" JOBS FILL YOUR POCKETS, BUT ADVENTURES FILL YOUR SOUL"
29 DECEMBER 2022
Good ol' kiwi lunch
Going Off The Beaten Path
We love heading off the beaten path to explore and see things with fresh eyes. One of our days in Tekapo we had planned to head to Lake Alexandrina after we'd had lunch - but where did was a good spot to stop and have lunch along the lake?
We wanted to find a quiet place where we'd have part of the lake to ourselves as it was really busy in the main parks of the lake, so we drove up the west side of the lake, past Mt John, past the road to Lake Alexandrina and kept driving until we couldn't drive any more. We had no choice but to stop as we came to the Cass River and unfortunately, we haven't hadn't had the chance to turn our van into an amphibious vehicle just yet, so we parked up and enjoyed the views.
At one point we were driving along and this dude overtook us, going 100km on a corner, leaving us in a cloud of smoke, unable to see anything in front of us. World's best driver, cleeeearly. So that was fun.
This blog isn't really about Cass River, we just had to name our adventure but while we're on the subject... The Cass River is like the wild child of all rivers. It's like the rebel without a cause of the area. It's not content to just flow peacefully like other rivers. Oh no, it has to go and make a big splash, literally! This river is always up to something, whether it's flooding the local farmer's fields, or taking a detour to go through the local farmer's backyard. It's like it's on a mission to make sure no one forgets about it.
We wanted to find a quiet place where we'd have part of the lake to ourselves as it was really busy in the main parks of the lake, so we drove up the west side of the lake, past Mt John, past the road to Lake Alexandrina and kept driving until we couldn't drive any more. We had no choice but to stop as we came to the Cass River and unfortunately, we haven't hadn't had the chance to turn our van into an amphibious vehicle just yet, so we parked up and enjoyed the views.
At one point we were driving along and this dude overtook us, going 100km on a corner, leaving us in a cloud of smoke, unable to see anything in front of us. World's best driver, cleeeearly. So that was fun.
This blog isn't really about Cass River, we just had to name our adventure but while we're on the subject... The Cass River is like the wild child of all rivers. It's like the rebel without a cause of the area. It's not content to just flow peacefully like other rivers. Oh no, it has to go and make a big splash, literally! This river is always up to something, whether it's flooding the local farmer's fields, or taking a detour to go through the local farmer's backyard. It's like it's on a mission to make sure no one forgets about it.
That dude was gone in a flash!
The road was unsealed the whole way once we got passed the Lake Alexandrina turn off
It was weird seeing cattle in the paddocks as most of the land in the region is bare
Is Our Car Going To Fall Apart?
At one point we took a detour off the main road as it looked well worn and we hoped it would lead to an isolated place at the lake. Technically it did, but there was a gate and water so we couldn't get to it!
The road was worse than the main road and it was like going 4wding off road! Big chunks of stones were hitting the bottom of our car and we would cringe every time it would happen and cross our fingers nothing was going to fall off.
The girls had a blast on the road (as did we) as it was a lot of fun bumping around. We saw a few bunnies racing across the road - they are eeeeeverywhere in Tekapo and a bit of a pest here, but so cute.
The road was worse than the main road and it was like going 4wding off road! Big chunks of stones were hitting the bottom of our car and we would cringe every time it would happen and cross our fingers nothing was going to fall off.
The girls had a blast on the road (as did we) as it was a lot of fun bumping around. We saw a few bunnies racing across the road - they are eeeeeverywhere in Tekapo and a bit of a pest here, but so cute.
Our van did not thank us for going down this track!
Nope, no river access for you today my friend
There were thousands of Viper's-bugloss (what a name!) growing in this field
Viper's-Bugloss
There were so many viper's-bugloss (we had to search up afterwards what they were called!) growing in this area and at first glance we thought they were lupins. They were really vibrant and covered so much of the land.
The road was so quiet, no one came and no one went, so it was really peaceful and we could stop anywhere and I didn't have to worry about being roadkill when I was taking photos in the middle of the road.
I really enjoyed taking photos of all the layers of colour in this area, it's a photographer's paradise.
The road was so quiet, no one came and no one went, so it was really peaceful and we could stop anywhere and I didn't have to worry about being roadkill when I was taking photos in the middle of the road.
I really enjoyed taking photos of all the layers of colour in this area, it's a photographer's paradise.
We thought these were lupins but on closer inspection, we realised they were viper's-bugloss
The Southern Alps have snowy peaks all year round
I love the layers of colours in this image
It's hard to imagine this area in other seasons, so brown and barren
Two Worlds
There was another part of the area that was really pretty and I just had to stop at to take photos! The lupin field here stretched as far as the eye could see and we were surprised that most of them were purple as the other fields in Tekapo (like the Tekapo Lupin Field and on the Cowans Hills Track) had a whole lot of pinks, sunset, yellow and white lupins. But nope, just good ol' purple here ladies and gentlemen!
The difference on either side of the fence was striking and it was like looking at two different images - lush, green, filled with flower, mountains and power on one side and dusty and barren with one small pond on the other side. One side was full of life and the other side was struggling.
Everyone had had enough of the heat so it was time to head to Lake Alexandrina for a swim in the lake and to climb the hill to see the epic views! Check out our blog here on Lake Alexandrina.
The difference on either side of the fence was striking and it was like looking at two different images - lush, green, filled with flower, mountains and power on one side and dusty and barren with one small pond on the other side. One side was full of life and the other side was struggling.
Everyone had had enough of the heat so it was time to head to Lake Alexandrina for a swim in the lake and to climb the hill to see the epic views! Check out our blog here on Lake Alexandrina.
I love photographing such different contrasts separated by a fence
The lupins were mostly purple and blue, unlike the ones at the Tekapo Lupin Field and on the Cowans Hill Track
Lake Tekapo was so vividly blue!
Looking back at the Southern Alps
You never know what you're going to find around the corner on an unknown adventure
Know Before You Go
- The lupins are in bloom from mid-November to end of December
- The cell reception can be limited the further around the lake you go (in some places we had none at all)
- There are no gas stations around the lake, only the one in Tekapo, so gas up before you go!
Getting There
You don't need directions to go on your own adventure - just go!
Conclusion
We had a great time driving up and down Lake Tekapo. The views were incredible and it was awesome to have it all to ourselves as not many tourists venture up this way and it was nice to see a different view than the one we saw each morning (even though it was sooo stunning!).
Gallery of our adventure
Check out the rest of the awesomeness that didn't make it to the main blog but deserves to be shown.
More to do in Tekapo
TEKAPO LUPIN FIELD
CANTERBURY During December & November, this field has an ocean of lupins as colourful and as far as the eye can see! |
CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
CANTERBURY One of the most photographed places in NZ, this church is an icon in Tekapo along with the dog statue.
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LAKE ALEXANDRINA
CANTERBURY A beautiful, clear lake in the Mackenzie Basin, full of trout, salmon and beautiful Southern Crested Grebes nesting along the shore. |
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FOLLOW USBORING (BUT IMPORTANT LEGAL) STUFF |