Tekapo – Opuha

Time to move on today but before we do there is just one more walk track for us to knock off. Jude has kept reminding me since we’ve been in Tekapo, that she wouldn’t mind climbing Mt John, knowing when she says “I wouldn’t mind”… it means we’re going to lol. The morning was -2 when we woke but a nice warm Moho and a hot breakfast completed, we headed off to the start of the track. I looked at the sign that said an hour to the top… that’s cool as I am confident that we can do it in half the states time. The track on the way up was a reasonable steepness but not to bad, what made it harder was the sheet ice along the shaded parts of the climb which was about 2/3 of the climb. As we climbed, melting ice and snow fell from the pines and now and then managed to find its target down my neck and back. Walking out of the tree line near the top of Mt John opened up to some spectacular scenery.

Snow covered mountain ranges, the views of the plains and lakes surrounded in snow covered mountains was amazing. At the top of Mt John is a cafe where you can sit and admire the spectacular views over a coffee and if you powered through the energy reserves, a good range of food. Now it’s time to head back down and I quite pleased as I know now it’s going to be easy as it was a short jaunt up. Oh no… I get this nudge from Jude pointing down the opposite way we came which turns out to return via the lake route which is 4 x longer in distance… I humbly agree with her that I don’t mind at all…. and set off without making a whimper of a sound… yep you got it.. not going to let her know I hated the idea. The return route should take about 2 hours and was pretty pleased it only took one and a quarter hours. Got back to the NZMCA Park and enjoyed a beautiful well earned BLAT before packing up and heading to Lake Opuha, a 700 ha man made lake for the purpose of an irrigation reservoir in the Fairlie Basin. Arrived late afternoon, only two other campers before us but still plenty of room. We’ve been here before in the autumn which was beautiful but now it’s spring and although there is the occasional snap of polar blasts now and then bringing some heavy snow and strong winds it is predominantly getting warmer. Lake Opuha’s views slightly different with the mountains plastered in snow the Two Thumb Range, however because it is lower in altitude than Tekapo the green fields are more prominent. A slight cool southerly is wafting in but we in sheltered area. Lake is flat and calm with three or four boats out fishing. Tomorrow head off up the head of the valley to do a bit of exploring.