Fresh Salmon - Cinnamon Scrolls -Wanaka Here We Come

The weather is beautiful, a great day to see this wild and wonderful West Coast.
This South Island just keeps on coming and amazing us.
New Zealand is dotted with great old pubs
Unlike the cities the country people revere their history and work with what they’ve got.
We are rushing past fabulous early colonial cottages. I’ve yet to capture one but I will soon.
You keep on turning corners and look...wonderment!
This is Lake Ianthe

About another 100 kms on we reached the town that surrounds the Franz Josef Glacier and Coffee Stop.
The Full of Beans Café.
Highly recommended
I was intrigued with this beautiful cake. One of the cooks was assembling it.
This is a gluten free cake.

It is one cake cut in half.
Would you believe only 4 tablespoons maize cornflour is used.
It took a lot of trial and error to perfect this cake.
About 8 eggs…
Will do some experimenting.

Didn’t get to taste I had already been distracted.
My search for perfect date scones is changing to perfect scones of any flavour.
These cinnamon scrolls were excellent. According to the lady in the gas station next door you have to get in early so that you don’t miss out.

We didn’t do the Glacier. We moved on another suggestion from Derrick was to go to Lake Matheson

So we turned off…so beautiful. A lovely cafe...we didn't eat there as we were still full from Full a A Bean Cafe

But we reneged on the actual view of the Lake it was a 20 minutes walk each way. So that was another hour added onto our trip so reluctantly we carried on south. Anyway we had a bonus not too much further on there was a Fox Glacier Lookout

Quick left turn and up this lovely track not suitable for Campervans and Truck Good.

We nearly missed the lookout a dick head cyclist had parked his bike over the sign Dale had to get out and move it so we could see where to go. The hidden arrow pointed to the left. Lucky we could have driven on for ages.

It was worth it though. Look at it

Now as a contrast here is the Garabaldi Glacier in the Beagle Channel not far from Cape Horn picture taken while we were cruising couple of years ago. But that's another story.

Back to the South Island
Knights Point

It seems every where we have been...of course there are the usual Cluster of Campervans.

(A little aside- our friend Jim, who is an Uber Truckie says that the Campervans are known as White Maggots by the trucking community)

They quite often travel in convoy and it is a real pain.

There are ancient occupants in this area.

Sandflies. I just killed my first one here at Knights Point

But let’s not digress
Looking straight ahead 1700 kms to Tasmania

And to the left (the south west) First stop Antarctica

The sights just keep on coming
The Haast Region
Haast Population 295 known as Haastafarians
Lunch time.
On recommendation from our Lonely Planet we really wanted to go to
The Craypot at Jackson’ Bay Wharf but once again 40 kms out of Haast...so we settled for the Fantails Café.
We chose Fish and Chips.
They were cooking Blue Cod. The Blue Cod in this region is sensational
Normally!!!
The fish and chips were OK…edible but not fabulous. Anyway they filled a gap.

So over the Haast River
Now a major milestone… we have traveled 1500kms since we left Auckland
8 days ago.

Then into Haast Pass just vision after vision

Waterfalls, rapids

The sign post at Cameron Flat
There is a map of the area and walks etc you can take
Of course we didn’t…after all we are on a eating and drinking tour of New Zealand.

Not a walking tour unlike some mad friends who are biking

Go for it Severne, Annie, Julia and Rexy

Then over the hill Lake Wanaka
on our right back into hills and then on our left Lake Hawea

Quite spectacular

See we are not alone

So we arrived at Paul and Lesley’s.

Lesley was away helping her daughter with the new baby Jack
But Paul was prepared for us with an excellent meat sauce (very rich and hearty) to top spaghetti...served with a tasty Chopped salad

Bit chilly down here

They know how to light a fire in the south.
Their view from the back veranda is sensational.

Paul took us for a Tiki tour of Wanaka we were the “Sunday Drivers”
There is a disproportional amount of very rich people living here for the size of the town.
Some great houses but 2 of the best are owned by people we know.
Unfortunately once again the battery ran out on my bloody camera.
This the only shot I got of Sue’s superb Villa
Now those who know us well will be delighted to see how the little dog ran and sat on Dale’s knee Luckily I got this shot before technology failed

But all is not lost Sue has a website she rents this wonderful place out
Villa South Pacific
The we went to visit Annie and Colin Mantell’s amazing house overlooking the golf course.They have so much style those two.
Check their place out. Mantells

They have a superb event location in Auckland and the Ultimate Motorhome.

Bit different from the Clusters of Campervans we have encountered

Wanaka is outstandingly beautiful I loved this little churchOn her way home Lesley popped into the Salmon Farm and purchased us some fresh fresh Salmon for dinner

Lesley seasoned and sprinkled chopped chives on the fish and cooked it face down
After a couple minutes she flipped it and poured over some wine
Got that bubbling and then covered it.
Heat off leave for about 3-4 minutes.

Moist and fabulous.
AND Jersey benne potatoes and steamed asparagus
So so good

It got a bit raucous after dinner

So it was farewell to the Burts

I would award this establishment
♥♥♥♥♥
Lovely garden, spectacular view, good bed, good shower. Excellent Sunday Drive

Great Fun Paul.