Wednesday 4th March
I am loving Wanaka! It’s a bit like Queenstown, set beside a beautiful lake, but much smaller and less busy. Our hotel (The Moorings) has its balconies overlooking the lake with incredible views. This morning we drove to the trailhead for the Blue Pools at Makarora, and went on an easy 5 km hike. Jamie had recommended the walk so we knew that it would be good, and sure enough the pools (which are actually just wide bends in the river) are spectacular. There were lots of birds darting around in the foliage including fantails and wee white-breasted robins.
Then we drove back past Wanaka and had a late lunch in the garden of the characterful Cardrona Hotel, then paid a visit to the Cardrona Distillery, another favourite of Jamie’s, a modern and elegant stone building where they make The Reid vodka, Source gin and also “Just Hatched” single malt whisky which will be properly bottled at ten years old (they only started four years ago) - currently they sell small bottles of it to demonstrate how well it is ageing. James gamely tasted all of their products and declared them to be “very drinkable.”
Back at Wanaka we spent the last part of the afternoon sitting on the balcony of our hotel room, soaking up a few rays and watching the sun sparkling on the lake. It was so relaxing. We had dinner at the excellent Relishes Café which I would highly recommend.
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