NZ Day 8 - Pools and Puzzles

Sunday, 9 April 2017

Today we didn’t have all that far to drive - just 100 or so kilometres into Wanaka - but we had a few stops to do on the way.  As we left the camp site we were treated to a beautiful view of the mountains with low cloud all around the base - but my camera couldn’t cope with the bright morning sun so here’s one from the night before (as it was just so nice)..

 

This is the van driving out of the campsite.. 

Our first planned stop was for a short hike up to Haast Saddle Lookout - It was a steep climb but lovely and quiet at the top and we were the only ones there.

Then it was onto Blue Pools - a 15 minute walk from the highway and we definitely weren’t the only ones there - the car park was heaving.  The attraction was the stunning clear blue pools that looked perfect for swimming. There were a few people there jumping off the swing bridge and into the water - every single one of them emerged swearing at the cold water.

  

Then it was a matter of just cruising into Wanaka. The road hugged Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea all the way and the views were spectacular.  

The sudden hustle and bustle of Wanaka was a bit of a shock but we found a good place to park the van for lunch and then it was just a short stroll to and a gelato shop.


The kids were keen to go to Puzzling World so we headed out there after lunch and it wasn’t too bad - Zali and I got sick of the maze after failing to find anything for half an hour (see us on the stairs in the photo below), but Jon and Jett persisted and emerged victorious an hour later!  

 

To celebrate our last night of campervanning we decided to go for a ‘freedom’ park - so were now about 10k outside of Wanaka in a lovely parking spot with a view of the sheep out the back window!

We left the kids to get to know them better while we went for a short run up a walking track nearby to lake then a lookout over Wanaka..

 

 

 Another fantastic day.

2017List
Cool things Wednesday, 3 May 2017
NZ Day 30 - Long Distance Final Sunday, 30 April 2017
NZ Day 28 - Rest Day 3 (HA!) Friday, 28 April 2017
NZ Day 27 - Long Qualifying 2 Friday, 28 April 2017
NZ Day 26 - Long Qualifying 1 Wednesday, 26 April 2017
NZ Day 25 - Rangitoto Island Tuesday, 25 April 2017
NZ Day 24 - Unexpected Outcomes Tuesday, 25 April 2017
NZ Day 23 - Sprint Qualifying Sunday, 23 April 2017
NZ Day 22 - Goodbye Rotorua, Hello Auckland Sunday, 23 April 2017
NZ Day 21 - Rest Day 2 (HA!) Saturday, 22 April 2017
NZ Day 20 - Rotorua Orienteering & Adrenaline Forest Thursday, 20 April 2017
NZ Day 19 - Rotorua Orienteering Thursday, 20 April 2017
NZ Day 18 - Rest Day (HA!) Tuesday, 18 April 2017
NZ Day 17 - Oceania Middle & Rotorua Tuesday, 18 April 2017
NZ Day 16 - Goodbye South Island Tuesday, 18 April 2017
NZ Day 15 - Milford Sound Saturday, 15 April 2017
Milford Track - Day 4 Saturday, 15 April 2017
Milford Track - Day 3 Saturday, 15 April 2017
Milford Track - Day 2 Saturday, 15 April 2017
Milford Track - Day 1 Saturday, 15 April 2017
NZ Day 9 - Pastries and Packing Saturday, 15 April 2017
NZ Day 8 - Pools and Puzzles Sunday, 9 April 2017
NZ Day 7 - More Glaciers & Amazing Views Sunday, 9 April 2017
NZ Day 6 - Gorges and Glaciers Friday, 7 April 2017
NZ Day 5 - Seals & Rocks Friday, 7 April 2017
NZ Day 4 - Old Ghost Road Wednesday, 5 April 2017
NZ Day 3 - Abel Tasman National Park Tuesday, 4 April 2017
NZ Day 2 - Hot Springs and Long Drives Monday, 3 April 2017
NZ Day 0 & NZ Day 1 Sunday, 2 April 2017
NZ (Planned) Wednesday, 29 March 2017