From the ice-blue waters of Lake Wanaka to the grandeur of the Haast Pass, SH6 cuts
a winding route through dense forest in Mt Aspiring National Park, before continuing
on up the spectacular West Coast of the South Island. This epic journey provides
the traveller with fresh inspiration at every turn. Here, where towering rainforests,
rugged mountains, icy glaciers, and rivers meet a moody, ever-changing shore, the
friendly West Coaster, a hardy, creative type of New Zealander, makes his home.
We take four days to explore the route from Queenstown to Greymouth. We kick start
our journey with a horse trek in the Cardrona Valley, then Bob takes an impromptu
Spitfire flight and I tease my brain at Puzzling World in Wanaka. Together we join
a thrilling jet boat ride on the Waiatoto River, admire Mt Cook’s sunset reflection
in Lake Matheson, do a challenging hike on Franz Josef glacier, spy on nesting herons,
dine on fresh whitebait and a unique possum stew, and in the manner of true West
Coasters, wash it all down with a jug of Monteiths!
day one: queenstown to wanaka
Key
- Destinations
- Apex Locations
It’s 10.30 am in the Cardrona Valley and ahead of me Bob teeters precariously atop
an extremely well-behaved Appaloosa which picks its way sedately along a trail to
the top of a ridge. The views of the dry, rounded, tussock-filled landscape below
are incredible.
“This isn’t so bad,” he says, in reference to the ride. “I’m glad I gave it a go!”
Bob left his comfort zone to join me on this ride with Backcountry Saddle Expeditions
but somehow I think it was the well-timed comments of our guide, Debbie Thompson,
about western saddles and cowboys that really piqued his interest. Debbie, an intriguing
southern belle who appears in Kevyn Male’s book, Grassroots Kiwi, amuses us on the
descent with her lively banter. Apparently she and her husband (none other than
the Speights billboard man!) bought the business when he grew tired of dragging
home deer he’d shot in the bush. A horse was required and when they went to find
a suitable steed, they ended up with several Appaloosas. “I’ve been riding ever
since,” says Debbie as we depart, well satisfied with our ride.
After enjoying lunch overlooking Lake Wanaka, we check into our accommodation, then
Bob and I go our separate ways. He drives to the Wanaka Transport and Toy Museum
where there’s an interesting collection of rare and unusual aircraft, trucks, motorcycles,
fi re engines, tractors and military vehicles. It’s also the site of the Southern
Hemisphere’s bestregarded vintage air-show, Warbirds over Wanaka, held bi-annually
over Easter. Meanwhile I venture to Puzzling World to put my grey matter to the
test with its array of crazy architecture and brain teasers. Then, once I’ve had
my fi ll, I walk back into town and relax at our accommodation by the lake.
Bob returns in the late afternoon and over dinner at the Tuatara Pizza Company he’s
still buzzing. In true Bob-fashion he struck a rapport with an enthusiast who took
him for a ride in his Spitfire. “It was amazing, you should have seen it go!..”
please click the link to download the full Queenstown to Greymouth scenic drive, courtesy of apex
car rentals new zealand... the kiwi way
to read more extracts from our driving holiday's guidebook please click on any of
the following links:
north island scenic drives
south island scenic drives
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please click here (RRP $24.95 plus postage)
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