Off to the West Coast

At this stage we are still in Lake Hawea awaiting the arrival of Robin and Dereks Batteries from Christchurch.   Their Auto Electrician at Wanaka Auto Electrical has been very helpful but was let down by Mainfreight.   The batteries arrived in Cromwell overnight but were offloaded there, so after a fruitless afternoon waiting around, we returned to Lake Hawea.   We understood that the batteries would be sent from Cromwell “first thing” today but once again Mainfreight have let the side down and they won’t be arriving until after 11:30am.   Once they arrive and are fitted we are off through the Haast Pass to the Roaring Billy Waterfall area where there is a freedom camping area.

Pauline and I have set off ahead of the others and agreed to meet up at Roaring Billy Waterfall.   The road winds along the banks of Lake Hawea, still looking perfect in the sunshine until it pops over the hill and on to the banks of Lake Wanaka.   Another stunning view.

Lake Wanaka

We moved into the Haast Pass , a scenery filled winding road which climbs up quite high and then drops down suddenly.   We stopped at the Thunder Creek Waterfall first, a short walk of the road.  This waterfall is 28metre high  tumbling into the Haast River.   Thunder Creek, a small tributary of the Haast River drains a short narrow valley.   Since the retreat of glacier ice in this area, the Haast River has cut a canyon the height of the waterfall which some local people know as “Ninety foot Falls”

Thunder Creek Waterfall

Rounding a corner a little further on and we were presented with a beautiful view of Mount Cook up the valley so once again stopped for a photo !

Aoraki – Mt Cook from Haast Pass

A quick stop at Pleasant Flat a DOC camp on the way.   Sandflies, wasps and bees were aplenty and some more nice views.

Then on to Roaring Billy Waterfall. The Waterfall at the end of a 15 min bush walk.  We were supposed to spend the night at a layby just prior to the waterfall stopping area but it wasn’t a very nice spot. Pauline and I decided to go on to Haast.  Village to the Motor Camp, and when the others arrived at 4pm they also decided to do the same.

  

                     Roaring Billy                             and The Haast River