We explore a bit in the area

Lots of these plants here

Morgans Island, I’ve got to kayak there some time

Interesting skies

Beautiful area

Whilst driving around we get to this place, we want to go left, see what’s up there, but hold on, there’s a sign!

Ok, clearly this sign means you can’t go past this (locked anyway) fence, right?

Surely it’s not meant for this road, or they would have put in perpendicular to that road and preferrably to the left of the road?

Well, the road leads to this fish farm and we were told off for driving on a road we were not allowed to drive on, as per the sign. Kiwis and signs… it’s a bad combination, always open to interpretation, never clear

And where I was able to drive this road towards Lake Tekapo in earlier years that too is now forbidden, more and more and more restrictions, if it isn’t farmers closing everything off it’s power companies, not good

On the west side of Lake Tekapo, looking back to Lake Tekapo (the village that goes by the same name as the lake)

Looking east towards the Two Thumbs Range

A friendly sign by a farmer, they are so nice

About as far north as we could go on this side of Lake Tekapo

Cass River

We ended up at Lake McGregor, it looks cold and it is cold, very strong wind too

Lake Alexandrina, way less wind here

Strange combination here of old run down batches and flash new ones like this one

Because of some fire hazard we can’t cook at our tent, we must cook here, which is as good as impossible because of the wind that comes from all directions, last time we’ll camp here, that’s for sure

Lake Middleton, there used to be a nice forest here but they’ve cut it down to build batches for rich folk

Ben Ohau Range

Rachel overlooking Lake Ohau

The road going up to the Ohau skifield

Me

Lake Ruataniwha

This too

Lots of activity here

Pipes filled with water going to

the Ohau A Power Station

All this water flows into (becomes) Lake Ruataniwha which in turn flows into Lake Benmore and beyond

I wish I could have a look inside one of these power stations

Another nice day for gliding too

Bird

The mighty Jimny

Lake Cameron

Lake Poaka, it’s warm and we feel like a swim

So we have one

This very cute bird kept following us, is it a Starling?

The lavender farm, I was here before with Jasper, back then it was free but now of course you have to pay to watch the lavender from up close

Rachel enjoying a lavender honey ice cream, I have to admit they are good

Today’s camping spot at Lake Pukaki, me cooking dinner

Rachel enjoying that dinner

What a view, and it’s free!

Clouds hugging the mountains

The sky opens up over Lake Pukaki

Pukaki Power Station

Ben Ohau Range across the lake

Mushrooms

I would have thought it a bit early in the season for mushrooms but clearly not

I’ve never actually seen this before, how mushrooms push their way up through the soil

Ben Ohau Range, now seen from the west

Neumann Range

Rachel taking photos

Navigating the Hopkins Valley Track

With its beautiful little waterfalls

That are very difficult to take photos of with no room or solid ground for a tripod

I kept waiting for a fall, but no

That backpack looks like it was designed for a dwarf

More Neumann Range

The Huxley River

Lovely clear water, too cold to swim in though

Rachel on the swingbridge crossing the Huxley River

Shame it’s late in the day already, we need to head back soon

Ok, me on the swingbridge too

Just the swingbridge

Still Neumann Range in the background

Rachel ready for the walk back

One more photo of the waterfall

Monument Hut, here we stay for the night

The moon is getting ready

Nice!

Just to be clear: that’s the moon, not the sun, and there are stars visible

See? Stars

The Rakaia and Mt Hutt in the distance

The mighty Jimny, ready for it’s first big adventure

They’re in for a fun ride on the Rakaia

Burkes Pass, not just a great place for a coffee or ice cream

But also to have a look at all the old stuff on display here

No sure if Dirty Bird is supposed to be Woody Woodpecker but I definitely recognize Wile E. Coyote

Rachel is stoked to find an apple tree in Tekapo

The view from our first camping spot, at Lake Pukaki, Mt Cook in the distance

Finally some time to read the paragliding magazine

Lots, and I mean LOTS, of insects in the air today. Hundreds of dead butterflies all over the car, especially headlights and windscreen

The drone is capturing some great views, last year we camped just opposite that little island

It’s good to have some option to freedom camp here

Lots of great little camp spots here

Rachel doing the dishes

The sun is almost gone, leaving us with a beautiful orange purple sky

And the moon

Mt Cook looking great today

The Pukaki High Dam

Where water flows out of the lake

and a little further downstream into the Pukaki River which in turn flows into Lake Benmore

And this is Lake Benmore and it’s hot and we’d like to cool off

And so we do, what a lovely refreshing swim that was

This is at the Falstone Campground

We continue our track further south, down Falstone Road, just to see what’s there

And it’s beautiful!

Lovely little beaches

Lots of ducks

These funny looking things

Time for a nap in the shade, the great thing about this car is that is has so much space, this is the first time we were able to fit those chairs in the car and they are soooo relaxing

The road ended at some farm and so we had to turn back, this is one of the little bays at Lake Benmore on the drive out again

The Ohau B Power Station

This is one of the two bridges you need to cross to make it over the Rakaia: the flood channel bridge

This is the other one: the Rakaia Gorge Bridge and it’s unique

People enjoying the Rakaia

Later in the afternoon: Lake Pukaki with Mt Cook in the distance

We decide to camp here and enjoy the view, it’s hot today

The X-Trail is a great workhorse and took us places my Polo would have trouble getting to

Some photos takes with the drone

Lovely place to camp

Clear waters

Morgan’s Island

Life’s good

Mt Cook again

Lovely sunset

The moon reflecting in Lake Pukaki