Wanaka

We picked up our rental car in Queenstown, which provided our first experience driving on the other side of the road. Paul did the driving, but it was an interesting experience even just being in the passenger seat. We took the Cardrona Mountain Range route through the mountains, a windy path across mountains. In Wanaka, we stayed in an apartment equipped with a kitchen and had our first experience grocery shopping in New Zealand. It was an interesting experience, as there are aspects that made us feel like we were in the US (American music playing overhead, Hollywood stars splashed on magazine covers), yet totally different brands and unique products stocked on the shelves. The next morning, Paul made us some egg omlettes for breakfast, and we then headed into town to figure out a good hiking option for our day.

We decided on a challenging hike up Mt Roy, which is described as a “taxing, winding tramp.” The views of Lake Wanaka and the surrounding mountains became increasingly beautiful as we ascended. And the panoramic views from the summit were breathtaking in all directions. There were many sheep along the trail, so we had our first close encounters with them. Some of them even responded to my attempts at sounding like a sheep, which was pretty amusing. I was tired by the time we made it down, but overall it was an amazing hike. The next morning we took a stroll along the coast of Lake Wanaka. We then walked around the Rippon Winery, which had a scenic setting right on the mountain-surrounded lake.