Lake Hawea to Glendhu Bay

Wednesday, 16th January 2013   9 hrs 10 mins  48.8 kms

Today was scheduled to be one of those long, easy, but fast walking days - and so it turned out - following cycle trails for almost the whole day - and trying not to punish my feet any more than they were already.

First along the Lake Hawea lakefront from east to west into the Hawea township, on a still morning - with the rabbit population out in force.

From there the next cycle trail followed the Hawea river all the way to the specially built swingbridge (picture). Next over the Clutha road bridge near Albert Town, and onto the Clutha river track all the way to where the river leaves Lake Wanaka.

This is where the effect of the recent - and still current - flooding was evident - possibly a dozen sections of this track are still under water, sometimes to knee height - not that it seemed to deter cyclists and walkers. And for me a chance to keep my feet cool !

Then around the lakefront all the way to the Wanaka CBD, and lunch with Hazel looking down the lake.

The next section was the cycleway to Glendhu Bay  OK at first, but increasingly annoying as it explored every hill and bay in detail - going up and down and around continuously  But great lake views to help the kms pass by. At a few points the lake had gobbled the path completely, so a chance for some different terrain to walk on.

And then once past the huge campground at Glendhu Bay, a few kms inland to the start of tomorrow's walk - the Motutapu trail