Day 27: Lakes and Mountains

The South Island scenery is indeed very different from North Island and today we began our adventure into its lakes and mountains.  We spent some time advising Lorraine and Doug about Scotland as they are visiting in September, and we hope to catch up with them in the Lake District.
Then, goodbyes complete, we drove in to Timaru for a brief look at Caroline Bay before enjoying very good drinks and muffins at Sopheze Cafe where the staff were all dressed in bright orange and black with some bizarre accessories!

Then it was off to the supermarket and petrol station and we were off, driving north west out of Timaru.  We passed through Norma's home town of Pleasant Point and then continued on very straight roads with little traffic towards the mountains, through Fairlie and on to Lake Tekapo.

Tekapo contains glacial sugars so it is a beautiful turquoise colour and very stunning, fringed by mountains and forest.

We had an excellent quiche and cuppa in 'Run 76' to be recommended, and then took a walk to the shore to enjoy the view.

We decided to drive up to Mt John Observatory which overlooks the lake and town.  It is on the top of a hill accessed by a single track 'alpine road, twisty and steep with fall offs at the side.  Thankfully, Oscar the Van (and Tony!) rose to the occasion and we didn't meet anyone coming down on the trickiest sections. (There is a small charge  of NZD5 for using this access road)

The Observatory offers all kinds of tours and stargazing but for those visiting during the day time the 360 degree views are stunning.  Below was the shimmering, opalescent Lake Tekapo and the village in miniature at this distance.

Further round were the vast high plains which stretched far away to the Mt Cook range and then further round was Lake Alexandrina, a deep blue in colour, in contrast to Tekapo, because this does not contain those glacial sugars.

After waiting a verrrrry long time for a cuppa in the Astro Cafe, we inched our way back down the mountain and then we were on to the road to Lake Pukaki, another breathtakingly beautiful turquoise lake with views right up to Mt Cook at the northern end.

It seems to be a tradition for brides to have their wedding photos by NZ lakes, but who could blame them!?

So tonight we are once again wild camping, at the southern end of the lake with many other folks in camper vans and cars who share our idea of a great place to pull in for the night.  It is now 'blowing a hoolie' as Lorraine would say, and colder than it has been on previous nights, so we are tucked up in bed in our van, listening to the wind and also the waves lapping on the rocks below Oscar the Van.  I wonder if it will be a good sunrise in the morning?