We will stay in Te Anau for 3 nights with the intention of relaxing after the travels. This is the furthest South that we will go in New Zealand. Te Anau is at the bottom of lake Te Anau, the largest lake in a South Island and on the edge of the Fjordlands. West from here is forested mountains without metalled roads and essentially uninhabited.
We set out from Cromwell on Lake Dunstan in sun and drove in the direction of Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu along the Kawarau gorge.
This is a more detailed map of this section
First, we drove through yet more impressive and constantly changing scenery, stopping to take photos when possible. In the main, there were few places to stop safely and many photos were taken through the car windows.
Kawarau gorge, Ripponvale
A rare glimpse of the river which feeds the Roaring Meg hydroelectric scheme. 98% of electricity on South Island is hydroelectricity.
We paused at Lake Hayes where there was a large show ground, so somewhere to park, and great views across the lake.
It claims to be the world's prettiest showground and this view is why.
We crossed the Kawarau river at Frankton
and then on to to Drift bay, where the road met Lake Wakatipu.
This is the Devils staircase
We stopped in Kingston at the end of Lake Wakatipu for lunch and, seeing that they had a steam railway, set off to see if we could take a photo for Ernie. Sadly the engine was hiding somewhere, but the station was there and very closed.
We did spot a kite surfer on the lake.
From here, we were back in the mountains, crossing to Te Anau. This is Lowther
And The Keys
Across the Maraurara river to Te Anau where we will stay for 3 nights.
In the evening, we went out to eat by Lake Te Anau
where we spotted a sea plane
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