This day we decided to explore a couple of the recommended nearby towns with some interesting history and character – Wanaka and Arrowtown. Each had it’s own unique aspects and this made for a lovely, relaxed day of exploration. Wanaka reminded me of Lake Chelan in Washington State. A large meandering lake for boating and beach time, a central business district mostly comprised of local merchants and cafes, and a nice scenic walkway wrapping the most accessible part of the lake. As with so many of the areas we have been visiting the wildflowers here were in full array around the lake. It’s clear that Kiwis nurture the inherent beauty of their country and take pride in the natural beauty they have been gifted.
A real treat here was to see a rare bird, the Southern Crested Grebe, being protected as Wanaka has provided floating platforms for these cuties to nest on! I wasn’t sure what these were at first but looking more closely it was clear that there was enough room for one bird to sit and nest, and others to visit here and there.
We did a little poking around in the local shops and Andrew and I ended up getting some very stylish sun hats – big brims were needed as the sun is very strong here. We treated ourselves to a takeaway lunch of the local “pies” that we have been finding are a staple. These are like calzones with a variety of fillings…truly gut bombs but soooo yummy!
We ventured on to Arrowtown, built on the banks of the Arrow River. This area was once a rich source of gold. In 1862, thousands of miners from around the world flocked to Arrowtown to make their fortune. The miners moved on, but their legacy has become a treasure in its own right. Arrowtown is recognized as Tohu Whenua – a place that has shaped one of New Zealand’s best heritage experiences. It’s center is reminiscent of American “one horse towns” with historical frontage and small shops and cafes. The historical significance is really seen in the The Lakes District Museum on the main street (we didn’t get in there – we unfortunately came on a day when much of the town was closed). What we did wander through was the Chinese Village that gave us a glimpse into life for early miners in the 1880’s. Hundreds of Chinese miners came (all men) to look for gold here and send back home, but the life was tough and they faced lots of discrimination (which the New Zealand government later apologized for and gave some measure of reparations).
This day held a NZ first for me – I braved driving on the “other” side of the street! While I had done this on other selected trips overseas, each time it is a mind game to flip the norm of driving perspective. As our companion Kathy quipped: “Stay left, look right, and hug the middle yellow line!” I wish the US would get its act together and join the rest of the world along with adopting the metric system. Would make life for us traveling lunatics much easier.
Living La Vida Loca 