In my previous post (here), we touched base in the Queenstown region and started exploring New Zealand’s South Island.
Now the adventure continues and we’ll start the road trip properly.
In this post, I’ll give more space for the picture and try, I said try 🙂 to be more concise with the text.
The future belongs to those who get up early, they say
Those who know me will know that I’m not the early-bird kind of person.
Yet, sleeping in a 6 beds mixed-dorm, that smells like dirty feet, and sounds like a concerto for snoring in D minor, will help you to wake up earlier 😉
After preparing my traditional breakfast in the shared kitchen, that was even messier than the dorm, and packed my stuff and headed out to load the car. This done, I went to Ferbaker, to get a coffee to go and buy some sourdough bread for my picnic.
Last item on my list of things to do in Queenstown was the Queenstown Gardens. Perfect for an early morning walk and get the body and mind ready for the day.
This is also a very popular running route among the locals, if you’re into that!
For those Interested, you can also go on a cruise on an old steamer, the TSS Earnslaw (more info here).
After a short stroll to the point, where I took the opportunity to snap a few snapshots of the pristine blue waters of Lake Wakatipu, I set off.
The decision was made not to spend a second night in Queenstown. Since I felt I’d seen it “all”.
What next? Head straight for Wanaka?
Or maybe explore a little further along the lake towards Glenorchy.
A quick glance at the map told me that it would take me about 45 minutes to reach Glenorchy. So I could turn back and reach Wanaka again in the afternoon if necessary. The journey would take about 2 hours.
So Glenorchy it is!
After a quick stop at the grocery store to buy some food for the picnic, I jumped in the car and set off in the direction of Glenorchy.
The lights had already started to change and I knew it would be great for the pictures.
After 25min or so, I found a nice rest area to stop and get some calories.
I’m not going to lie, I could have stopped every 100m, so many viewpoints deserved to be photographed. Yet, I also knew that I wouldn’t have sooo much time to do that, if I wanted to reach Wanaka the same day. Of course I would still have the options to sleep in Glenorchy or make a stop over in Queenstown….again. But I didn’t feel like it.
But I mean, common!! Those waters, changing with the lights… out of this world scenery.
I could clearly notice however that the closer I got to Glenorchy, the cloudier the sky was.
In New Zealand, weather can change in an instant. That’s why you always need to be prepared, and have all-seasons gear, or at least a fleece and a hardshell.
I arrived in Glenorchy around 1pm. On my way to park the car, I spotted a nice coffee shop, Akin. Perfect!
After indulging a more than decent late, I headed towards the wharf to snap a few pic.
I rapidly realized that there were not much to do in Glenorchy, unless you were aiming for an outdoor activity (horse ride, canyoning, etc.)
So after drinking my coffee and stretching my legs, I decided to push my luck and continue towards Paradise.
More than a name, it sounded almost like a promise.
The drive would take another 20min, on a gravel road that was, according to the guide, good enough for a SUV.
The weather had changed for the “worse” and it started to rain. But anyway, I wanted to see with my own eyes.
However, arriving on site, I realized that there was literally nothing excect for a few farms.
So I snapped a pic and decided to drive all the way to Wanaka.
The road to Wanaka
To drive to Wanaka from Queenstown, you can either take the Gibbston Highway, via Cromwell. Or take the “high” road, the Crown Range Rd.
I took the 2nd option and it didn’t disappoint. Somewhere in the middle, I stopped to take a picture of a magnificent rainbow in the distance.
And as magical as it sounded, the rain stopped and the lights changed, letting way for a very vivid scenery.
The rest of the drive was equally as nice, yet the scenery became flatter. I arrived in Wanaka in the late afternoon.
As I didn’t have any reservation, I had to find one for the night. One of the perks of those smartphone with unlimited data. It gives you the freedom to browse the world from the palm of your hand 😉
A quick search on the booking platform, and I found a good motel for around 200 NZD/night, the Wanaka Hotel. I was quite surprised by the avg price/night of all the remaining accommodations available. I was expecting cheaper prices at this time of the year.
However, luck being on my side, I happened to be in the vicinity during one of the busiest time of the year. In March each year takes place the Wanaka A&P Show, one of New Zealand’s largest agricultural, pastoral & community events! So the city was packed and many hotels already fully booked.
But the one I found was good, with a shared kitchen, a laundry, a restaurant near by, and a liquor store where they had Chartreuse! Cannot make this stuff up 🙂 !
And in any case, after the rough night in the hostel in Queenstown, I was dying to have my own room. I’m probably too old for shared dorm… However, story will tell but I will have an even worse night in a 12-bed shared dorms in Christchurch 😀
After a hot shower and a quick phone call with Switzerland, I headed out for dinner.
On my way to the hotel, I had spotted a Korean Eating House, Shinaburo. However, it was fully booked and they couldn’t even squeeze me in a corner.
So I settled on another alternative, also Asian. Right accros the road from the hotel: WanaFusion. Tasty and affordable…for Wanaka.
I had a nice little chat with the waiter, a young French guy from Savoy.
Many foreigners, often Europeans, come to New Zealand for a bit of time. During the first part of their stay, the work, mostly in hospitality jobs. And then with the money earned, they travel for a few months.
Even though he was fairly new to the region, he gave me a few pointers on things to do/see.
Once again, my belly full, I set off for the hotel, with a view to getting up early in the morning to make the most of the day.
So I’ll leave you here for tonight, and see you tomorrow for further adventures on the South Island, which once again won’t disappoint.
Next part of the South Island Adventures can be found -> here <-