Wanaka, Queenstown

Our next destination was Wanaka. The road followed the coast (again an spectacular route) and the Haast River up to the Haast Pass.
Our first big stop was Knight Point from where the view down to the sea is really amazing.

But also the route along the the river was stunning. Its intense turqoise colour was just fascinating. We made rest at the Thunder Falls.

Oli couldn't resist climbing on the huge boulders at Gates to Haast (also called Gates to Hell for it was a dangerous place for early settlers...).

Where is Oli? @ Gates to Haast

The Blue Pool sparkled awesomely in the shining sun and had a colour that we can't find words for it.

After the Pass the road followed the border of Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea.

This place reminded us a little of Davos with its smell of pine trees and the beautiful lake.

Today we drove the short way to Queenstown. This is the centre of New Zealands wintersport and in summer it's all about outdoor sport as well.

On the road to Queenstown

We took a small road which leaded us to "Glenorchy the door to Paradise". The road has many narrow curves and leads at the border of Lake Wakatipu up to Glenorchy. From there a even smaller road, that is in the end only a sandpist, leads up to Paradise. (Again a filmset for Lord of the Rings (Lothlórien))

View in direction of Glenorchy

Back in Queenstown we enjoyed a walk in the Queenstown Garden.