Wanaka

We headed down to Wanaka, which is dubbed as the little Queenstown. So I knew I was going to like it.

(Waterfront of Wanaka... awesome mountains in the background. Notice the snow on the mountain tops. Its starting to get cold at high altitudes)

We stopped at 'Puzzle World' on the way. It had a giant maze which takes about 1 hour to complete. The maze contains 1.5km worth of trails (the average person walks at least 3km to complete the maze). There was also the illusion room, where everything looks like its going up hill.

(Giant maze. This is about half of it)

(Illusion room... am I really standing like that?)

That night we all pitched in to have a giant Mexican meal along with margaritas. Only problem was no blender.

(Ryan improvising with unorthodox methods to get crushed ice... shoe and towel)

(see Mom, I can cook. Margarita in hand)

(Solid meal)

That night we went to a movie at the coolest movie theater in the world. It has couches to sit on, and even a car (we got to sit in the car!). There was a giant box of extra pillows to use. At the intermission, they had freshly baked cookies, and ice cream. You were also allowed to take meals or alcohol into the movie theater.

(Some of the Stray crew waiting to get into the movie)

(The tiny, but very comfortable movie theater)

(Chilling in the car)

The next day I went for a giant hike. The trailhead was a bit out of town, so I had to hitchhike out. I was picked up by the first car! The hike was a 12km round trip. It was a massive climb of about 1350 vertical meters (that’s about 4000 vertical feet or 6 times of Blue Mountain). I don’t think there was a single flat part the whole time. I really wanted to giv’er, so I dropped the hammer and did the climb in only 2 hours.

(Looking up a the peak. I had already climbed for a while when I took this photo)

(Awesome views with the sun rising)

(About 1/3 of the way up. Started at lake level)

(Cool ridge lines running all the way. I walked out onto that one)

At the top of the mountain, since it had rained the day before, it was all snow at the upper altitudes. I was walking through about 3 inches of snow (I was in my trail runners and shorts!). The top was insanely windy, but the views were worth it.

(Snow on the peak)

(the final path up through the snow)

(Picture from the peak. Remember I started at lake level)

(Me on the peak. Had to throw the fleece on since it was so cold.)

(Another peak picture)

That night I met up with a bunch of the Stray people, as everyone shared their adventures for the day.

(Mike from Germany after I told him the drinking he had was reserved for females in Canada)