Lake Wanaka Boat Ride

We set out on Lake Wanaka today with Wanaka Cruises to Mou Waho Island, one of 4 islands in the lake.

Mou Tapu island is a sacred, pre-colonial burial place for Māori. Nobody but indigenous folks allowed.

Mou Waho island has been cleared of introduced pests & predators (rats, stoats and possums) creating a reserve with diverse birdlife. The flightless Buff Weka has been ‘extinct’ on the mainland since 1920 but thrives on Mou Waho.

Also called the woodhen – so basically a pretty chicken

He was thinking Kris had something good to offer.

Students from a local high school have made ‘weta motels’ out of tree logs to harbor and protect the weta, a huge endemic insect whose history dates back to before the dinosaurs!

Ground Weta, looks like a large grasshopper.

In the middle of Mou Waho Island is a small lake called the Arethusa Pool.

the Arethusa Pool contains a small rocky island making it “an island in a lake on an island in a lake on an island in the ocean”

At Tyrwhitt Peak – 201 metre (659ft) elevation in 1.5Km. That was a lot of up for such a short distance.

A Manuka bush – the bees that feed on the bush make very special honey

Hard, woody seed capsules on the manuka bush

Just across the channel is the low point of a peninsula. It wouldn’t take much more water for the right side to become an island.

Back in town, lunch was a seriously juicy, messy burger with red pepper relish and caramelized onion – we definitely needed to wash our hands when we were done!

Then we checked out the local Lavender Farm where we tasted some wonderful honey and sampled their lavender ice cream!