Cows in Paradise

I expected there to be a few wet days in New Zealand, and the first one started last night with rain pattering on the roof until morning. Luckily it stopped before sunrise, and a brisk wind came up that mostly dried things off, so first thing this morning it was off to the far end of Lake Wakatipu for a hike at the Glenorchy Lagoon boardwalk. The night’s precipitation meant that there was a fresh dusting of snow on the surrounding mountains, and it made the landscape feel especially Middle Earth-y (it also helped that this area was used to film a ton of scenes from LOTR).

Following the morning’s blissfully stair-free hike, I noted that the map labeled the road as the “Glenorchy-Paradise Road”. Never one to pass up an opportunity to visit Paradise, I set off away from the lake and into the mountains, across a small river that flowed over the road (apparently it didn’t merit a bridge), and to the tiny “town” of Paradise. “Town” is used loosely here – so far as I could tell, it’s a couple of farms and a lodge – but the town sign is supposed to be one of the most-photographed signs in New Zealand; as you look out across a beautiful valley, snow-covered mountains behind it, it makes sense that there would be an empty road with a sign that says “Paradise” next to it. While I was stopped to enjoy the view, three of the locals wandered over to chat, and we discussed the day’s activities for a bit before they licked me, mooed, and then continued to chew their cud.

The afternoon forecast called for more rain, so after stopping at Mrs. Woolly’s General Store for another meat pie (I’m somehow on an all-meat-pie diet now) and a quick hike to photograph the encroaching storm over Lake Wakatipu it was back to the Little Paradise Lodge. After feeding the peacocks and chickens, time spent getting to know their nine-foot long New Zealand longfin eel, and another stroll around the grounds to enjoy the garden, I called it a day. Tomorrow it’s a four-ish hour drive south to Milford Sound, and with any luck the weather will be cooperative since it’s supposed to be one of the most scenic drives in the world.