
On Wednesday 3rd July, after a couple of weeks back in Mosgiel, we took off on our BIG trip heading to Greymouth on the West Coast. We packed up in the rain again! We went right through to Earnscleugh where we stayed for 3 nights, did a bit of exploring around the Alexandra/Clyde area including a trip up to a lookout above Clyde. Although the road was a bit of a goat track the views were magnificent, and well worth the effort.
On Saturday we watched Max playing in the Central Otago under 7s Rippa Rugby competition, which was great fun. After this we packed up the car and bikes (raining again) and headed to Wanaka to spend some time with Marc Janet and the grand kids, Eve Max and Quinn.
On Saturday we watched Max playing in the Central Otago under 7s Rippa Rugby competition, which was great fun. After this we packed up the car and bikes (raining again) and headed to Wanaka to spend some time with Marc Janet and the grand kids, Eve Max and Quinn.

We stayed in the Camping Ground in town this time for the sheer convenience of being about 5mins from Marc’s house. Saturday night we had tea with the family and spent almost all of Sunday with them, however we did manage to get over to see Ben and Anna who have recently shifted to Wanaka.

Monday (8th July) we got away about midday after catching up with John and Sue, and in brilliant weather drove up the side of Lake Hawea and through The Neck to follow the shore of Lake Wanaka to Makarora and the Blue Pools, where the Blue river meets the Makarora river, then through the Haast Pass and stayed the night at Pleasant Flat beside the Haast river, just past the Gates of Haast bridge. A lovely DOC camp – the weather was closing in again but we felt confident that all was OK. Spent the night doing some forward planning which is always good then hit the sack about 9.30.

Tuesday morning we woke to several inches of snow! What a beautiful sight. Did a little bit of exploring, took lots of photos and watched some vehicles go by, but mostly stayed warm inside the van, till close to midday when the road looked clear enough to move on. Snow makes the scenery beautiful but we soon ran out of the white stuff as we came down the road to Haast township, where we had lunch, and a look around,

then we took off up the coast to our next photo stop Knights point, with some amazing coastal views

and we ended up stopping for the night at Lake Paringa, right on the lake edge as you will see in the photos attached. You will also note the difference in the weather from the snow to the brilliant sunshine on the coast.