Puzzling World, Lake Wanaka

Treble Cone Ski Field, no more snow skiing now! The ski areas all round South Island have just been closed for the season. Middle of spring in October and the snow isn't thick enough for the fun sport no more! We heard some tourists at the Lake Wanaka I-site was rushing from Christchurch to Queenstown just for skiing, but unfortunately the park was closed already when they arrive, so make sure to check the snow season dates!

One good place to spend time during the rainy weather in Lake Wanaka, a visit to Puzzling World***! They have an indoor Illusion Room and an outdoor maze which costs $15 for the combo package. Getting lost in the rain in the maze doesn't sound like fun, so we just went to the illusion room for $12 =) We felt like a kid again in this room, magical science in action, cheating our eyes!

The old Roman loo... Oooh Pete having a good time with his friends...

The most popular room here, where this illusion technic was used in the Lord of the Rings Movie, making hobbits really small! Nooo, I don't want to be a giant!

Which word did you see first?

HATE  or

LOVE?

Lake Wanaka

On our way to Queenstown via Cromwell, Cromwell. As it was snowing up the mountains, we could not take the Crown Range Highway from Lake Wanaka to Queenstown, as we would need a wheel chain for journey. So we took a longer route, via Cromwell, a town with many orchards and local produce!

We can't resist the sign that says "Real fruit ice cream" gosh... something new that we have not tried before! So we stopped by this orchard, which is full of tourists and picked the mix berries and kiwi real fruit ice cream! For $5, we get two scoops of vanilla ice cream, blended in with the frozen real fruits, the end result was YUMSSSS!!!

Definitely a must try in NZ whenever you see this! Such original fruit taste with the wonderful Tip Top vanilla ice cream! 

Vineyard.... leafless in spring.. :)

The drive from Lake Wanaka to Queenstown via Cromwell is so beautiful.. but this route has a high traffic, not like the usual country roads, so it's really hard to stop and take pictures ...We actually drove pass Queenstown, as we want to head straight to Lake Manapouri for tomorrow's Doubtful Sound overnight cruise! Yeepee...

We stopped half way from Queenstown to Manapouri and chose this secluded spot up the hill, its a rest stop actually with a pit toilet and doesn't say no camping. So why not? Hehe

Last we checked at Wanaka I-site, the road to Milford Sound was closed due to avalanche (very typical of spring season as the snow starts to melt). Milford Sound is such a famous tourist spot, to take on a cruise. But luckily we chose Doubtful Sound, which is beginning to attract a fair bit of tourists too! So people who booked on Milford cruises would have to postpone or switch to Doubtful Sound tours.
Well which sound is better? We really don't know, as we only went to Doubtful Sound, but many say Doubtful Sound is the best ;)