8/2/2018: Rocky Mountain Track - an unlisted highlight

More than happy to leave stuffy hostel rooms behind, I struggle up the hill about half a kilometer the next morning, sweating with suitcases, backpacks, and grocery bags, to get to the car. There wasn't even a short-term parking spot available in town to load up the luggage. Before I leave, I call iSite Wanaka asking them to find a room for me since I failed in the task of finding one myself amongst all the online hostels (10 in total). They promise to call me back as soon as something suitable is found.

In the meantime, I make my way and this time I choose the pass road via Cardrona to drive to Wanaka, instead of the highway like the previous times. The route offers great views of Queenstown (although I already had them yesterday while paragliding) and is popular among bikers who all seem to stop at the Cardrona Hotel for a cold beer. It's not far from here to Wanaka and since we missed each other's calls multiple times, I decide to personally visit Ming at the iSite. Not an easy task. The town is packed and I have to park far away and walk the rest. Patience is required at the iSite and when it's finally my turn, I learn that there's nothing available in Wanaka anymore - even the Base Hostel that I avoided is fully booked. However, there's still something available at Lake Hawea, 17 km away. I take it.

I read about the Rocky Mountain Track in a blog and in my guide. Even though it's not on my list, I don't want to leave Wanaka without hiking it. The parking lot is full when I arrive, but fortunately there's another one 350 m away for a different track. I quickly pack some provisions in my backpack and off I go. After about 10 minutes, I reach Lake Diamond, which, unfortunately, doesn't sparkle like a diamond in the sun. The path forks at the shore. Those who are daunted by the somewhat steep ascent from here can comfortably walk around the lake on flat terrain. However, most people continue and follow the many steps to a lookout point to get a view of Lake Diamond from above. If you're still bursting with energy at this point, you have to decide a few steps later whether to take the eastern or western route of the Rocky Mountain Track. Without remembering my guidebook's recommendation, I spontaneously choose the eastern one. The closer you get to the summit on the sometimes extremely narrow path, the better the view of Lake Wanaka and its islands becomes. You'd want to take a new photo every few meters. Once you finally reach the summit, you're rewarded with a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of the (sometimes even snow-covered) mountains, Lake Wanaka, and the endless wide grass plains. I soak in the scenery for 20 minutes before heading back on the unspectacular Western Route. Although I keep an eye out for Aragorn and Legolas, who could ride through this authentic Middle-earth landscape at any moment, unfortunately in vain. The loop is completed in no time and I reach the parking lot.

There are still 35 km to my hostel at Lake Hawea. But at least it's halfway on the way to my destination for tomorrow.