We arrived in Wanaka on 21st March for a 2 night stay at the Wanaka Heights Motel. It won the prize for the best view out of the window so far.

 

And even more so later that evening.

Our prime reason for visiting Wanaka was to go Jetboating on the Matukituki River in the Mount Aspiring National Park (www.doc.govt.nz/../mount-aspiring-national-park). We got kitted out in or waterproofs and set off up the river at about 65 Kph.

The jetboat, which can operate in as little as 6 inches of water, was able to take us up to the base of Mount Aspiring where we could see yet more glaciers (At this point in the trip we had seen so many amazing mountains, volcanos, waterfalls and glaciers that we were starting to get a little blasé about seeing any more).

We stopped off on the way up the valley for a break and a walk through a birch forest.

After lunch we set for a hike up Rocky Mountain. We started off walking around Diamond Lake.

We got more impressive views from the lookout at the top.

After another night in our Motel with great views we set off for Queenstown.