Saturday 27th
Cromwell - Alexandra - Wanaka

Today we woke to a gloriously fine, but cold morning with the early morning sun streaming into our motel room. We packed and set off for the Alexandra Spring Blosson Festival where we arrived quite early before they started closing many of the streets for the main parade. We had a relaxing coffee at the old courthouse and wandered down the main route to a viewing spot adjacent to the park where a lot of the entertainment for the festival was being offered.

Three chilly but keen children waiting fo the main floats. The usual in a parade of this type. Police ambulance and fire truck sirens leading the way followed by big rigs advertising their various services. An absence of real blossom on the floats, but lots of the paper variety. An interesting collection of old and antique cars.

We had booked two nights at Wanaka so decided, as the day was still fine (but with a very cold breeze), we would travel via the Crown Range. So it was back past Cromwell, through the Kawerau Gorge again and up to the summit of the range where we found ourselves above the snow line, but it had melted from the road.

Kawerau Gorge


Bungy jumping from the old Kawerau Gorge Bridge

During the acsent up the Crown Range there are many laybys to view the surrounding countryside. This shot looks westward over Arrowtown towards the Silverhorn Peak in Richardson Mountains


Above the snowline. Surveying the vista


Mt Sale on the Crown Range


The descent down the Cardrona River valley towards Wanaka.

Stopped at the Cardrona Hotel for pictures and then continued on to Wanaka where we located the Best Western Motel at $100 a night.