Off-Roading and Hot Pooling

Saturday 21 February

A big day out up the east side of Lake Tekapo - driving up to the Macaulay & Godley Rivers that feed the beautiful glacial aquamarine waters of the lake.

We piled into RUSSF & ELLAMY, let down the ELLAMY airbags and bounced off down Lilybank Road towards the head of the lake. Misty grey morning skies gave way to scraps of blue, with white dappled cloud, as we drove up the lake through amazing scenery.

About halfway up, after crossing an optional ford for the fun of it, we spotted a bumpy track down to the lakeside so lurched over rocks and gullies down through the wild roses and vipers bugloss to a vaguely flat space where we stopped, (shaken but not stirred by the off-road driving!) and leapt out to admire the view, skim stones and throw rocks in to enjoy the splooshing sounds! Louis tested the water, it was cold! 🥶

Back on the official road for a few more kilometres before... road block! Hundreds of sheep being herded down the road towards us, to their new pastures and raising a cloud of dust. We had to stop at the bridge while two cheeky strays were flushed out of the creek - it was mesmerising watching the huntaway sheep dog doing its thing and bringing them back to the flock, so skilful and obedient. Then all the sheep were directed off across the paddocks to our right and the road was clear again, if a little poopy!

Driving on, kicking up dust, and passing more sheep and quite a few cattle, we headed further up the valley.

Finally we made it to Lilybank Station and a warning sign “drive on the riverbed at your peril… we will NOT come & tow you out”! Considering ourselves advised, we proceeded nonetheless out through several tributaries and onto the magnificent riverbed where the views all around us were truly epic. Louis waded in to check out the depth and flow of the water, and ensuring there were no rocky or dippy surprises, before deciding whether to risk trying a crossing! Funnily enough all the blokes were gung ho in favour of fording these waters and the women were all much more risk averse...

But we pushed on through, creating some fabulous bow waves and coming out safely on the far side on the wide & stony bed of the Macaulay River. It was an utterly stunning landscape and what's more, we had it all to ourselves.

Both vehicles and their drivers piloted us back through the rather deep & fast flowing tributary streams and then we headed back via another, easier lakeside visit where several other vehicles were parked up as it was a rough and ready boat ramp area.

We also made an attempt to check out Roundhill Ski Area - but the gate was locked halfway along the track so we had to turn back. Time to visit again in the winter, maybe? Made our way back admiring the stunning beauty of this area (and some of us snoozing, admittedly) and got back to camp around 2.30.

Back at the NZMCA we just had time for a quick late lunch before we togged up and spent an hour or so at the Tekapo Springs Hot Pools then stopped by for a chilly beer on the balcony at Jack Rabbit as an incredible cloud bank rolled in from the east.

BBQ night again back at camp then we split up - boys in Banjo watching the Blues beat Western Force while Abby, Nickie & I put the world to rights in FernandiVan. It was a very bugtastic evening, check out the collection we amassed on our screen!

But what a wonderful day - so lovely to spend all this time with the BHB gang!