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photography, travel, nature, South Island, New Zealand, lake, scenery, beauty, landscape, fall, colors, Instagram, tree, mountains, Otago, Scottish inspired cities and towns, Otago Peninsula, Fiordland, Mount Aspiring, national parks, Lake Wakatipu, Lake Wanaka, Clutha River, Waikato River, Glenorchy, Clyde, Scottish heritage, Queenstown, SH1, The Pines Resort, Dungarvon Street, Subway, New World, Roy's Peak, biking, leaves, Wanaka, gold miners, Ruby Island, watersports, SH6, Lake Hawea, Hawea, sheeps, Makarora, Backpackers
If the Otago Region was a girl she would be a very engaging sort from a good Scottish background and good-looking in all forms I would say. Her height and her build can be likened to the towering peaks of Fiordland and Mount Aspiring national parks in the west, to the gently rolling hills, harbors and golden beaches of the Otago Peninsula to the east. Her two large blue eyes would be Lake Wakatipu and Lake Wanaka which you could not miss. And down her entire length carves the vein of New Zealand’s second longest river, the Clutha (322km) after Waikato River (425km) located at North Island being the longest river in the whole of New Zealand. Her personality varies too: from the student city buzz of Dunedin to the quiet whispers of Glenorchy or Clyde. Otago is down-to-earth and definitely wears her heart on her sleeve. She has distinct moods which change with the seasons: cold and snowy in winter; miserable with rain in spring; and boasting beautiful golden hues in autumn and towards fall which we visited. Otago owes her considerable pedigree to her predominantly Scottish heritage and the discovery of gold, a resource that was once her lifeblood. Now, though, Otago pumps fast and furious with sheer adrenaline. Although her head is in Dunedin, there is no doubt her heart beats in Queenstown – the adventure sports capital of the world. Let me tell you that Otago is not only pretty, she clearly knows how to have a good time thus you would too.
After a 6 long hours drive via SH1 from Christchurch the next morning, it seems like the tires of our car have worn-out having traveled about 424 kilometers. If the tires did not complain, I would. Not in a bad way, of course, because the anticipation I was feeling just knows no bound. I wanted to jump down from the car, huff and puff and scream to announce our arrival at The Pines Resort in Dungarvon Street, Wanaka. The skies already showed signs that it was past evening and after checking-in at the reception, we took the keys and headed up the terracotta stairs to Unit 8. To cut the night short, we drove out to the town center within 3 minutes to grab 2 portions of lamb kebab with chips and a 12 inches Subway sandwich. Found New World Supermarket, so we bought plenty of groceries to stock up the kitchen as well.
Feeling well-rested sleeping on a electric-heated bed, we woke up to the stunning mountain vistas of Roy’s Peak, our eyes greedily taking in the view and it was a moment where you just go, “Wow!”.
I guess it is this huge pine tree, hence The Pines Resort…
Wanaka is almost unfeasibly pleasant and has to rank as one of the most desirable places in New Zealand. With the lake of the same name lapping rhythmically as its heels and its picture-postcard mountain backdrops – bordering as it does the Mount Aspiring National Park – it is easy to understand why Wanaka is such a superb place to visit, or indeed live. In recent years Wanaka has seen a boom in both real estate sales and tourism, but it is reassuring that its manic neighbor, Queenstown, will always keep growth in check. As it is, Wanaka is just perfect: not too busy, not too quiet; developed not spoilt, and a place for all to enjoy. Although you would never guess it, Wanaka’s history goes back to the 1860s when it played an important role as a service center for the region’s itinerant gold miners. Today, its principal resources are activities and its miners are tourists. Year-round, there is a multitude of things to do from watersports and tramping in summer to skiing in winter. But for us it has been the perfect place to relax and recharge our batteries beside the lake. Wanaka is that kind of town.
Wanaka town center borders the very pretty Roy’s Bay that opens out beyond Ruby Island into the southern and indented bays of Lake Wanaka. The lake, which is 274 meters above sea level and over 45 kilometers long, occupies an ancient glacier bed. The aesthetics speaks for themselves, but the glistening waters are also a prime attraction for boaties, water-skiers, kayakers and windsurfers. However, even before you consider these activities, I am damn sure that you will find yourself simply admiring its beauty more than anything from Wanaka’s attractive lakefront.
North of Wanaka on SH6 towards the west coast is Lake Hawea and the small holiday settlement of Hawea. Lake Hawea, like its neighbor Lake Wanaka, occupies an ancient glacier valley, and only a narrow strip of moraine known as ‘The Neck’ separates the two. Lake Hawea is noted for its remote upper reaches, 35 kilometers north of Hawea settlement. The lake level was raised by 18 meters in 1958 as part of the Clutha River hydropower system. Hawea itself nestles on its southern shore and, although a fairly new settlement, was formerly the site of an important and strategic Maori pa (a forfeited residential area).
From Lake Hawea and the narrow Neck we revisited Lake Wanaka and head north through some beautiful Scottish scenery to its northern edge and a small settlement of Makarora. At about 67 kilometers from Wanaka, and almost on the border of the Otago and west coast regions, Makarora acts as the portal to the northern tramps and activities within Mount Aspiring National Park. The village itself offers little except a small conglomerate of tourist services reflecting the desires of most visitors who either pass through quickly like us or head for the hills. Therefore, it was the typical stopover-for-quickshots way of traveling in New Zealand.
Instagram pictures below:
Next post we will move a step closer to the heart of Otago – Queenstown. But before that you shall first take in the former goldrush settlement of the humble Arrowtown. So stay tuned for more.
