Day 121: Lake Tekapo 0 Day

Thursday, March 30

We woke up around 8 and made some delicious breakfast nachos. They're always so crunchy and perfect.

I was planning to stay in Lake Tekapo tonight and had a reservation at the Holiday Park, but the YHA had a cancellation. I called the Holiday Park and they didn't charge me. I was glad I didn't need to move my stuff.

After our delicious breakfast, we went to town to mail postcards and try to find some fun souvenirs. While we were walking around we saw Simon, Nadine, Sara and Sonya eating at a cafe. They had gotten into Lake Tekapo today and were heading out shortly to continue.

We walked to the church and the sheep dog statue. Thankfully there wasn't a wedding again today. Then we wandered around a few more shops and got snacks at Four Square.

As we continued to wander around Lake Tekapo, we spotted something that was a combination between a zip line and a swing. We tried it and sat by the lake for a bit before going to the YHA to get Lauren and Sam's stuff. Sadly it was almost time for their bus to Christchurch.

We got fruit ice cream while we waited for the bus and when it arrived they climbed aboard. I watched the bus drive away and went back to the hostel. It was so much fun hiking with Sam and Lauren and I'm so glad they could come to New Zealand! I was getting pretty tired of hiking, but their visit was something I had been looking forward to for a long time. It was a good pick me up before the last stretch to Bluff.

After giving my mom a call, I booked a bike for tomorrow and made reservations for the next few towns I'll be going through. There are more tiny tourist towns like this coming up.

When I was done planning and making phone calls I went to the Four Square again to get my resupply food and to get supplies for dinner. I talked with a really nice lady working at the YHA and ate my dinner while reading the news.

I got new roommates, a couple from Taiwan. They were so kind and asked if I wanted to go with them to the stone church to see the stars. I wanted to be a bum and stay at the hostel but they were so kind it was impossible for me to say no. They took another girl from the hostel and is was amazing. The stars were so bright and there were so many people out there looking at and photographing the stars.

The stars weren't really bright from the parking lot side of the church, but once we walked around it was easy to make out the Milky Way. The stars were twinkling too. It was beautiful.

We drove back and we ate and talked in the kitchen. There were two women from China as well and we all shared what we were up to here. One of the women was traveling around the world.

I got eggs boiled to take on the trail tomorrow and started to get ready for bed. I watched an episode of the West Wing before falling asleep. Tomorrow I had to meet the bike rental people early to pick up a bike.

The stone church.  

Sam and Lauren and the sheep dog statue.  

Sam tries the zip line thing.  

Lauren tries the zip line thing.  

I try the zip line thing.  

Sunset horse ride around Lake Tekapo.