Lake Wanaka

A few of our friends (The Carey's and the Smith's) have been here.   They know about this lake and its surroundings.   It seems that New Zealand just keeps throwing something more spectacular than the last area we were in.   Lake Wanaka fits that.   It is stunning.  

It is a glacial lake formed in 10,000 BC.   It runs for 50 km north and south, from the small town of Wanaka at its southern base to the foothills of Mt. Aspiring.   We left the West Coast of NZ yesterday, and followed the Haast River up to the NZ continental divide, and crossed down to the east slope of the NZ Alps.   Our boat trip on the Waiatoto River yesterday was on the western slope of Mt. Aspiring, now we were looking across Lake Wanaka at its eastern side.  

Once across the divide, the views of Lake Wanaka were just beautiful.   I am hoping that Bob Speckman can paint one of these.   The water is the prettiest blue, and there was not an ounce of wind.   We had perfect weather, so all that is left is to share some of these pictures of this part of New Zealand.

Our walk this morning along the shores of the lake, with Mt. Aspiring in the distance.

A California Redwood that was planted here around 1870 along the shore of Lake Wanaka.  It took 20 long steps to walk around the base.    Notice it is the Weeping Redwood, as you can see it branches sag.

It's sister is planted 50 yards away. It is the more traditional Sequoia Redwood.   The perfect Christmas Tree.

Wanaka is a cool little town, that reminds me of Vail or Aspen.   It is full of young folks who are backpacking, or camping around the shores of the lake, walking the many miles of trails that present themselves, or sunning on the beach a block from town.  It is also the playground of the rich, as there are some beautiful homes along the western shore of the lake.   All in all a place to be.