Forecast today is for early showers, clearing, & fair weather for the rest of the day, so we have a slow start to the day, to let the rain pass by. In reality: a few fluffy white clouds, in a sunlight blue sky, all day long! Drove to the Mount Aspiring Lookout - fantastic views across Lake Wanaka of the mountains - then past the turning to Lake Diamond Road, & some hills that were used in aerial shots in LotR. Then 20km of gravel road, across Catt...

Up early to prepare for the Rob Roy Valley & Glacial walk. D checked the weather at 9am: patchy cloud with showers forecast for mid morning. Packed warm clothes & wet weather gear, & set off into Wanaka, to get more info from the i-site (pretty useless!) & the DoC office (very useful!). Blue skies immediately above the town, but as awe started driving north & west, we could see the grey clouds hiding the mountain tops, ahead of us. After ~10...