Leaving Manapouri was a sad day I really loved it there but it was time to leave and see something new. We headed off to Queenstown that we had heard so much about.
The drive there was beautiful, Queenstown felt like a little town nestled away in the hills on the banks of a beautiful lake. I can totally see why backpackers arrive and stay for longer than expected as there is so much to do from sky diving to jet boating and much more.
We walked around and visited the famous Fergburger where we gazed at the insane line of tourists awaiting their meat fix.
The next part of our journey took us over the hills to lake Wanaka. Which I can only describe as being a calmer and quieter version of Queenstown but still having all the appeal. Lake Wanaka was gorgeous and we enjoyed a beer sitting on the banks.
The next morning we headed to the lake to Kayak. It was so still and peaceful with us being the only paddlers on the water. We always forget how much we love kayaking. We have managed to fit in a few paddles in New Zealand and want to do another hopefully next week as the water here is so beautiful.
In the afternoon we headed to a brewery for beer tasting.
Also they had an old fashioned popcorn machine which Nathan loved especially as he has given up chocolate like usual for lent and this was a treat he was able to have.
In the evening we were having a BBQ on the campsite and got chatting to a guy who was sharing the hot plate with us. He was a butcher and a really interesting guy. At the end of our conversation he gave us a massive beef salami that he makes himself, which was so kind and so delicious.
Everyone we have met here in New Zealand has been so lovely and friendly.
On Wednesday we started our drive to the Franz Josef Glacier and it was a stunning one. We made several stops in the Mount Aspiring National Park.
The first was a 30 minute hike to a gorgeous clear river.
The second was to see a waterfall.
The rainforest was gorgeous and covered in ferns.
When we arrived at Franz Josef we headed off on a hike to the Glacier. It was great as it was 6pm and no one else was on the track.
The Glacier was beautiful and like a real life version of the movie frozen! It was white, blue and glittery.
At the end of this hike was this fantastic quote.
'The Franz Josef Glacier is singularly beautiful, so beautiful indeed, and centred amidst such wild, exceptional and picturesque surroundings that if it were situated in any other country than New Zealand it would long ago have been acclaimed 'The most beautiful thing in the world' (E.E.Muir 1929)'
The following morning we went on a hike to Peters pool which is fascinating to take photos of as the mountains reflect in the water.
In the afternoon we went to the hot pools. We ended up spending 4 hours in the three pools there. The 36 degree pool was my favourite, the 40 degree one was too hot.
Nathan got showered first and then headed off to buy some orange juice while I took my shower. When I came out he said 'do you want the good or bad news!' Oh no! I thought he couldn't get orange juice. But I was very wrong what he followed his question up with was 'the car won't start' so what is the good news I asked 'I know what's wrong with it I left the lights on!'
So I sat in the drivers seat while we tried to roll the car down the hill to get it started, then Nathan realised this probably wouldn't work with an automatic car so we had to walk to the nearest garage where we rented the jump start kit and walked back to the car. Luckily we were so relaxed from the hot pools that even this didn't stress us out.
Lake Wanaka and Franz Josef were an amazing 4 days with such contrasting scenery you can't help but be impressed with the varied beauty of this Island.