06/06/2018 - Stormy start in Nelson Lakes National Park

The low temperatures didn't stop Tobi from photographing the night sky. He equipped himself with a tripod and camera and went to the nearby lake. From there, he captured a wooden bridge and the sparkling stars. But soon a front of clouds moved in front of them, so he stopped taking photos and climbed back into bed.

The first night at Lake Rotoiti was cold, but bearable thanks to warm blankets and long clothes. Interestingly, the snowstorm that had been announced the day before did not happen. However, the wind speed increased rapidly during the morning. After a portion of warm porridge, we were ready to start the day. However, it became stormier and stormier. Even the windows of the kitchen shelter suffered from the wind and vibrated ominously. Common sense prevailed, and we decided to postpone the planned hike to nearby Mount Robert. So we parked our car in front of the lake and observed the power of nature. The gusts of wind created high waves on the lake. The local duck community had (to our amusement) some problems - they almost tipped forward while diving and wave riding is not their strength either. Many of them rescued themselves on land. But even here it was quite uncomfortable, as the poor feathered animals were shaken wildly. Luckily, our car was there, providing some protection for the ducks. :)
After the entertaining observation, we decided to drive to another lake in Nelson Lakes National Park. Lake Rotoroa, we hoped, would be somewhat sheltered among high mountains. But as soon as we arrived, we were proven wrong. The wind was sweeping across the surface of the water here as well, shaking our parked car quite a bit. Wrapped in thick winter clothes, we still set off for a short hike. The bushwalk was quickly reached and led us back to the parking lot within 30 minutes through the forest. Along the way, we passed a beach from where we took several pictures of the lake. However, we quickly felt the 2°C outside temperature on our hands and fingers - so back into the gloves! Unlike the hands, the toes find it much easier to warm up during hiking. They quickly woke up from their icy slumber and slowly thawed out.
Back at the car, we also took a picture of a wooden bridge that extends into Lake Rotoroa and is therefore a great photo motif. When we started the return journey to Lake Rotoiti, New Zealand showed us its cool beauty. On one stretch of road, a classic postcard motif opened up: the narrow country road passes meadows and leads straight towards a forest. 
We made another stop halfway. This time, we followed the traces of an old ice rink track. The majority of the hike led us through a long, leaky railway tunnel. Cold water dripped into our necks again and again. Brr!
After 20 minutes, we returned to the car and made one last stop on the remaining journey. It is globally known that there are many sheep in New Zealand. But the herd that we saw this time on the highway exceeded all dimensions! As we stood at the fence with the camera, countless curious eyes watched us. Both the animals and the humans were overwhelmed by the situation. Unfortunately, the number of sheep and the vast area cannot be fully captured in the pictures.
As we arrived at Lake Rotoiti, we went back to the visitor center. Besides the intention to warm up and extend our stay, we received the latest weather forecast. But whether it will come true, we will see tomorrow.