Google Maps says it takes 6 hours to drive the 480 kilometers from Queenstown to Christchurch. We know it will take longer plus we want some time to stop along the way. So, we decide to cut our stay in Queenstown short by one day and stay somewhere along the way on Wednesday night.
It's cool and clear was we pull out of Queenstown. We retrace some of the route we took coming from Hawea, (including going past the giant fruit sculpture) then branch off to take Highway 8 further north. We are driving through the middle of the South Island on the leeward side of the Southern Alps. The landscape is dry grazing land except where the farmers irrigate. William navigates the curves in the road that takes us up to the summit of Landis Pass. Of course we need to get out, take some photo's and stretch the legs.
We begin to get better views of Mount Hood. North of Twizel we realize we are in "Mount Hood" country, with the Mount Hood Visitor Center nearby. Then we take the curve at the end of Lake Pukaki and - oh my - Mount Hood is there behind the most turquoise lake we've ever seen!
The next town is Tekapo, our destination for lunch. The town sits on a Lake Tekapo, also a beautiful body of water, but it does not have the same views of the mountain. We stop for the night in Ashburton. There's a few sights in the town, but nothing too exciting. We decide to rest then walk to a local restaurant for dinner then veg in front of the TV.
The next town is Tekapo, our destination for lunch. The town sits on a Lake Tekapo, also a beautiful body of water, but it does not have the same views of the mountain. We stop for the night in Ashburton. There's a few sights in the town, but nothing too exciting. We decide to rest then walk to a local restaurant for dinner then veg in front of the TV.
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