1st Dec in NZ

Can't believe it is the first of Dec. especially here, where it is behaving like an English summer, slightly overcast, a bit muggy, rain possible!

We left Franz Joseph glacier on Sunday morning and made the spectacular journey across the Haas Pass to Waneka. Paul said he had never enjoyed a days driving more in his life! The roads are wide and empty, as I have said before (!) and lined with interesting weird jungle, or golden broom, foxgloves pink, red and white, or masses of yellow lupins.

The Pass itself was not all that high, but there was a view of the rushing Haas River going under one of the special NZ scary suspension bridges, and the endless views of the Waneka Lake with snowy mountains, blue reflecting the sky. Waneka itself is a little place by the lake, and there are walks all along under weeping willows.

Our hostel (not our first choice, the good ones were all booked up) was sort of OK until we went to bed, when we realised that our room was right underneath the sitting/dining area, where many jolly young folks were having animated conversations until well after midnight, even when asked very politely by Paul to tone it down a bit.

The boss does not live on the premises, so nobody in charge. This morning we rushed over to our hostel of choice, the Purple Cow, which is a large wooden chalet type building overlooking the lake, and with a very pleasant girl in charge.

We were able to book a twin room, and leave our suitcases while we went off exploring some of the region around the lake. Saw lots of interesting things, a field with about 6 enormous bulls in it (Why? Is there bullfighting around here?) A flock of sheep being tormented by a naughty sheep dog, and the shepherd being cross and tying it up as a punishment; a large eagle thing eating a rabbit; a dead cow; the usual large amount of scenery and flowers, oh and waterfalls. We have now booked into our super accommodation, such a relief after last night.

I think the moral is, to book in advance as things are getting a bit busy holiday-wise around here.
Tomorrow we shall go to Queenstown over a high mountain road, and explore around there a bit.