Upon leaving Franz Joseph, we took in a scenic view of New Zealand's Southern Alps from Lake Mattheson. On a good day, you're suppose to be able to see a great reflection of the mountains (including Mt. Cook) because the lake is well protected. Unfortunately it was overcast when we were there.
Another scenic stop was at Roaring Billy Falls, where the photo opps were plentiful. Due to the mineral content of the glacier water, the river appeared a brilliant bluish-green. I'd never seen a river such a color before – quite amazing. It felt like we had the whole valley to ourselves (there were only 3 of us on the bus for this leg).
We reached the pretty town of Wanaka, set on a lake by the same name. It's a popular holiday destination for Kiwis, and I heard it was amazing in the winter too. I love the photo below. I can't imagine a skate park set in a more picturesque location.
As there isn't much going on in Wanaka at night, I took in a movie at the local theater. It was attached to a cafe which allowed you to bring beer, coffee, and food into the show. The seats were all recliners, sofas, and even a VW for that drive-in feel. The movie was Eastern Promises about the Russian mob in London.
Planning a trip? Go Backpacking uses and recommends:
- G Adventures for small group tours
- Skyscanner for researching flights
- Hostelworld for booking hostels
- Airbnb for renting rooms and homes
- Rail Europe for train passes
- World Nomads for travel insurance
The movie brings back great memories for me. While at Harvard, a favorite weekend activity was a double (triple or quadruple)feature at the local “movie bar”. The movies were old, but the beer was cold and the pizza was hot.
Also, in the day, there was a NYC club where all the seats were from cars and the movies interesting!
The movie brings back great memories for me. While at Harvard, a favorite weekend activity was a double (triple or quadruple)feature at the local “movie bar”. The movies were old, but the beer was cold and the pizza was hot.
Also, in the day, there was a NYC club where all the seats were from cars and the movies interesting!