Day 34: A Fine Lunch and Scary Drop-Offs

Thankfully, the forecast change in weather did not arrive and we had another glorious day in Wanaka.  We both think this would be a great place to live.  There is much that is healthy and outdoory happening here and the possibilities seem endless, without the mania which accompanies Queenstown.

We had another leisurely start to the day and then got on the bikes, planning to do an easy route to Waterfall Creek and then back alongside in the opposite direction.  This track was wide and well surfaced and came with the usual beautiful views of lake and mountains beyond.

However, once we reached Waterfall Creek (no obvious waterfall in existence) we were tempted to continue on to the Glendhu Bay track which the book (and rainie) had told us was intermediate level with drop-offs on the lakeside, sharp turns and much upping and downing.  All of these things it was but generally the track was well surfaced and the views just kept on coming.

It was hard work in places but well worth it for the solitude and the landscape, the ever present mountains across the lake; deep blue water; rolling hills and varied vegetation and lots of viewpoints to stop and enjoy.

My legs had enough one bay short of Glendhu and Tony said he would carry on for another fifteen minutes then turn back.  I spent the time at Damper Bay, contemplating the view, paddling and taking arty farty photos of driftwood (!)  I also spotted a second skink and had a chat to it before it disappeared beneath some driftwood.

Tony returned, having reached Glendhu Bay, and we retraced our route, barely seeing above half a dozen people on the track.  It was well after lunchtime at this point so, spotting a sign for good coffee, we turned off through beautifully manicured lawn, to arrive at a posh hotel, the Edgewater resort.  Despite our dusty clothes and bikes they did not bat an eyelid and we quickly decided that we would stay for lunch.  Tony ordered a BLT on focaccia and I ordered the halloumi salad, and both were delicious.  My salad had red quinoa, beetroot, chick peas, braised courgette and the halloumi with a pepper sauce, beautifully presented and delicious.

We sat outside, bikes propped up on the lawn, with a view down to Lake Wanaka, feeding the spadgers bits of chip - marvellous!

Afterwards we rode back to the campsite and Tony took Oscar the Van off to town to fill up on diesel whilst I cleaned the bike chains (!) then we had a walk in to Wanaka to post my cards and pick up a couple of things.

The weather is set to change tonight and Tony's heli hike on sunday may be cancelled, we shall see as the weather is a fickle thing here and often very localised.  Tomorrow we have a long drive to Fox Glacier, where we were going to ride up to the foot of the glacier, and then drive on to Franz Josef, but we shall have to see what the weather brings.  The holiday is going fast now, this time next week we will have completed the first day at the New Zealand Champs and be parked up at St Arnaud.  The wind is rising outside, time to brush teeth and turn in!