Time for another road trip

It has been a while since the days off were aligned in our house. Actually it is going to happen again next weekend thanks to a public holiday. But that is an adventure yet to unfold.

This weekend almost gone, it was decided that we would road trip to Wanaka. So early on Saturday morning we set off. Five hours or so the guide said it would take. It was actually a little more than that with a few stops for drinks and photos along the way. 

Last time we had made the drive as far as Omarama it had been winter so the scenery was quite different. Then it was blue water, blue skies and snow covered mountains. 

This time everything on the way was parched and brown - thanks to no rain and drought conditions throughout the region.

By the time we got to Wanaka we were hot and grumpy and hungry. So after we settled in to the motel we went for a drive to see what we could see. We didn't find much in the way of shops or food, but I think now we just timed it wrong. Maybe next time. But we took some pretty great photos. (just sayin'..)

This morning we got up extra early and drove to Queenstown via Arrowtown. This was by far a more spectacular drive and one everyone should try to do. It would be truly amazing in winter, but then you would also have to contend with chains, or at worst closed roads as well. We liked the vibe in Queenstown, it felt busier as opposed to quiet Wanaka. We had a bit of a look around and breakfast from that US Embassy found most places around the world, then started our homeward journey via Cromwell back to Omarama and then down the Waitaki Valley to the coast just south of Timaru.

What a whirlwind trip ! But I did see a few places I'd like to go back and spend time exploring, one day.

Favourite photo this roadie ?? 

This one.

P.S. - no photoshopping on any of these - the colours were exactly these !! Amazing.