My trip to New Zealand

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Wanaka, Pt 2

After the two fjords, I wanted to go back to Wanaka, and do the Cascade Saddle track. Gal didn't wanna come with me - his knees hurt and he met a really great aussie girl (Heya Bex!).So I said goodbye to him, and drove north. On my way I picked up an israeli hitch-hiker (Ben) - and of course he's on his way to Wanaka, to the same backpackers as me (Hollys place - I really like it there) In the backpackers I met Ben's friend, Amir, and his girlfriend Ayelet. I spent 4 days in Wanaka - and it was great. I met lot's of nice people, and did some short walks, and also a really big puzzle...

The view of wanaka lake from Mt Roy. That girl is Victoria, and she stayed in the backpackers as well.
Another picture from Mt Roy. From left to right - Ben, Yael, Yael, Yael and Me. Yep! 3 Yaels traveling together. Cool.
Ayelet & Amir, in the lounge at Hollys, with the puzzle...
Ben & Hila (yep, another great israeli girl).
One day me & Hila wanted to go to the Rob Roy glacier, in Matukituki valley, but it was raining so we went back at the end. But that's the Matukituki valley (which is worth a picture just for the great name)

The Cascade Saddle

Well, at the end I had to start my track, and it was simply superb. 4 days, and it was quite hard for me - but I enjoyed it alot. I walked it alone (I met people on the huts but nobody walked the same route as me) - and that was fine (I actually enjoyed tramping by myself). I did 2 days in the cascade saddle, and then went out through the Rees valley, which was nice too.
The first day of the track is just 2.5 hours, walking along the Matukituki valley, to Aspiring hut. You walk through farmland, so it's not really exciting (But you have good views of Mt Aspiring at the end)
The second day starts with a couple of hours in the bush...
And then you go over the bush line, with great views of the Matukituki valley.
And here it is again.
Still going up. All in all you climb 1,400 meters, in about 4 hours. Phew!
When you reach the top part, it is covered in snow, of course.
And then you come to the Dart Glacier - really nice, with avalanches and stuff.
Another picture of the glacier.
Sitting on a 1,000 Meter edge - the Cascade saddle.
After the dart glacier you still have about 4 hours walk - mostly flat, along a weird valley, with some nice little 'emerald' lakes.
The third day involves going over the rees saddle - this is on the way up.
Crossing a river, in the Rees valley.
The top of the Rees saddle.

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