Ben Ohau and Twizel

Looking over the town of Alexandra

From the top of Ben Ohau

Lake Tekapo

It was the Labour Weekend here. I spent it in the Mackenzie basin area, and Brad spent it golfing in Christchurch. We hiked up Ben Ohau and there were spectacular views. (Ben means mountain in Gaelic & the province of Central Otago is full of Scottish descendants, so there are a lot of "Bens"). The weather was beautiful- this area of the south island gets the hottest in the summer and coldest in the winter. This weekend it was about 5 to 7 degrees warmer than most other places (25 degrees).

Wharfedale Track & Ken Perrin Cup

On Saturday morning, it was cloudy and drizzling in Christchurch but as soon as we started driving up Mount Oxford, it turned completely clear & sunny. It isn't very high, but you could see the blanket of cloud over Christchurch. It cleared up there too in the afternoon, and went up to 24 degrees. Brad won the Ken Perrin Cup- a golf tournament.

Bealey Spur & Valley

This weekend I went to Arthur's Pass & we hiked Bealey Spur & Bealey Valley. There is a Mount Bealey too (but we didn't do that trail this time). A spur is a subsidiary summit of a mountain.
Beautiful views & beautiful weather!