Wanaka wannabes

I got back recently from a few days of bushwalking ('tramping') in New Zealand's South Island. A small group of us based ourselves in Wanaka, and did a selection of excellent day walks.

Here we are, in the Mount Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre, examining a rather fine wall map and checking out our proposed routes.

Wanaka town is a very pleasant place, full of holiday homes and tourist facilities. At the bottom of Helwick St here is a beach and Lake Wanaka. The other large lake in the area is Lake Hawea.

There are several ski resorts nearby for the ski season. For the rest of the year there's a big range of terrific walking tracks.

The scenery is magnificent: snow covered mountains, clear blue water lakes, and during our stay clear blue skies too. There are rivers and creeks, antarctic beech forests, and sheep, cattle and deer farms.



Below: the team, atop Rocky Mountain, with its fabulous 360 degree views.