Lake Wakatipu Changes colour - An alpine summer's day in Queenstown

 

The southerly wind bears an antarctic blast.

It is snowing in the mountains.

The wet afternoon lures me to the movies.

I see Twenty feet from Stardom. Worth seeing.

When I emerge from  Dorothy Browns Cinema the sun is shining.

I set off around the hills above the lake. I have noticed the Lake has been more turquoise over the last few days. Apparently masses of glacial flour released in a major landslide on the Dart River and has flowed into the lake. Meanwhile the landslide has created a dam on the Dart river and a section of the Dart walking track near Sandy Bluff is now 20m under water.

I am using a Lumix DMC-G3 camera and have not photoshopped the images. Just in case you are wondering.

Let's see what effect the evening light has on Lake Wakatipu

Come, walk with me.

The evening sun breaks through the clouds and the lake responds.

I spy a rainbow in the distant hills.

I love rainbows and walk on... 

 ...until the arc is at my feet.

A promise...

Spring walk - Glenorchy

Today is glorious.

The drive up Lake Wakatipu is magnificent. Snow-capped mountains, deep turquoise Lake Wakatipu and blue skies.
The Glenorchy Cafe is our first stop. Here we are in the wilderness enjoying a wonderful lunch.
There is time for me to introduce Dick to the walk I enjoyed with Margaret and Graham and Tao in January.

Come walk with us, at Glenorchy.

Promise of new growth on the willows. The Rees River enters Lake Wakatipu.

Skeletal trees border our path.

Snow-capped mountains encircle us.

Catkins...

Glenorchy wharf.

Queenstown Trails - Kelvin Peninsula to Jacks Point

The sun has come out.
Anne and I are on our way to Jacks Point.
We will see lots of autumn berries, learn about local geology, pemmican and much more.

Come, walk with us.

I am glad that Anne knows various trails around here. 

I am glad because I prefer to go on a different route each time I go walking.

 Looking north toward Queenstown...

and west to Cecil Peak.

Down to the shores of Lake Wakatipu

Anne asks me, "How did this rock get here?"
This is the first time I have walked with a geology major so I really enjoy my lesson about glaciation...
and Schist, and marble,

and up, skirting around the Jacks Point Golf Course...

with manicured greens, fairways and tees.

We pause and watch the parachutists descend. Seven of them airborne at a time.

We didn't need pemmican for this walk because a lovely lunch awaits on the deck at Jacks Point Club house.

A good walk.
Exercise for my mind and my body today.

Glenorchy Walkway

The light was amazing as I drove to meet Margaret and Graham, at Glenorchy. At times the sky seemed  pale lilac color.

We set off on the Glenorchy Walkway. The path takes us alongside Lake Wakatipu and around wetlands.  

Extensive board walks keep our feet dry as we walk through the wetlands.

Tao came along for the walk. He has well-honed retrieving skills.