Glen Dene Ridge Track (which joins the Isthmus Peak track)
The track starts on the Makarora-Lake Hawea Road near Bottom Bay. The walk takes us up through native bush and farm land with good views across the lake to Breast Hill, Corner Peak and Dingle Peak. We will have lunch below some bluffs which are about 400m below Isthmus Peak. Elevation gain to the lunch spot is about three Mt Irons.
Greg Martin
Spotts Creek
I have been foiled again by the weather forecast (“…fine spells, a few showers. Fresh south westerlies.”) so my ‘great views’ walk is on hold to next week. Instead we will be walking the Cardrona end of the Skyline Track which does offer shelter and the opportunity for the more adventurous to climb up for views across Lake Wanaka from the ridge above Hillend Station. There may be some mud so bring a change of footwear.
Greg Martin
Cromwell (Old Reservoir – Highway Slip - Firewood Creek - Fruit Icecreams Circuit)
Given the weather forecast for Wanaka and the Mt Aspiring NP, the plan is to stay low and hopefully out of the wind and rain.
The old Cromwell reservoir is described as being in “…one of the most arid places in New Zealand” so we may be lucky. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.
Greg Martin
Emerald Bluffs lake access track - Paddock Bay circuit
The access track, off West Wanaka Road, leads you along the eastern boundary of the Emerald Bluffs estate, around a magnificent wetland area and down to Lake Wanaka and Emerald Bay. More than 100,000 native plants, in over 60 different species, have been planted to date. The wetlands includes a lagoon with lots of birdlife and trout, and the snow-capped peaks of the Buchanan mountain range as a backdrop.
From Emerald Bay we walk along the lake shoreline past Waterbird Bay, Captain Hook’s BBQ, the Bridges of Sights, the 12 Willow Islands, and Black Swan Inlet to the Paddock Bay angler’s carpark and back along the West Wanaka Road to the Emerald Bluffs access track car park.
Greg Martin