Have you ever rolled into a new town & felt an immediate connection? This wave of delight warmed over me upon descending into this “down under” retreat.
With a free afternoon ahead, I barely squeezed into the local bike shop ten minutes prior to closing early on a Sunday night and begged the rep to let me keep the bike overnight. Luckily, I must have been persuasive and I set off along the quaint waterfront boardwalk with the wind in my hair.
I weaved along the picturesque bike & hike trail basking in the first rays of sunlight we had seen in a week. The good vibes were prevalent everywhere, as tourists & locals alike were all partaking in outdoor activities. I hopped off multiple times to happily waste my afternoon away.
I even found a break in thick brush to find a sweet haven amongst the crater-like wading pools covered in moss, where I parked my wheels for a long while to decompress. With the volcanic hills rising dramatically on one side and water lapping the shorelines as far as the eye could see, it was an unforgettable stop on this trip of a lifetime.
Even though I was stalling, I finally made the uphill trek to the mountain bike park in the Sticky Forest for some fast-paced, single track fun. Then raced downhill back to the harbor area to indulge in some local gelato – cookies & cream + sea salted caramel waffle cone while the seagulls desperately tried to steal my hard-earned snack.
After the short break, I zipped off around the other side of the lake trying to beat the late sunset from ending my spontaneous joyride. Before I knew it, I had logged 30km, legs were shot and was smiling ear to ear.
Wanaka….. an outdoor enthusiast’s dream!!
FearlessAdventures 