Our booking to cross the strait is for today, so yesterday we drove from Queenstown to Windwhistle.
As we pulled out of Queenstown in drifting drizzling rain, we caught glimpses of the Remarkables and they clearly had a fresh coat of snow. We went though the Kawarau Gorge early enough that we seemed to be the only vehicle on the road.
From Cromwell, we drove along the Eastern shore of lake Dunstan to Tarras and then began the long climb towards the Lindis Pass. The higher we got the more glimpses we had of solid white snow over sharp black rock.
And then we were at the summit of the pass. The snow was not deep, but it was spectacularly beautiful. We stopped and took a few shots and were pulling out just as a bus load of overjoyed visitors from China pulled in. Down the hill to Omarama, and on to Twizel for some hot coffee and tea to offset the chill. I have to say that the Lindis Pass is one of my favourite pieces of road anywhere.
Beside Lake Pukaki., I paused for the traditional shot of Aoraki/Mt Cook which was hiding in the clouds.
My last shot from yesterday was taken as we climbed the hill out of Fairlie bound for Geraldine. My alpine geography is shaky at best, but I suspect we are looking towards Mt Dobson. The wonderful yellow of the rapeseed crop in the foreground is really the photo, though. And so to the magically named Windwhistle.
More tomorrow.
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One reply on “October 30, 2014 … homeward bound”
Lovely set of images, safe travels.