7 March 2013 Queenstown to Waimate.

Last night just on sunset we walked down to the bottom of our road above, and had a walk along the lake front.

Above and below, looking up the Frankton Arm from the bottom of our road across to the Remarkables on sunset.

Today 7th

Woke up to the sun just coming up over the mountains from our motel window..

Last shot of Queenstown before we left.  Earnslaw, 'The lady of the Lake'

Woke up this morning to another beautiful day. Left Queenstown at 9.00am to travel to Waimate for a nights 

break on the way back to Christchurch.

On the way out passed Lake Hayes again, early morning reflections on the lake make it look much better than the photo I posted yesterday when it was cloudy with little sun.

Then drove through the Kawarau WineValley. On through the Kawarau Gorge quite twisty. Further on we reached Cromwell and stopped for a coffee.   

PT having his morning tea in Cromwell. Pretty little town.

Just past Cromwell crossed over Lake Dunstan and drove up the other side.

After Lake Dunstan started to cross over the Lindus Pass. Spectacular baron, brown tussock countryside. Looks great. Three photos below.

Top of Lindus Pass. 965m

Drove on up through Omarama, Richie McCaw country where he does a lot of his gliding. We had decided to go down the Kawarau River through Waimate to Christchurch instead of going through Lake Tekapo as we had done that trip a few years ago.

Great drive from Omarama , new territory for us.

 Went out to the Benmore Dam 5km of the main road (highway 83). What an amazing place as you will see from the photos below.

There was only two out of the four gates open for the run off from Lake Benmore. It would look amazing if all four gates were open.

A closer look

The gates at the top.

Standing at the top of the dam looking down. The run off gates down to the left. Power station to the right. This photo doesn't show how far down (high) this dam is. It is the largest artificial lake in the country, greater in volume than the entire Wellington Harbour. Surface area 74.5Km, a shoreline of 116km. A must see.

Standing at the top looking the other way to the dammed lake.

Nice colours.

We then drove further down highway 83 along side of Lake Aviemore.  which also has its own dam which we also drove over.  

Lake Waitaki's dam. Love the curves. This is a very pretty area with all its lakes. Eight dams/power sations in all although we only saw three. All these dams create the lakes down the Waitaki River. Lovely drive.

 

Our unit this end, in Waimate. Although it is an old motel these are three new units.Really nice, room 12 the best end .

Under two years old, with kitchen on left.