A Break from the Routine

The last couple of months have been chaotic for me, with a couple of big project deliverables, some very tight deadlines and a major international audit. To get away the routine of daily life in the city we escaped to our favourite NZ destination, Wanaka, for a few days. 

Following our usual practice we flew into Queenstown, had coffee in Arrowtown, visited a couple of our favoured wineries and enjoyed a lunch in Cromwell before checking into our hotel in Wanaka in the early afternoon.

The view from the room wasn’t as spectacular as our last stay, being a ‘garden view’ this time rather than a ‘lake view’ room last time, but pleasant enough all the same, although the low cloud makes this image seem a lot darker than it really was.

After settling into the room we decided to walk onto town and spend the rest of the afternoon and evening there. With a forecast of light rain showers we went prepared with light waterproof jackets, something we soon came to regret as not only did it not rain, but the low cloud kept the heat and humidity in…the temperature may have been only in the low 20s (C), but the humidity was in the mid-90s.

After poking about in a few shops, we found space in a bar we have visited before and spent the first part of the happy hour there. The place was obviously the favourite of the local builders and by 5:00 it was filled with tradesmen enjoying Friday after work drinks. It was amusing to sit back and listen to their banter. An excellent Chinese dinner followed washed down with a nice rosé.

The walk back along the lake shore, through the arcades created by the willows and the taller poplar and beech trees in the balmy evening was very pleasant, although the fragrance of the lupins in bloom along the path was almost overwhelming.

In the early twilight the famous Wanaka tree reflected in the calm water - the first time in our visits here that I have seen the tree in leaf. But in the distance, to the east, the rain was approaching.

As we got back to the hotel the first spots of rain began to fall. Within a few minutes the fall was steady although it didn’t last long. It had been a long day - we had been up since 4:00 AM - so an early night was in order.

Saturday was a very quiet day for us. We had planned to head over to Tekapo to the hot springs, but the forecast was for heavy rain (mind you the forecast for Wanaka was for rain and not a drop fell) and since the weather looked more promising for Sunday, we decided to postpone the visit and potter around the town instead for a bit of shopping, have some lunch and then read on the hotel balcony in the warmth of the afternoon…with a glass or two of Central Otago Pinot Noir.

Of course one of the more important aspect of the trip (some might say THE most important) was the ability to forage along the lake shore for some basing stones. About kilogram of varied size schist rubble was gathered and bagged for transport.

There was also a nice range of twigs available for foraging, but at that suggestion I was met by some odd looks that made me think better of it. Drinks and dinner in town closed out the day.

Sunday dawned a much more promising day for our trip to Tekapo and we headed off just after 9:00AM.

Travelling through the fabulous scenery of the Lindis Pass, the Mackenzie country and past Lake Pukaki we arrived at Tekapo a little after 11:00.

The view up the Lindis Pass (although this shot was taken the way back to Wanaka actually)

We drove down to the hot pools, that were a little underwhelming too be honest, but having driven two hours to get there we spent some time soaking in the warm water, with a few drops of rain falling. We then went on to lunch before a visit to the lovely stone Church of the Good Shepherd at the head of the lake before a return to Wanaka for afternoon drinks and a walk into town for dinner.

Walking back to the hotel, looking to the north, the sky was looking ominous and a few drops of rain fell.

But the weather did not turn dramatically, although there was a light rain shower. So much for the four days of rain that was forecast for the region (although in fairness apparently they did have torrential rain on the Thursday in Wanaka).

Monday was a travel day for us (and another day with just a few spots of rain). We checked out of the hotel about 9:30 and stopped for a coffee in town before heading off for a leisurely drive to Queenstown where we had lunch in our favourite Indian restaurant before heading to the airport and some time in the lounge before our flight home and the end of another epicurean adventure.

It was a great break away from the hassles of the city with great food, wine and scenery, but always a bit deflating to be home, especially when it is work tomorrow, but what helps to counteract the deflation is this sight on the doorstep…

… parcel one of two from Nottingham with fresh recruits for the Russian Napoleonic and Prussian Napoleonic and Franco-Prussian armies,

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