Lake Wanaka

Today's the day .................. to cross the Alps

The spine of very high mountains that runs down the western side of South Island is called the Southern Alps - and today we crossed from west to east by way of the Haast Pass.

I suppose I was expecting a very scary, winding road with steep drops as we climbed higher and higher - but in actual fact we just seemed to follow river valleys and the road was always very good. Nothing has ever come close to the scariness of that road over Takaka Hill (an understatement if ever there was one) the day we went to Farewell Spit!

The scenery was completely awe-inspiring - and in addition, the sky was the deepest blue with just the right amount of cloud. We just had to keep stopping to take pictures. Most of the peaks that you could see were 1000ft or more higher than Ben Nevis - and you could see them in a 360 degree arc. And then - for me really quite an emotional moment - Lake Wanaka came into view.

Lake Wanaka is a place which is often photographed by New Zealand blippers - and rightly so because it is just the most beautiful lake. I have enjoyed looking at it through their eyes - but now I could see it for myself.....................