
Rowi - Stuff I found out about the Rowi - the Kiwi at Okarito
New Zealand - places not to miss - Recommended places to visit in and around New Zealand
Day at Franz Josef Glacier - New Zealand travelogue for November 2007, covering Taranaki on the North Island and a trip around South Island
Oamaru and the Otago Peninsula - New Zealand travelogue for November 2007, covering Taranaki on the North Island and a trip around South Island
Wine of the Central Otago region - Commentary and notes on wine from the Central Otago region of the south island of New Zealand
Wine tour in Central Otago - New Zealand travelogue for November 2007, covering Taranaki on the North Island and a trip around South Island
Oamaru - a brief history of Hotel Brydone - A short history of the Hotel Brydone in Oamaru
New Zealand - recommended luxury accomodation - Recommended luxury accomodation inNew Zealand
Central Otago Winegrowers Association - Official website of the Central Otago Winegrowers Association
Queenstown - Official website of Destination Queenstown
Mark Sukhija is a travel and wine blogger, photographer, tourism researcher, hat-touting, white-shirt-wearing, New Zealand fantatic and eclipse chaser. Aside from at least annual visits to New Zealand, Mark has seen eclipses in South Australia (2002), Libya (2006), China (2009) and Queensland (2012). After twelve years in Switzerland, Mark moved back to London in 2012. You can follow Mark on Twitter or Facebook