Tramping New Zealand

DAY 2 - Diamond Lake

Today we must travel northward to Wanaka, which will be our home for six days.  To that end, Great Adventure #1 is about to commence; for I am expected to drive a rental car on the left-hand side of the roads for my first time ever.  Although I know that I can handle it, I am anxious nonetheless.  We have full-coverage insurance in any case.

The first order of business is to find the biggest computer store available and purchase an external keyboard, in hopes that that will override the hardware problems encountered last night.  Of course I already own several such devices; but none are nearby.  Tonight we'll see.

Having made it out of town without incident, our first stop is at a fruit stand.

My first New Zealand meal!

An hour and a half of driving is all that is needed.

Wanaka storefront sign

Our first priority is a visit to the Aspiring Mountain National Park headquarters, both for some ideas and a weather report.

This is our life for a while

Sounds good to me

Lake Wanaka is big

Our hostel is but a block from the big supermarket.  This is good, for we will be here for six nights.  After checking in, it is time for a not-too-energetic afternoon walk.  Heading westward, we travel for about forty minutes to a minor trailhead.

Near the trailhead

Dave and I are headed to Diamond Lake and a viewpoint above it.  A twenty-minute climb on a wide trail gets us to the first destination:

Diamond Lake looks more like a pond

Fly on Foxglove

Here the trail starts uphill in earnest with hundreds of built-in steps.

The thighs and calves are burning already

Overlooking Diamond Lake

Another climb begets an overview of another big lake.

Lake Hawea

Heading down is rather easier than going up.  I find it interesting that all the steps are covered with chicken wire to increase foot traction in wet conditions.  Because that is such a good idea, I am surprised not to have seen it previously anywhere.

No slipping here

Back at Diamond Lake

The home stretch

Finishing up in stile!

Well, the fact that you are reading this means that the new keyboard has indeed temporarily solved the hardware problem, which I can worry about at home later.  The hostel's Internet speed is another matter, however.  I cannot upload any graphics files on what is the slowest connection I have encountered on my world travels.  Tomorrow I'll have to find another wi-fi place that can handle my stuff.