After almost two years of Corona still not many countries allow travellers to come in without any restrictions, nor would they put any requirements on their presence like a longer quarantine period. Peru was one of the few exceptions, no PCR test needed, no quarantine, and a lot of interesting places to visit, like Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca or the Amazonas river and rainforest. So we decided to go there.

We found a KLM flight of only 15h from Berlin via Amsterdam to Lima and were lucky to have found a very nice apartment on the 12^th floor at the beach. Travelling light, I only had my backpack, a daypack and my brand new Canon 850D SLR camera.

But I hadn’t even set a foot into the apartment yet when I noticed that my luggage wasn’t complete anymore. My backpack was in the booth of the taxi, my daypack on the seat next to me, but where was the camera? Under the seat in front of me! But not in the Taxi but still in the airplane! NOOO! That can’t be true!

But I wasn’t dreaming. I hurried immediately back to the airport. Hardly anyone speaks English and entry wasn’t allowed without valid ticket. Somehow I managed to get into the airport. But no help. No KLM counter, no “Lost and Found”, no entrance into the baggage area. I was told to come back next day at 4pm, as all KLM people were gone. What a sad start of the holidays! So I went back to the apartment crying as I was sure there won’t be any camera tomorrow. On the next day I tried to get in contact with KLM by phone or social media but got no help. The people here speak Spanish only and my Spanish is poor, no one could help. Online they told me to go to the “Lost and Found”. Was there any?

I was tried to persuade the concierge in the lobby to make a phone call to the airport for me as I could not talk to them in Spanish. A flight assistant who was waiting for her taxi was listening and understood what I was trying to tell the concierge in English while he only spoke Spanish. She offered her help. She told me that there is, indeed, a lost and found area and she wrote down for me some sentences in Spanish explaining my situation and asking for the “Lost and Found”.

With that I went to the airport later at 4pm, and showed her writing to the security guys outside. It worked and they let me in, guided me to the information desk and from there to the “Lost and Found”. But my camera was not there.

They told me to speak to KLM directly but as they saw that I could not do that without having a working phone nor Spanish skills, they did the call for me. And really, they got hold of the KLM staff and handed the phone to me. The person on the phone spoke English and after some checks it turned out KLM really had found my camera! I was over the moon. A couple of minutes later a KLM person came with my camera and handed it back to me! I could not believe my luck! I was the happiest person in entire Peru that moment! I could hardly believe that I really held my camera in my hands again! We celebrated that evening with a nice meal and cocktail near Kennedy Park in the beautiful area of Miraflores.

The last stop on my travels before Corona made it come to an end for almost two years. Ever since I was hoping I could go again, and I never thought it will last that long. Still, it is not over. But some countries are open to tourists again, even though there are restrictions. Peru is one of them, so we went. It’s 2021 now.

• Rutherfords Den
• Gondola
• Selfguided City Tour
• Botanical Garden and Park
• Canterbury Museum
• Arakoa & Boat Tour

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Lorem Ipsum es simplemente el texto de relleno de las imprentas y archivos de texto. Lorem Ipsum ha sido el texto de relleno estándar de las industrias desde el año 1500, cuando un impresor (N. del T. persona que se dedica a la imprenta) desconocido usó una galería de textos y los mezcló de tal manera que logró hacer un libro de textos especimen. No sólo sobrevivió 500 años, sino que tambien ingresó como texto de relleno en documentos electrónicos, quedando esencialmente igual al original. Fue popularizado en los 60s con la creación de las hojas “Letraset”, las cuales contenian pasajes de Lorem Ipsum, y más recientemente con software de autoedición, como por ejemplo Aldus PageMaker, el cual incluye versiones de Lorem Ipsum.

Pancake Rocks

Lorem Ipsum es simplemente el texto de relleno de las imprentas y archivos de texto. Lorem Ipsum ha sido el texto de relleno estándar de las industrias desde el año 1500, cuando un impresor (N. del T. persona que se dedica a la imprenta) desconocido usó una galería de textos y los mezcló de tal manera que logró hacer un libro de textos especimen. No sólo sobrevivió 500 años, sino que tambien ingresó como texto de relleno en documentos electrónicos, quedando esencialmente igual al original. Fue popularizado en los 60s con la creación de las hojas “Letraset”, las cuales contenian pasajes de Lorem Ipsum, y más recientemente con software de autoedición, como por ejemplo Aldus PageMaker, el cual incluye versiones de Lorem Ipsum.

Hokitika

An orientation walk through the little town and its historical city center does not take long. Hokitika, located at the mouth of Hokitika River, has a few beautiful old buildings and a broad, dark sanded beach. The most impressive in terms of architecture I guess is the old cinema that somehow was preserved throughout the time even though there are hardly enough people to fill the impressive big showroom. I had to give it a try and bought a ticket to watch “The invisible man”. Unfortunately, their projector was as old as the cinema itself and the movie was blurry. But a new projector was on the way they said and it should be better soon.

Hokitika is full of galleries specialized in jewelry and handicrafts from Greenstone.  Greenstone was traditionally extracted from the Arahura River, which flows into the sea north of Hokitika. Jewelers, turners and potters also offer souvenirs in Hokitika. Another prominent point in Hokitika is the clock tower, the Hokitika Town Clock, and not far from there is the huge i-Site, the tourist information. There I had booked my trips to the Hokitika Gorge and the Scenic Waterways.

Hokitika Gorge

Hokitika Gorge is an amazing, maybe enchanted place about 33km east of Hokitika where the Hokitika River cut a narrow passage through the rocks of the mountains creating a place of unique natural beauty.  The most amazing thing about it seems to be the colour of the water: a stunning blue-green. To go there it needs a car or private transport as there is no public transport. As I did not have a car I was doomed to book the much overpriced private tour and paid 80$. It is definitely not worth that amount – the better option is to go and visit Arthurs point near Queenstown with a public bus (2$ and of similar natural beauty). But forgetting the price tag, it is a very beautiful place worth exploring. I could sit on a huge rock towering above the rushing waters watching it squeezing through the narrow gorge. The colour of the water was not the stunning blue-green but a milky blue-greyish colour due to the rain of the previous days that had flushed sediments from the mountains into the river. From the car park, I walked only a short walking track for a few minutes through a dense hardwood forest before emerging onto a suspension bridge crossing the river, and a viewing platform on the other side. There I could sit at the river’s edge, among many other tourists. But a new hiking trail was just under construction and very soon it should be possible to follow that 2km course along the river.

Driftwood

The most important event in Hokitika is the “Wildwoods Festival”, which takes place every year at the end of the summer. That is the time when people collect the driftwood and create amazing pieces of art along the wonderful broad Hokitika beach. When I was there the festival was long over but a lot of the artwork was still there. I have never seen a beach full of so much driftwood! And only on the second look, it reveals that the hands of artists put it there and arranged it the way it was. Very creative, beautiful, funny, impressive, lovely ideas put into wood and sand, big and small ones, masterpieces as well as amateur creations. Apart from the driftwoods,  the beach around Hokitika is wild, dark and beautiful, hence worth a stroll anyway. I went jogging a few kilometers up north where hardly anyone goes and where it’s just windy and wild – unforgettable!

Glow-Worm Dell

Talking about unforgettable things, Hokitika has another highlight: the Glow-worm Dell. It takes a walk of maybe 15 min to the outskirts of Hokitika, just at the roadside left-hand side, there is a path that leads to a place sheltered densely by trees. And there lives a massive population of glow-worms. It is free of charge to visit and anyone can just go there. Standing there at night is a unique experience: it is a really dark place, nearly black I would say, but amazingly above the head, there are those thousands of tiny glow-worms hanging from the trees. The trees are not visible at night, just blackness (I was not there during the day), and so one has the impression of a fascinating starry sky arching above.

Scenic Waterways

Another absolutely fascinating adventure was my kayak trip along the scenic waterways. Usually, there is a big boat that goes into those waterways where tourists are loaded onto the rooftop for a grand view during the exploration of the jungle and the wilderness along the waterways. But that boat was off duty for repair. But I could rent a kayak – even better! So I paddled my way along the Mahinapuha Creek, starting about 4km outside of Hokitika, proceeding all the way to the magnificent Lake Mahinapua. That lake is huge and of wonderful blue water. In the distance, the majestic snow-capped mountains rise. It was just me and the boat in the wilderness, no other tourists around. What a feeling! I had the whole river and the lake for myself. Incredible! The scenery is not from this world, an ancient jungle of trees and bushes, and loads of waterways cutting through, a rich birdlife and the sun mirroring on the silver-ish surface of the lake. The current in the waterways is very strong and the water is crystal clear, I nearly thought I could not paddle against it but it wasn´t a problem at all. The weather was very warm and sunny, I couldn’t have spent that day any better!

I saw the waterways again a few days later when I finally started cycling the Wilderness Trail to Ross as I crossed them on bridges while following old tramlines through the jungle.

Do as the locals do. So I rented a roller to get around in Chiang Rai. But my last ride on a motorbike was more than 20 years ago. The person who rented the bike to me immediately noticed my lack of experience and explained everything with an incredible smile.

I drove off and practised a little on less busy roads.  I did a few circles around a tiny lake on empty roads and soon I felt comfortable enough to drive off to my first destination. But I hadn’t practised turning yet. And these rollers have very small wheels and accelerate instantly with a jump. Trying to find my destination I went too far, wanted to turn and pfuuum, my first turn smashed me on the ground.

Thanks to some very helpful people I had immediate help and very professional first aid. Some wonderful friendly people nearby helped me to get up again and treated my injuries very professionally, gave me water and fruit. I was lucky: I no broken bones, just massive scratches and bruises on my right leg and a mild shock. My head was protected by the helmet.

The bike had some scratches too but no serious damages. I was riding the bike the rest of that day as well as the following days with my heart thumping like a hammer. But I managed it. The next day I went the same way back to those people who helped me so much to thank them with a big box of Merci chocolate.  

The wounds and bruises took some time to heal and I could not go swimming for more than a week, no pool, no snorkelling or diving. That was the hardest I think.

Early in the morning, I took the bus from Wanaka to Franz Joseph Glacier. This is a journey through the wild mountains of the west coast of the South Island of New Zeland, the Mount Aspiring National Park and Mount Cook National Park, along the picturesque Haast river, following the wild coastline of the Tasman Sea, through seemingly untouched wilderness, only interrupted by the tourist buses and camper vans.

On our journey, we stopped twice, first to have a look at the amazing Haast River and a driver change, then at the beach to get a feeling of the wild Tasman Sea. We finally passed Fox Glacier and arrived after 5h or so in Franz Josef. The bus driver said that hardly anyone would live here if it would not be for the tourists. The west coast is wet and windy and that’s why most people live north in the sunny town Nelson. They only come here for work. And so, Franz Josef is a very small town with hardly any attraction apart from its beautiful natural surroundings and the glacier.

There are two ways to explore and experience the glacier.  One way is to walk to its bottom end along the Waiho river to the point where the water leaves the ice shield. But that point is sometimes dangerous as the glacier moves and the hike was closed during the days I was there. The other way is to take one of the helicopter flights onto the glacier high up in the mountains.  Flights are plentiful, the heliport is as busy as a beehive. Every few minutes a helicopter starts or lands, taking tourists to the glacier and back.

The mighty glacier can be seen from the village if the weather allows. The top of the glacier was covered with the ashes of the Australian bushfires a few weeks before which gave it a pinkish shimmer. It is quite visible in the pictures below. I was as lucky as one could be, I had very warm and sunny weather, a rare situation at the west coast. Only two days later it was miserable and rainy again and I heard that helicopters could not take off to the glacier anymore.

Hiking the untamed wilderness of the West Coast

When the bus approaches the Franz Joseph it will cross a long single lane bridge crossing the rushing waters of the melting glacier water, the Waiho River. The water is rapidly moving, very fast, and it has a white-greyish color from the sediments that it carries.  The story goes that in April last year, in 2019, there was so much water coming from the glacier down the river that eventually the bridge gave in and was washed away! It was rebuilt quickly as it is the only bridge on the only road along the west coast crossing Waiho River. Naturally, after the bus dropped me at the local YHA, I came back to the bridge to watch the rushing waters. It is a fascinating spectacle. The bridge provides a wonderful view at the glacier as well if the weather is clear.  It was already evening and the light of the setting sun gave a glow to the low hovering clouds and the snowy mountains.

From the bridge starts the Canavans Knob Walk which is a short hike along the river and on top a little hill to watch the sunset. But I was so fascinated by the river, its curling waters and the patterns the water had created in the sand that I actually did not reach the hilltop to watch the sunset from there. The river is shallow but deep enough for kayaks and you can go on the kayak tour rushing down the river from the end of the glacier down to the bridge or even a little further. I have not done it but watched others, I am sure it is an exciting adventure.

Some more beautiful hikes in the wilderness around Franz Joseph are inviting. Unfortunately, at the time I was there some trails were closed due to the amount of water the region must have had recently. So I could not do the fascinating Gallery Gorge Walk. Also, the Franz Josef Glacier Walk, which takes one to the bottom end of the glacier, was closed.

So I ended up doing the Tartare Tunnels Walk. This is a short and easy hike of maybe 30 min moderately up and along the Tartare River that leads to a mysterious tunnel. That tunnel was created at the time of the gold rush to bring pressurized water to the sluicing guns at the gravel faces of the lower river. Later the tunnel was used to feed a hydroelectric power plant. And it was during the building of the powerhouse that the Tatare River Waltz took place. The story is told in detail on the information board in front of the tunnel and it’s too good to just replicate here. You’ll have to go and read it yourself. Through the tunnel still water flows and so I was wading through ankle-high, icy cold water into the dark. After a few meters, the inside of the tunnel becomes pitch black. I can tell you that’s very spooky! But when I turned off the flashlight of my phone to experience this complete darkness I found it was not complete. There were glow worms at the ceiling! Only a few of them but enough to create a dim starry sky. How beautiful that was! At the end of the tunnel there is a fence and unfortunately, it is not possible to access the rushing waterfall that once supplied the water for the tunnel. At that point, I had to turn back.

The Heli Hike

No visit in Franz Josef is complete without visiting the glacier. The Franz Josef Glacier was first explored in 1865 by the geologist Julius von Haast, who named the glacier after the then Austrian Emperor. The glacier is located about 5 kilometres from the village of the same name. The hike from the car park to the viewing platform nearest the glacier along the Waiho River bed takes about 20 minutes. Unfortunately that Glacier Valley Walk was closed. And as I had not seen a glacier closely yet at all, and certainly had not touched or stepped on one, it was clear that I had to participate in one of the Glacier Heli Hikes.

With about 500$ the Heli Hike a massively expensive adventure but it’s promised to be unforgettable and sensational: After an exciting brief flight on board of a helicopter, we would land high in the mountains on Franz Josef Glacier. Up there a tour guide would take us on a two hour guided hike on the glacier. With an eye for the most spectacular ice formations, the guide would lead us through some of the most awe-inspiring glacier scenery. So the advert.  Hence, I booked the Heli Hike for the next morning to be safe with the weather.

Before we started we were equipped with waterproof shoes and spikes, warm jackets and thick trousers. In the end we all took of some of it off as it was a nice warm summer’s day and even up on the glacier it was warm, the glacier was melting. The helicopter ride was fantastic and the pilot told us some facts about the area, he also showed us Roberts Point, my destination for tomorrows hike.

Helicopters are starting every few minutes to take tourists up to the glacier, and our group was just one of many others. The glacier walk was truly fascinating: the shapes and the blue shades of the ice, the cracks and reflections, and the narrow passages we had to squeeze through. But at the same time the guided tour was disappointing in terms of distance and guidance. We might have spent two hours but we only walked about 200-300m. We stopped and waited many times on the way and finished so early that we spent 20 min waiting for the helicopter to take us back. Our guide was walking around with a big pickaxe hammering at the ice everywhere while we waited. I could see she really enjoyed doing that just I could not see what for.

Many other pickaxe swinging people were on the glacier as well to create new routes for tourists, at least that´s what they said. Together with all the tourists these crowds on the glacier really took some of the fascination away. I would have been disappointing if it would not have been my first time on a glacier altogether. But as it all was new to me, I really enjoyed that experience and unique impressions: my spiking on the ice and squeezing through narrow ice walls, visiting ice caves, tunnels, seracs and crevasses.

It is possible to stay overnight on the glacier which is an outstanding star gazing opportunity but also ridiculously expensive. After being back at the village we had a little add on in form of a free visit at the thermal bath for free. 

Hiking Roberts Point

The Roberts Point Track is one of the oldest and most popular hiking trails on the Franz Josef Glacier. The trail was laid out as a tribute to the scientific achievement of George J. Roberts, a surveyor of the English Crown, and as a foundation for today’s tourism. The hiking trail impresses above all with its flora and fauna. Nature lovers will enjoy the beautiful vegetation of the Rata and Kamahi forests. But also hobby geologists get fascinated. Numerous fault lines have to be overcome on the way and in many places the primeval traces of the glacier can be seen.

The trail is rated to be hard and should not be undertaken during or after rain. It is about 10km return. It can be very slippery. The path leads through several streams and at a few occasions climbing is required. And yes, it is exhausting and strenuous but nothing that cannot be tackled. It takes about 5h but it is definitely worth the effort and risk. Due to all the warnings, I went well prepared and fully equipped with everything a hiker needs, had snacks and water, rain gear, and extra clothes. In the end, it was not as difficult as I thought, and I did not need raingear and clothes. But it was definitely very exciting.

The trailhead is about 5km from Franz Joseph village at the Franz Josef Glacier Car Park. I walked half the way until I was lucky enough to get a lift in a car. I was not aware that there is a public bus going every two hours from the village to the car park. Therefore, it was a 16km hike in total and it took me 5:46h. On my way to the car park, I met a girl that was hiking in the same direction. She originally wanted to do another hike but as the Glacier Walk was closed she joined me. She also made it up to Roberts Point without being prepared as much as I was, just equipped with a bottle of water and good hiking shoes. Amazing.

The trail is just beautiful and surprises with many spectacular attractions. Right at the beginning, we had an astonishing view at Peters Pool with the colorful reflection of the white glacier, green mountains, and blue sky in it. After that, we crossed the Waiho River on the first suspension bridge of this trail.  And on the other side of the river a sign with warns the determined hiker informing about some deaths in previous years. At halfway Hende’s Hut awaits the wanderer, an old corrugated iron hut built by a local blacksmith as early as 1907. Other impressive highlights of this outstanding trail are the streams and waterfalls, and several swing bridges. My personal favorite was the unique Rope Creek swing bridge, which is a long and thin bridge that’s sure to get the vertigo flowing. Another highlight were the Gallery Steps: platformed steps that have been bolted into the side of the cliff. This section is really unique, it almost feels like being on a via ferrata track.

End point and absolute highlight of the tour is the eponymous Roberts Point. Here, not only a cosy picnic table awaits the exhausted hikers, but above all a breath-taking view of the Franz Josef Glacier and the surrounding mountain world.

After three days I took the Intercity bus again and went north to Hokitika just for one reason: to get a bicycle and do the West Coast Wilderness Trail!

Just 50 minutes’ drive from Queenstown over the magnificent Crown Range, Wanaka perfectly complements the neighboring capital of Adrenaline. Located at the shores of beautiful Lake Wanaka, and set against the alpine backdrop of Mount Aspiring National Park, it is a beautiful and also very peaceful place. It has a comforting mix of restaurants, cafes, shops, but contrary to Queenstown it provides a rather relaxed and friendly atmosphere, most valued by artists, families and outdoor enthusiasts.  Wanaka has plenty of ambient areas to relax, wide-open spaces and the breath-taking scenery of mountains and rivers around. Most famously, The Wanaka Tree is a small tree that stands offshore in the shallow waters of the lake became the symbol of Wanaka as a gem of natural beauty, and a goal of photographers pilgrimage. Most exciting, the late summer weather was still very warm and sunny, especially in the late afternoon, and I managed to jump into the freezing cold lake for a swim – very refreshing.

Climbing Mount Iron

Queenstown has Ben Lomond and so Wanaka has its mountain too: Mount Iron, an impressive, glacier-carved, rocky knoll that rises 545 m above sea-level. It was named after Ironhurst in Scotland and is not, as one may think, made of Iron. It took me about 2km to go to the trailhead and the trail up to the top is a steep 4.5 km loop. It´s a very popular short hike among tourists and locals, and some even use the trail for jogging exercise. And so I undertook this adventure on my first afternoon in Wanaka. On a clear day, it provides an excellent 360-degree view at the surrounding mountain ranges, the Upper Clutha Basin, Lake Wanaka and Hawea and the mountains of the Southern Alps.

Cycling Deans Bank and to Hawea and back

Cycling in New Zealand is one of the best activities to encounter the outdoors, especially mountain biking. So I wanted to experience a real mountain bike trail and decided to combine it with a cycle trip through the beautiful countryside along the river to the neighbouring lake Hawea and back, on a real mountain bike loop near Wanaka: Deans Bank Track. My first experience of this kind.

It was a challenging day, I cycled about 65km that day, and 11km of it was on Deans Bank Track. I started riding along the shores of Lake Wanaka at Roys Bay, around the peninsula to the mouth of Clutha river, and then along the river up to Albert Town where a bridge crosses the waters. This trail is called the Outlet Track, a wonderful path with absolutely beautiful scenery, grand views at the mountains and some sweet little beaches on the way;  a truly scenic ride of about 12km. I crossed the bridge at Albert town and started my adventure at Deans Bank. What the f**! I quickly realized that this track was made for intermediate and advanced riders. Me, being a beginner and alone out there, must have been an absolutely hilarious sight. The track is very beautiful, one-way cross country but with some technical difficulties. Hence I had to push my bike sometimes because I could not do the tight bends, the jumps and the steep ups and downs on gravel. But the longer I was on the track the more confident I grew and the better I became. Less and less I had to get off my bike and push. And looking back now, I can say, it was fantastic! I was physically challenged, I was panting, but it all felt great! And even more, the track has beautiful views at the Clutha River.

I had a little picnic lunch near Alberts Town and set off to my second challenge, the ride to Hawea and back. Unfortunately, I got lost twice adding unnecessary kilometres to my ride. I mistakenly rode along Clutha River, I waded through water and climbed the upper Clutha river track only to notice eventually that I was on the wrong path. But I found my way back and onto the Hawea River Track. The challenge was to complete the ride and be back at dinner time. It is a stunning trail that follows the river and that makes it so beautiful. The way towards Hawea has more uphill sections which made the way back to Wanaka more downhill and therefore easier.  At one spot I could surprisingly see surfers trying dangerously to surf a low cascade and its wild, white waters. Thrilling! They could hardly make it out of the water as the river moves so fast. Its colour has an amazing blue which looks so beautiful among the bright yellow grass, which is dotted with the dark green of trees, and underneath the deep blue sky with its puffy white clouds, all surrounded by a beautiful mountainous panorama. This trail is a real MUST DO. It is easy to cycle, wide and gravelled with a few ups and downs.  The water of the river alongside is so clear that one can see the rocky bottom from the suspension bridge, even at the deepest point in the middle of the river. When I arrived at Lake Hawea I felt this place is rougher and wilder but is as clear and beautiful as Lake Wanaka. Lake Hawea’s outlet actually feeds the Hawea River and a dam produces electricity exactly at that spot. Having the wind in my favour on the way back I made it back to Wanaka just half past six and was perfectly exhausted and ready for a nice big dinner. I was proud of me having mastered the trail and the path to Hawea and back on just one day.

Hike Roy`s Peak

It’s not high, technically, but in reality, it is. Roys Peak erects 1576m above sea level. The hike up the mountain zigzags over 8km and in total it took me little less than 6h return, including all breaks. The hike is rated as a hard one but technically it is not. There is a broad path leading all the way up. No obstacles. But of course, it is hard – meaning exhausting – to walk uphill for 3 hours. Further up it gets colder too. I was in good company with many other tourists of all ages and abilities, heading for the summit. I felt like on a pilgrimage up to some holy mountain summit in the morning.

I had decided to take the taxi transfer at 9 am from the tourist office to the car park at the trailhead. The first people came already downhill from their sunrise session at that time. All smiling. Once I was up on the summit I understood why. The girl that sat down next to me – we all sat down for the summit feast, had bread and salami – said ironically: Pretty average view, right?” We smiled. What she meant was, it was spectacular and worth all the effort, sweat and pain. Well, the real pain happens to most people on the way down because that is when they feel their knees. But for me, it was fine this time. The gradient is almost moderate all the way in comparison to the Tiki Trail in Queenstown.

All in all, it was an absolutely grand feeling having achieved to climb the summit of Roys Peak, especially the last meters on which I chose a very narrow path being a shortcut. The view at Wanaka and the huge Lake Wanaka was stunning, with the mountains and the glaciers in the distance, I could even see a little bit of Lake Hawea, and all this on a wonderful sunny and clear day. I could not feel any better.

Cromwell is a small town linking the towns of Wanaka, Queenstown, and Alexandra. In order to go from Clyde to Wanaka, I had to pass Cromwell. There is no direct bus going from Clyde to Wanaka. And even though it is a distance of less than 80km, it would take two days to go there on public transport. There is only one bus from Clyde to Cromwell in the morning and another bus in the early morning from Cromwell to Wanaka.

Cromwell was originally known as “The Junction” because of its location at the confluence of the Clutha and Kawarau Rivers. Rugged mountains, the meeting of two rivers and the pristine waters of Lake Dunstan – the natural beauty of the area is overwhelming.

When gold was discovered in the 1860s there was an influx of several thousand miners to the area. When the gold ran out, Cromwell became the service centre for extensive farming, growing especially wine and stone fruit. The latter is commemorated with a giant sculpture of stone fruit. The construction of the Clyde Dam led to the filling of Lake Dunstan in the early 1990s. The river confluence was drowned, as was the old town centre. But not entirely: a few old buildings along the shores of Lake Dunstan remained and can be visited today.

I have stayed one night only but Lake Dunstan it is certainly an idyllic location for recreation and chilling with a glass of wonderful local wine, and activities like swimming, fishing, boating, and water sports in summer.