Geraldine to Lake Pukaki

I set off towards Geraldine and the journey was pretty average. I stopped in the holiday park after asking where a campsite would be in the local dairy on the outskirts of town. I parked up and since I had found some food in the way of some smoked salmon that hadn't been eaten from the pre Christmas party at Heff and Tony Daley's I had little to do before bed so I decided to explore this small township. I walked out of the holiday camp and up towards the hills and dusk was falling. The road went up and I found a small conservation area to explore. It was dense woodland and a little spooky but I bit my lip and went in! The light was fantastic, as it got darker the sky, compared to the shelter of the trees became more contrasting and therefore it got very dark under the trees. I emerged and the sky was wonderful, with the orange streetlight and the purple backdrop the moody clouds looked spectacular. I spent lots of time taking photographs before I headed back to the campsite to shower and make my first cup of tea with my new stove and pan, I was very pleased with myself! haha!
I set off the next day and I went straight to Fairleigh and wandered into the iSITE (tourist information for NZ) to ask what there was on the way to Queenstown. The woman pointed out the best way to go and what to look out for en route. "... and someone said that the lupins are out and they are really good this year." I also asked if there was any internet access in the town, there wasn't but they had a computer and asked if that would do. I happily checked my email and looked for any messages from Thecla who I was hoping to meet in Queenstown. While I was online the iSITE ladies were talking beside me and then I heard "This girl is going up that way!" Since I was on my way to Tekapo could I take a letter to Santa Clause?!... No problem... I was honored to be asked and trusted as a stranger!



I set out and My GOD! the Lupins were amazing! I was shocked by how many there were. they lined the road in their thousands, I don't know how many plants I went past but it must have been more than 100,000! I traveled mostly at about 100kph and for every meter of my journey there must have been at least 6 plants of lupins in from the road.



There have been several exclaiming moments during my tour of the South Island and driving along this road getting used to the scenery and then being wowed by the mountain range looming up out of the ground happened for the first time between Lake Tekapo and Lake Pukaki. This place is truly beautiful I realise! The mountains are small but steep and that day was crystal clear so I could see every one of them in the Mt Cook range. After I had dropped the letter at the Post Shop I carried on then turned off the main road just after Lake Tekapo and started to drive along the canal. I was glad the road was straight because I could hardly keep my eyes on the road the scenery was so beautiful. The colour of the startling blue water and the clear blue sky with out a cloud in sight made it one of the most memorable drives I have ever had the opportunity to journey along. I passed a salmon farm and watched the men working for a minute pulling large, thrashing fish from the water with a net. I drove on until I came to Lake Pukaki I pulled in and took more pictures of Mt Cook and got the obligatory shot of me on one leg making a star shape in front of the scenery.