After completing the West Coast Highway, we turned inland, through Wanaka, and back north, this time on the eastern face of the Southern Alps range. As I’ve now come to expect, the scene changed dramatically. The hills became arid as we carved through valleys surprisingly devoid of sheep. Greens turned to yellows, as drastic peaks began emerging from the flatlands.
Back in the states, I’d watched a show on Netflix titled, Departures, that followed two young travelers on their trips around the world. I vividly remember the episode on New Zealand, and a scene that involved some air guitar in an arid valley with the backdrop of a massive peak. In my search to re-create this scene, minus the air guitar and plus a shirt, I constantly veered off to the side of the road, thinking this must be the place. As it turns out, that scene was actually filmed on the North Island. Go figure.
Not to be bothered, my roadside detours continued as the backdrop was just too good to pass up. Upon arrival at Lake Pukaki, a bluer than blue lake at the foot of Mt. Cook, we detoured into the mountains to set up our room with a view for the evening, before embarking on a short day hike up to the foot of fog-laden Mt. Cook the following day. No matter, it seems as though when the panoramas are hidden by the weather, it’s easier to notice the simple beauty right in front of your face, like mountain parrots and low-rise rainbows.
As the weather cleared and the afternoon sun lingered, we made south for Queenstown, where adventure and adrenaline await. Another road trip in the books, this one filled with everything from glowworms to glaciers, lakes more brilliant than the clear sky in Montana, and an unanticipated addition: Good Company.