12/17/2017: Visit to a Ghost Town

If I had known beforehand what the access road to Bendigo Ghost Town was like - who knows if I would have dared to drive it. But at some point, there was simply no turning back. The road is steep, single-lane, full of deep potholes, and made of sand. When I think about it, it reminds me of Skippers Canyon Road. Our rear wheels skid and spin on the soft ground more than once. Luckily, we only encounter one vehicle coming uphill. When we reach the small parking area in what used to be Welshtown, I am sweaty and my legs are shaking.

Welshtown and Logantown were the success stories for gold discoveries ever made in New Zealand. Over half a million pounds of gold were mined starting in 1869. The mine was the talk of the town at the time - there was even a 5-star hotel, the ruins of which can still be visited. You can easily spend a good hour here, admiring the remaining relics from the glory days, like the Matilda Battery (blasting facility), and taking a look into the extremely deep shafts (about 180m).

On the way to the hostel, we try to find the Wanaka Lavender Farm, but there is nothing that even remotely looks like lavender at the address Google provided. So, another unchecked item on my list.

Our double room in Wanaka for the next two nights is affordable and spacious at the same time. The hostel is a bit old, but overall in good shape. After checking in, we have lunch before taking a walk to Wanaka's icon and Instagram hit 'That Wanaka Tree.' It is a single tree standing in the water instead of (like its peers) on the beach promenade. With the snow-capped mountains in the background, it makes for a great photo opportunity.

Back in town, we go to the tourist information office to inquire about tomorrow's weather, as the wind is picking up ominously and a dark wall of clouds is approaching. However, the lady reassures us and says, 'Tomorrow is the day to do it.' So we book our transfer to Raspberry Creek Carpark, where the Rob Roy Glacier Valley Track starts, because the road is not necessarily suitable for rental cars. If it were just an unpaved road, that wouldn't have stopped me from driving it (slowly), but there are also several fords, which are underwater passages, to cross. I have already put our Toyota through enough today, and if something goes wrong out there, the insurance won't cover it. That would be unfortunate. So, we better play it safe and pay 50 NZD per person for the round-trip transfer.

When it starts to drizzle, we retreat to the hostel and put on 'The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King' in English on the DVD player. Half an hour before the end, Eric's stomach forces him into the kitchen to cook (sausages with mashed potatoes and beans), while I watch the last scenes. A relaxed afternoon/evening comes to an end.