Central Otago: Lake Hawea - the Promise

To travel by car from Central Otago to New Zealand's West Coast via the Haast Pass takes less than two hours, but the changes in terrain and climate are remarkable; there are few days when the weather is similar on both sides of the alps. 

This is a view from Lake Hawea, east of the main divide. It promises savage weather through the pass and to the west. On this day it was harsh but grand, the layers of mist and rain dramatically delineating distance from one mountain range to another. And yet, when we reached our goal at Haast Township the sun came out! It's almost impossible to predict what you might find at the end of this winding, wild precipitous road; but it is as much fun to travel hopefully as it is to arrive.


© DON DONOVAN

donovan@ihug.co.nz