From the glaciers, I took a long drive through “Mount Aspiring National Park” and the Haast Pass, a spectacular path through snow-covered mountains up into “The Southern Alps” — one of the biggest ski regions of New Zealand. The drive was beautiful, taking you past endless mountains covered in snow with many huge, crystal-clear lakes at their feet. There were several cranked-up ski towns in the area (including Queenstown) packed full of partying skiers, so I opted for the quieter Wanaka on the edge of Lake Wanaka. It was the first time I had trouble finding accommodation down here. I was hoping to do a bit of hiking in the area, but the freezing cold weather and the idea of hiking up into the snowfields made me decide to head onward in my nice warm car.
