Monday 17th Around Twizel

After such as stunning day as yesterday we were slightly disappointed to wake up to grey skies and cooler temperatures. The LLW had some work to do so I headed off for a walk around part of Lake Ruataniwha which is man made and was created during the huge hydroelectric project in this area. Apparently the town of Twizel was only created in 1969 and was planned as temporary accommodation for construction workers on the project. The plan was to bulldoze the temporary town once the project was completed. However, some of the workers had other ideas and liked the area so much that they petitioned to save the town which they eventually did and Twizel became a permanent metropolis (slight poetic licence there as it has only ~1400 people residents).

One the LLW had all under control we headed off to have a look at Lake Ohau and were surprised to find near gale force winds greeting us as we came close to the lake which at times looked like the raging ocean rather than a relatively small lake in the southern alps. Ohau village looked very deserted and like many of its counterparts in the French alps it probably only comes alive during the skiing season.

Thoughts of a picnic lunch were abandoned and after seeing the sights we headed back towards Twizel. It was difficult to envisage the lake with a flat calm in the way that we saw Pukaki yesterday.  En route we stopped at a salmon farm which has been established on one of the canals which link parts of the hydroelectric complex. Some hot smoked salmon was duly purchased to serve as an entree.

We decided to drive along the canal linking Lake Ruataniwha with the northern end of Lake Benmore, the southern end of which we visited yesterday. There were two very large and impressive generating stations on the way and I could not help but think that this is a really efficient way of generating renewable energy. It would be interesting to know how many wind turbines it would take to generate the same amount of electricity as this project.

It suddenly occurred to me that on this trip we have not seen a single wind turbine. Apparently most wind turbines in New Zealand are situated in the very windy southern part of the north island.

Back now at the camp site and after a short stroll down to the lake it will be barbie time again.