I said that Queenstown was one of the most beautiful places on the earth - well we are in another of those places tonight. We are at Lake Tekapo and the sun is shining!

It was still very cold this morning when we awokTekaponot wet and with the prospect of some sun. There was, however, more snow on the mountains than yesterday! We left Queenstown at 9c and headed over the Crown Terrace road which took us high up to wonderful views and 3c with a tendency to snow! We continued to Wanaka where it was distinctly warmer and we grabbed a quick coffee/hot choc. For lunch we stopped at an old favourite from our previous visit - The Wrinkly Rams at Omarama! Unlike last time, it was very busy but we think the fact that it is Waitangi Day - a public holiday - may have had something to do with that! We had a good lunch but yet again failed to see the sheep-shearing which is what the Wrinkly Ram bit is all about!

Clay Cliffs from road, near Omarama

It wasn't too far after that before we got our first view of Mount Cook - NZ's tallest mountain. This is more difficult than it sounds as it often lurks behind cloud but today it obliged and showed its face!

Mount Cook viewed across Lake Pukaki

Before going to the village of Lake Tekapo, we went up Mount John (well we had to with John travelling with us!) It was just as good a view from up there as we remembered from last time. There are mountains all round but it is the stunning turquoise of the water in the lake which makes it so unusual. This is caused by the rock flour - ground up by glaciers - being suspended in the water and reflecting the sunlight. The light too is very unusual, having a luminous and unreal quality.

Clare with John and Joan on Mount John

We checked in at our hotel and we have a lake view, which is great. We walked over to the church by the lake but it was closed so we just sat and looked at the view and walked back. We will return to the church before we depart in the morning.

The Church of the Good Shepherd, Tekapo

Since then we have popped next door to the Japanese restaurant for a meal - also with the same view of the lake and then caught up with Kath and Emily on Skype! Its a shame we aren't staying longer but we go on to Christchurch tomorrow and will be interested to see how that city is rebuilding itself after the earthquake which happened last time we were here. The weather is supposed to be much warmer too!