Haast: We're almost at the glaciers
Trip Start
May 07, 2008
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13
17
Trip End
May 20, 2008
Haast,
New Zealand
Saturday, May 17, 2008
We began our trip to Haast with a stop at Arrowtown. Arrowtown is approximately 20mins drive from Queenstown. It has beautiful restored and some new created buildings and is just exquisite. We wondered around the shops, before deciding on the Arrowtown Ice Cream Shop for breakfast. Ok, we did not have icecream, but each indulged in coffee and a muffin out of the oven......ohmigod they were to die for. Make sure you don't miss out on that experience. We also visited the Sweet Shop and it smelled awesome. We were also told dutifully that the current temperature was -2 degrees......and it was 9.30am!!!!!!! A few purchases later and.....we discovered that there is a site of an old Chinese Settlement area for tourists to understand a little history of Arrowtown. We wondered around the settlement, marvelling also at the FROZEN leaves and ice......as close to snow that you want to get when you are not properly dressed (make sure you put on your thermals BEFORE leaving Queenstown as it's too late when you arrive in Arrowtown).
From Arrowtown, we took the shorter and much steeper route to Wanaka via the Coronet Mountains....very scenic, but very windy and currently with lots of roadworks. Worth the view though. A short time later, we were at Wanaka. Lovely lakes and a bustling little town. We did order takeaway coffee at the Virtues Cafe, though it took about 20mins to make (they did however redeem themselves by selling Rocket sauce......).
Next, we made our way to Haast (on the edge of the glaciers), via the Haast Pass (the meeting of Lake Wanaka, Lake Hawea, Mt Brewester and a few others) with fabulous "Gates of Haast " (a bridge) to experience. So here we are, having a relaxing afternoon (we both indulged in some fush and chups for lunch). Natalie will now study; Natasha will do some work. Indiana Jones is on tonight at 7.30pm so we'll be rugged up watching that (not much to do in Haast though may go for a short afternoon walk soon - Natalie's hiking boots are still doing a fabulous job; Natasha's are not). Ciao.
