Our 20 kilometre walk to Wanaka brought us along the river from Lake Hawea under a sky that threatened to rain on us for the duration. The river was narrow but fierce as it rushed along beside us with far more energy and enthusiasm that we ourselves had at that point in time. We were well ready for a couple of days off. Smack bang between Hawea and Wanaka stood Albert town where we stocked up on pies and ice cream. Like, lots of ice cream. We stood at the counter like bikers at a dodgy roadside bar ordering shots: “Lady, I think you’ve had enough” “I’ll tell YOU when I’ve had enough, now scoop me another Hokey Pokey with a Goody Goody Gumdrops chaser”.
We approached Wanaka around its beautiful lake, the centre point of this bustling tourist town. Unlike Lake Tekapo’s busloads of tourists however, Wanaka had a slightly edgier vibe to it, with groups of hipster youths huddled around tables outside equally edgy and hipster establishments. We had more than one funny glance as we traipsed past the main street, despite the fact that we were in relatively good shape having had a shower just that morning.
At Lake Hawea we’d received the good news that our old TA buddy Sharasite was in Wanaka waiting for us, so after checking into the Lakeside Holiday Park it was off to Kai Whaka Pai for pizzas and beer and a catch up with our pal.
Sharasite split Wanaka the next day, leaving Alan, Lizzie and I to undertake our long anticipated trip to Cinema Paradiso, Wanaka’s famously cool little cinema. If there’s a better way to enjoy the amazing true story of Stephen Hawking’s life, other than in a kitsch airplane seat with a freshly baked cookie and a hot chocolate, then I have yet to discover it.
The next day was predominantly organised around food, namely the lasagne we never got to experience in Tekapo. After eating a lasagne designed for six people and two litres of ice cream, the three of us tried to obliterate the shameful memories by watching the Princess Bride on DVD. Carlsberg don’t do rest days, but if they did…..
Trek3000 