Twizel to Lake Ohau

 One of my first jobs today was to drop my truck off at the A2O office so they can relocate it to Oamaru. The short walk back to out motel nearly brought me to tears, Mt Cook in the clear morning air was breathtaking. There is a bench seat with a sign inviting anyone passing to take a moment and experience this incredible view, there are few to rival it for sure. 

We then rode a very short distance to the Musterers cafe for a cooked breakfast. The weather was warm and fine with no wind as we headed out of Twizel. Many of the houses we rode past had quirky garden sculptures some of which were quite clever and a tribute to the creativity and imagination of their owners. 



Mark charging up for the day🤣

Soon we crossed a large canal and we followed this very quiet roadway for several km’s until we reached the spillway connecting the canal to Lake Ohau. 



We joined a track which followed the lakes edge, the scenery was just beautiful and we stopped several times just to take it all in. 








Our journey today is only 38km so we were too early to check in so we biked an additional 6km to Lake Ohau Lodge for liquid refreshments. The lodge is situated on a promontory with views over Lake Ohau and all the through to the southern alps. On a nice sunny day like today there is nowhere else I’d rather be. 


We then cycled the 6 km back to our accommodation which was no hardship as a nice breeze sprang up to assist us. Our accommodation for tonight is a lovely boutique bed and breakfast. Very convivial hosts, we were greeted with iced tea on arrival. 

The four bedrooms are themed, ours is the English room with old english pictures on the wall and a collection of Royal themed china. The rest of the house is chokka full of old pictures many set in local settings. One picture was from early in the 20th century showing mountaineers crossing the Copland pass. This was my first experience of the southern alps in 1992 and I remember being in the exact spot in the photo. 

The library. 

After freshening up we went for a short stroll in the grounds before adjourning to the sitting room for gin and tonic. 

We chatted away until it was time for dinner with salmon, vegetables and Dauphine potatoes followed by eton mess. 

Our hosts were great fun and we chatted over dinner along with a lovely young American couple on their honeymoon. 




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