Today would be a long travel day as our intention is to drive from Te Anau to Franz Josef Glacier. The drive is a little under 7 hours and the plan is to make stops along the way to stretch our legs and take in the sites where possible.
Arrow Junction
After some breakfast we set off for the 2 hour drive back to Frankton which is right outside of Queenstown. We stopped here for some coffee and to use the facilities. After this we continued driving. Not too far outside of Frankton is Arrow Junction. This is where we take a turn off which will lead to the town of Wanaka. However, right after the turn off is a pretty funky part of the road which has a series of sharp switchbacks that gain elevation quite quickly.
It’s fun to drive and at the top you are rewarded with an amazing view of the valley below.
Wanaka
After another hour of driving we arrive in the town of Wanaka. In doing some research one of the bigger draws of Wanaka is the Wanaka Tree. This is a lone tree that stands in the water of Lake Wanaka. It’s a fairly large attraction for tourists and is photographed quite a bit over time.
While it’s very cool to see the lone tree growing out of the water, I have to admit I was a bit underwhelmed. Don’t get me wrong, its a neat thing to see. I just don’t understand how it can be considered a “must see” attraction when visiting New Zealand. Gimpy and I spent about 20 minutes taking a few photos before moving into the town.
Water Bar
After visiting the Wanaka Tree, Gimpy and I set our sights on finding a place for lunch. We walked along the main Wanaka street taking a look at a few menus before we settled on the Water Bar. I think we both were craving chicken, so we shared some wings and a crispy chicken salad. I think the venue, the weather and the patio vibe really made for a great meal experience.
Wanaka Lavender Farm
After lunch, Gimpy had only one thing on her mind: Ice Cream! So after a quick 5 minute drive we arrived at the Wanaka Lavender Farm. We didn’t actually go into the farm itself, we only wanted lavender ice cream and that’s what we got!
Driving to Franz Josef through Haast Pass
After ice cream, we settled in for the longest part of our drive. We would be driving from the center of the Island out to the west coast through Haast Pass. I have to say that the drive itself is beautiful and given more time, I think I would spend a little more time exploring some of these areas! Its a beautiful drive through some amazing mountain passes and breathtaking valleys.
One of the things we’ve noticed driving throughout New Zealand is there are many single lane bridges, even on major highways! Sometimes they are fairly long, and other times they’re not even worth mentioning. However, it is interesting to see and learn the traffic rules when you arrive at one. Here’s a photo of Gimpy driving through one of the longer ones we encountered.
After clearing Haast Pass we arrived on the west coast of New Zealand and really enjoyed some of the views of the Tasman sea.
Soon after we arrive at Franz Josef. After checking in, we get settled a little and head into town to pick up some groceries. None of the restaurant options really appealed to us so we decided to cook a simple dinner of dumplings and beans! With a long day of driving behind us, we settle quickly into our accommodations and to bed soon after that.
Tomorrow is an even longer day! Our eagerly anticipated helihike of the Franz Josef Glacier in the morning and another long drive back to Christchurch in the afternoon meant we needed to get some rest!