• Drive to Lake Tekapo
• Observatory Lookout
• Winter Park (Hot pools)

Off to Lake Tekapo today, so checked out of the hotel and headed off. A lot of the journey is costal and the views along the way are just amazing. I followed the Tom Tom, which took us the quickest way - but certainly not the "normal" way. It took us through sound very windy road up and down mountains for one part - but it did result in some amazing scenery and did cut a lot of time from the normal route (meant to take somewhere between 4 - 5 hr, ended up taking 3:30). We're finding that the weather is being perfect for us - every time we have stopped the weather has been clear & it only seems to rain when it isn't a problem. We actually had some quite severe weather on the way (hail storm etc…) but whenever we needed to stop and get out it was clear & when we arrived it was clear (with rain not far away - but it never came over u).

Lake Tekao is stunning - the water is a rich light blue and walking up to the lake with no one around, mountains in the background feels like walking into a perfect picture. It's absolutely amazing (but it seems impossible to capture on photograph). Everywhere we go has amazing views. The town is a significant contrast to Dunedin with Lake Tekapo not even having an ATM. About 15 shops is all that's here (plus quite a few motels).

We took a drive up to the observatory that's out here, which has once again stunning views - it's just bitterly cold. Fortunately there is a café at the top which is heated for a bit of shelter. Since the weather has been so cold in NZ recently, it had actually snowed last night on the mountain.

We drove back from the observatory to the Alpine springs & Spa facility. For such a small town, this is a huge venue with 3 massive heated "spa's" (they are really pools with a ledge to sit on). Iven the temperature was freezing, these were really nice to just sit and take in the view. Each pool is a different temp, for a comfortably warm pool, to a super hot (40 degree) pool. After spending about an hour's and a half here (very relaxing) - we had dinner in town at a Tai restaurant, then back to the hotel.