Lake Tekapo to Wanaka via the Lindis Pass and Wanaka Lavender Farm

Our summer holiday with my parents continued on from Lake Tekapo to Wanaka (the journey starts here), driving via the Lindis Pass.

Driving the Lindis Pass

Driving the Lindis Pass

It was a murky day, not the best for stopping and taking photographs, but nevertheless the Lindis Pass had a hauntingly desolate beauty about it.

Driving Lake Tekapo to Wanaka

Driving Lake Tekapo to Wanaka

The Lindis Pass links the Mackenzie Basin with Central Otago. The actual pass crosses a saddle between the valleys of the Lindis and Ahuriri Rivers at an altitude of 971 metres above sea level.

The tussock grass clings to the land with stoic determination, telling of the high altitude.

Alice taking in the view at a stop on the Lindis Pass

Alice taking in the view at a stop on the Lindis Pass

As we approached Wanaka the clouds lifted and a lavender farm caught our attention (more so the alpacas for young Alice!).

Grandma walking through the lavender

Grandma walking through the lavender

The Wanaka Lavender Farm is a wonderful place to stop in for a cup of tea and a stroll. We enjoyed lavender tea (had to be done) and fresh muffins. The shop sells a wonderful array of products from the farm, derived from lavender, honey and the alpaca fur (which Alice insisted on buying a bag of, which we later ‘felted’ to make a table mat – finding a YouTube tutorial to teach us!).

Beautiful lavender

Beautiful lavender

The  grounds are beautifully landscaped with places to stop, inhale and enjoy the scenery, as the farm is situated on raised land surrounded by distant mountains. Games of giant Jenga and Connect 4, alongside alpacas, kune kune pigs and bee hives, made for a delightful way to spend an hour or so.

Scarecrow fun!

Scarecrow fun!

Lavender tranquility

Lavender tranquility

Alice loved playing the giant connect 4 with her Grandfather. She couldn’t reach to the top to place in the coloured markers, so climbed instead – despite the offer of a helping hand (climbing just added to the fun of the game – and got harder the more the pieces filled the holes!).

Alice and Grandad playing Connect 4

Alice and Grandad playing Connect 4

We headed on from the Wanaka Lavender Farm to our place of accommodation for the next six nights – at Wanaka Luxury Apartments. The apartments have a lovely shared swimming pool, spa, outdoor fire place, BBQ and pizza oven. We felt instantly relaxed and enjoyed staying within a short walk of the main town and lake shore.

Hubby and our three daughters enjoying the spa pool at the Wanaka Luxury Apartments

Hubby and our three daughters enjoying the spa pool at the Wanaka Luxury Apartments

Alice, scooting at nearly 10pm, enjoying the long summer days of the south of New Zealand.

Alice, scooting at nearly 10pm, enjoying the long summer days of the south of New Zealand.