Great Wanaka On A Central Otago Street Journey
Day three of my Central Otago highway journey didn’t begin effectively. Raining. Not precisely perfect for the primary deliberate exercise of the day, tandem paragliding.
Though the solar broke by, the winds on close by Coronet Peak had been too robust. One other day maybe.
As a substitute 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 finished their work effectively, yielding a smoother, gentler panorama, contorted solely sometimes the place more durable rocks have held out in opposition to the large 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
Provided 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 pictures 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 is just not fairly as much as the very best of them, however it’s shut sufficient.
Rippon Vinyard, Wanaka
My digs for tonight and the following had been at Wanaka Stonehouse, a BnB I discovered on Reserving.com. BnBs aren’t usually my gaff of alternative, the truth is that is most likely the primary time I’ve stayed in a single for years. I’m only a bit uncomfortable residing in another person’s home, preferring the anonymity and privateness of a resort or motel.
Shouldn’t have apprehensive, Hosts Alan and Noeline made me really feel proper at dwelling with their congenial, relaxed method.
Having over-indulged the night time 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 – all the time a superb signal – however after all of the downtime by Covid lockdowns I believe the administration was taken without warning staffing-wise. The poor lady 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 sluggish.
Though it took some time it the meals was value 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 superb night time’s sleep on a really comfy mattress.
