An early start after showers and breakfast - some distance to cover today as we head south. Firstly back onto Highway 1 across Canterbury Plain, mile after mile of straight roads in very flat countryside, a major dairying area. Extensive irrigation systems across large areas of grassland. Through Ashburton and onto Geraldine the gateway to the southern lakes. We passed the first arable crops we had seen in NZ. As we headed into Mac Kenzie Country we saw large herds of red deer and stags. We crossed the mountain range via Burkes Pass with amazing views around every corner before we caught our first sight of Lake Tekapo - absolutely amazing, turquoise lake with snow covered mountains behind and multi coloured lupine on the shore and the sun shining as well!! Wow! After lunch on the shore of the lake we continued our journey towards Lake Pukakiour proposed overnight stop and first' freedom parking' We thought the views couldn't get better but Lake Pukakiour literally did take your breath away - absolutely incredible! Baeyer still we were hoping to spend the night by the lake. We took a small raid alongside the lake which turned into a bumpy gravelled road and eventuall stopped on a wide grassed area with unbelievable views across the lake. Whilst cooking supper part of the cloud on the opposite side of the lake had cleared to reveal that it had been snowing on the tops of the mountains. Mount Cooke is still shrouded in cloud - fingers crossed for tomorrow. It's going to be an amazing site through our bedroom window in the morning.
Distance travelled - 308 km