The drive from Queenstown across the Crown Range to Wanaka with its eight back to back hairpin curves and amazing views of Gibbston Valley are spectacular…all before you even get to the start of the Rob Roy Glacier track.  I had read in another blog to take “extra memory cards” for your camera and to “not bother with putting your camera away”!  How true!

Before you get to the start of the track, you must drive 30k on unpaved roads and cross numerous streams or fords with the car.  Of course the drive is impassable if there has been a lot of rain…we were lucky, the streams were just shallow enough to allow our Ford Focus to pass through them.

The hike was not too difficult with some areas where landslides had caused some rerouting and steep narrow passages.  But all was worthwhile as the views from the lower and upper lookouts were terrific.  The sun was behind the glacier so not the best for pictures but it made for spectacular pictures of the valley on the return.

From the upper lookout we spend about 30 minutes just relaxing and soaking in the glacier views and the many waterfalls streaming down the steep cliffs.  These waters fill the roaring streams alongside the trail and the lakes below.

We stopped in Wanaka, a beautiful lakeside town for a late dinner.  The town is much smaller than Queenstown but with several good restaurants.  We had an excellent dinner at Francesco’s Italian Kitchen

 that included Gnocchi with Lamb and a mushroom, parmesan, truffle pizza to refuel…along with a couple Galbriaths Pale Ales!

We are definitely glad we squeezed this trip in before we depart this beautiful country later this week!

Please CLICK HERE for a few more pics of this spectacular drive and hike in a brief video.   Hope you enjoy the ride!