State Highway 8 North - part 1

After a week or so in Wānaka it was time to take the main road north and east. I had barely left the town when I saw a sign to the National Toy and Transport Museum and just had to stop. What a place, 5 massive hangars of vehicles, toys and games. Train sets, lego displays, planes, cars, trucks, diggers.

Not a game I remember... but who loves ya baby?

Lego Star Wars display

Meccano

Loads more vehicles outside and plans to expand further. There was even a pub style table top games machine with Space Invaders etc.

From there the road took the Lindis Pass:

A landscape of various tussock grasses which help keep the soil stable in the harsh alpine/montane environments. Elsewhere I read about the removal of 'wildings', these are non-native trees that crowd out the tussocks.

Looking at the map I spotted the 'Clay Cliffs' down a long gravel side road. Well worth the detour.

From the track

Entrance

Inside

Sedimentary layers formed in a lake and river have been eroded to make these towers and canyons.

Although non-native the lupins everywhere were impressive.

After a stop in Twizel and some advice from my local contact I drove out to Lake Oahu.

After passing through a sheep station and a couple of fords I made it to the Temple Valley campsite (a toilet and a shelter). 

I was the only one camping that night

I took the Temple Valley north stream track (10km round trip). It sticks close to the stream and at times is hard to follow where there have been wash outs and slips:

Eventually you break out of the trees into a lovely 'cirque' with snow at your feet:

Then back to the tent for food and a cuppa by the stream:

Great views of the stars that night. And a lovely rainbow the next morning: