New Year's Day - Franz Josef to Wanaka

New Year's morning was an early one. We got up to watch the sunrise at Lake Matheson with the incredible reflections of the Southern Alps.

More photos with GPS maps here.

Lake Matheson HDR:


Morning coffee with Lexey looking out at Mount Tasman and the Southern Alps from the deck of the cafe near Lake Matheson:


After breakfast we went back to the hostel and picked up our stuff and headed over to Franz Josef Glacier. It is about a 90 minute walk from the carpark to the glacier and back. The sheer size of everything is disorienting and no photo can ever do it justice.

Lexey and I at the glacier:


Heading south along the Haast Highway:


Completely unmodified raw photo of Lake Hawea:


After the incredible drive through many waterfalls and stunning the stunning blue lakes, Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea, we arrived in Wanaka. After checking into the hostel we hit up a bottleshop for a local bottle of wine from Central Otago. The guy in the shop recommended a Pinot Noir from Wild Earth. When we asked where to go for food that is BYO he said Relishes. This was my favorite meal of our trip.

Green-lipped mussels at Relishes in Wanaka: