Lakes and Snow Capped Mountains

Following our lovely visit with our Ducker cousins in Christchurch, we headed south through the centre of the South Island, down one of the most scenic roads ever driven, to Queenstown, via Lake Tekapo. We have hired a Toyoya Yaris, thought we would be getting something bigger in that class, but just as well it is economical as the fuel is about $2.20- $2.30 a litre.  Ouch.

The trees are turning their leaves to all sort of beautiful Autumn colours, the Alps are snow capped, the weather is crisp but sunny and we managed to make the 6 hour trip take all day (9 hrs). We are good at getting tourist (ie Asian bus loads) free photos, have it down to a fine art now.

Lake Tekapo, we had snow capped Alps along side of us, all the way down to Queenstown.

We had to wait for 2500 sheep to cross the bridge

The Ancient Clay Cliffs at Omarama, on private land, $5 gate fee - well worth it.

Lindis Pass, amazing how the pass is just wide enough to forge a road through as the mountains come down on both sides and almost touch.

The scenery is so green, the sheep are in their thousands literally, we waited 2 1/2 minutes for some to cross a small bridge near the Ancient Cliffs, the farmer had a chat and said there were 2500 that had just crossed, they should also be classed as mountain goats.

Sheep on the hills.

Queenstown next stop