Fantastic Wanaka On A Central Otago Highway Journey

Day three of my Central Otago highway journey didn’t begin effectively. Raining. Not precisely ideally suited for the primary deliberate exercise of the day, tandem paragliding.

Though the solar broke by means of, the winds on close by Coronet Peak have been too robust. One other day maybe.

As an alternative it was off to Wanaka, a summer season and winter resort city that gazes out north over the eponymous lake to a spread of mountains in each shade of blue.

In comparison with the Wakatipu area additional south, centred on  Queenstown, this area has softer, extra rounded landforms.  Right here the traditional glaciers have achieved their work effectively, yielding a smoother, gentler panorama, contorted solely often the place tougher rocks have held out in opposition to the huge grinding forces of the ice. Iconic Mt Aspiring is an efficient instance or this tough rock resistance.

As elsewhere in Central Otago, the poplars and willows that line the lake’s edge render autumn a vibrant  time.

View of Mt Aspiring From Glendhu Bay, Lake Wanaka

On condition that that is that “vibrant time” it was off round to Glendhu Bay, about 10km west of the township  from whence among the iconic Wanaka photographs have come. A motor camp stretches alongside the bay and never surprisingly it was chocker with camper vans and tents.

One other well-known Wanaka picture is the winery at Rippon Wines. My shot shouldn’t be fairly as much as one of the best of them, however it’s shut sufficient.

Rippon Vinyard, Wanaka

My digs for tonight and the following have been at Wanaka Stonehouse, a BnB I discovered on Reserving.com. BnBs usually are not usually my gaff of alternative, in truth that is in all probability the primary time I’ve stayed in a single for years. I’m only a bit uncomfortable dwelling in another person’s home, preferring the anonymity and privateness of a lodge or motel.

Shouldn’t have nervous, Hosts Alan and Noeline made me really feel proper at house with their congenial, relaxed method.

Having over-indulged the evening earlier than at The Cow in Queenstown – I actually ought to have left the final two or three items of that pizza however it was simply soooo good – I went on the lookout for one thing a lot lighter and located it at Gusto, a Chinese language restaurant.

It was packed – at all times a very good signal – however after all of the downtime by means of Covid lockdowns I think the administration was taken unexpectedly staffing-wise. The poor girl on the desk was dealing with telephone orders in between racing between tables, meals in hand, when she wasn’t clearing away dishes. She made the well-known one-armed paperhanger look gradual.

Though it took some time it the meals was price wait. A vegetable soup chocker with still-crisp veges adopted by black pepper beef stir fry, I’m positive my intestine biome appreciated the change.

Again to the BnB and a very good evening’s sleep on a really comfy mattress.