Easter Break: A Day of Rainbow Driving

On Wednesday we drove from Te Anau, along Fjordland, past Queenstown, through Wanaka, and along Westland to Franz Josef glacier. Although it was a relatively short distance it was like driving across multiple mini-continents with many different types of landscapes. It changed from open lake shore to windy mountainous roads, past Eastern Washington-like farmland to glacial streams running through forests. We stopped at Wanaka for lunch. Leslie and I ate at an organic cafe that was amazing; I had quinoa loaf and a fresh fruit smoothie. Between Wanaka and Westland we stopped at Lake Hawae, its water a bright blue set within the barren mountains.

Leaving the lake behind we drove through Haast's Pass. Its river had dug itself a deep canyon and icy blue water rushed past the large boulders filling the riverbed.
Our next stop was at Bruce's Bay where everyone who drives past stops and makes a creation out of rocks and driftwood. Every open space along the ocean-side of the highway was filled with small peetering towers of stones or structures of driftwood. After arriving in Franz Josef we took a group run up the valley to the glacier. The stream that runs off from the glacier was an icy, slate-grey color; set among the almost tropical forest in the valley floor it looked like it belonged in another world. We left the main road and ran along the forest trails up the valley towards the glacier. We almost sprinted past a small mountain lake before stopping to appreciate how the mountains were reflected in its smooth surface.

We ate really good Indian food, at Purayi, in Franz Josef township that night.