From Christchurch to Wanaka

It was a big drive today. The car was packed and we were on our way by eight and the cloud cover made the driving easy to do – not good enough light to stop for photos!
Once we left the main road south and headed inland we soon found some fantastic scenery and Colin was busy taking lots of pictures through the windscreen. I am not sure if I shall use even half of them but he had a wonderful time trying to keep the images he saw to jog his memory later.
Poor Colin could not get over how dry the country looked. The only colour that was any different to parched gold was found in the trees planted around farms or the trees growing along the banks of rivers. However the magnitude of the mountains impressed him! We did stop when we reached the pretty little Church on the banks of Lake Tekapo and took a few pictures there. The first picture I am sharing with you is taken from a different place than usual – after all the little stone church is quite a simple shape and can be seen by Googling for it (Church of the Good Shepherd) so my shot shows just how tiny it is and how it is perched right on the edge of the lake.

1/250 f/6.3 ISO 80

As we arrived, a young couple was posing for their wedding photos outside the church – it was freezing cold and the bride was wearing a strapless white dress! Very brave! Once they had rugged up in warm coats and disappeared I nipped into the church and took a picture of the very famous view past the altar. This is what makes this little church so special.

1/160 f/8 ISO 400

We arrived at Wanaka at 3.30 and our first stop was at the supermarket to purchase food so that we had meals for the weekend! Very practical! We had done the distance on less than one tank of petrol which is excellent. We shall fill up tomorrow and I will know how much we used.
The resort in which we are staying is glorious! What a location! The view from our windows is wonderful. Some of the units have view of Lake Wanaka but I don’t mind our view at all – what do you think?

1/350 f/3.5 ISO 80

I purchased a week of time on the internet and scratched the card to reveal the code – then logged on. Horror of horrors. The signal is so weak that I cannot even open the browser! It looks like I shall have to do as I did at Coffs Harbour and go down to the main office area to see if I can get a better connection there. Life isn’t all roses!
AJ