Sunday 16th Oamaru to Twizel

As we left Oamaru it was cloudy, cool and raining slightly. Today we are headed towards Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook via the Waitaki river valley. The last time we were at Riverstone they featured some wines from Ostler Vinyards in the Waitaki valley and Ray had spotted an advert for a tasting outlet for Oster in Kurow so it had been decreed that we should have a pit stop there. Much consternation when said tasting outlet was closed so the LLW decided that we must console ourselves with two flat whites and a very large slice of carrot cake. Also purchased from the same cafe were some excellent looking sausages and we will report on these later when the best sausages in the world contest resumes!

As we left Kurow the weather slowly improved, the sun came out and the temperature starting rising. There were wonderful views of Lake Waitaki, Te Akatarawa and Lake Benmore. We took a detour from the main road to have a close look at Lake Benmore and the Benmore dam which was awesome.

By now the weather was great; brilliant sunshine and rising temperatures. We decided that it was the perfect day to carry on to Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook as it was so clear. We were not disappointed and the view from the end of Lake Pukaki towards Mount Cook was stunning.

As we travelled north along the western side of the lakes we were treated to more and more stunning views of the lake and the mountain; it was truly wonderful. We stopped for a while in Mount Cook/Aoraki village which is very much purpose built for the climbing and mountaineering fraternity and where there are even more wonderful views of the mountain and the Mueller glacier.

Back then to Twizel where had decided to stay at Ruataniwha lakeside camping and after a short stroll along the lake we unleashed the barbie again.

A wonderful day!