Climbing and Kayaking around Wanaka

Though it felt a bit cold last night - there is fresh snow on the hills around us this morning! Crazy NZ weather! It had brightened up a bit though, so we decided to all head off above Wanaka and do some rock climbing. But not before a good breakfasts at camp.

We chose an area in the 'Hospital Flats', with some good routes on solid Schist. Starting off on a corner climb up 'the main cliff'.

Climbing as a sociable team of three gave us plenty more time to reminisce and catch up with Rob.

After a few routes on the main cliff, we walked across to a big square boulder called the Tombstone, where did three more routes, all of good quality. The views were great as we were surrounded by snow capped peaks!

By mid afternoon, we were starting to get tired. The river surfing yesterday had been surprising energetic! After one last climb and enjoying the views of the surrounding peaks (including Mt Aspiring), we headed back to Wanaka for food and water, as we'd not really taken much lunch.

Arriving in Wanaka, we went direct to the local pie shop and got two hot pies to go, sat by the lake shore and scoffed them both! They felt like lifesavers! Then went back to the bakers and got a sausage roll to wash it down!

Feeling better after our feeding frenzy, we filled Wendy up with drinking water and returned to the river to meet Rob. We got some amazing carrot cake as well from the bakers and were just tucking into it with a fresh pot of coffee when Rob pulled up. This time he was armed with freestyle kayaks for us both!

Abandoning the carrot cake, we quickly got changed and got down to the river. 

I'd not been in such a low volume boat for a while, but it was great to be surfing such a good wave!

We took turns on the wave and Rob gave me a few tips on how to do various tricks. It was quite easy to get stuck sideways on the first part of the wave but once I'd learnt to avoid that, I could surf and even got a few spins in. 

Getting off the wave was another challenge, but only once did the tail of my boat get sucked under the flow, sending me skywards, then cartwheeling, then swimming to the banks! Rob soon picked up the pieces before showing me how to do a front loop properly!

With a bit more time, I reckon you could get quite addicted...and probably quite good too!

After a few more exciting manoeuvres (some on purpose, others not so!) and the odd roll to get back the right way up, 

it was well past 7pm when we got off the river. Rob headed home to Queenstown, and we camped up by the river at Albert Town. Shattered and very happy.