Lake Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand

We only had a day in Wanaka which wasn't really enough if you really want to get out there and see it. It is a beautiful town, with snow-capped mountains as it's backdrop, rolling green hills out to the left and the vast silky smooth lake that you could just sit and watch for hours.

We stayed at Flying Kiwi backpackers for $25 a night. It was clean, with a well equipped kitchen and a DVD room. It was low season and very quiet, and had we known how quiet we probably would have stayed at the Base in town (for the social.)

Puzzling world is about 20 minutes walk out of town and is, believe it or not, worth the stroll. For a $20 entrance fee we whiled away a couple of hours exploring the illusion rooms and the great maze. It's a laugh and worth a visit if you're as easily amused as we three. 

Oxbow adventures run some wicked trips out of Wanaka, from shotover boats to helicopters, so if you're keen to continue the NZ extreme theme then pop into see them. Horse riding is also good here, get info from I-site (they've a pet schnoodle in there so I'd recommend a trip...) and there are two vineyards, each of them about a half hour out of town, if you are partial to local NZ vino. 

Dog on the blog

We arrived late afternoon in the glorious sunshine so headed to Kai-whaka-pai, overlooking the lake on the main bar strip, for a G&T in the sunshine. We ended up eating there too because the menu was so good; stone-baked pizzas, Israeli inspired salads and Asian fusion dishes. My Malaysian laksa was great at $17 and the girls shared a pasta dish and a pizza.

If you're looking for a night out in Wanaka, start late. There's happy hours from 5-6pm in a number of bars including Gin and Raspberry, a newly opened cocktail bar that is opulently decorated, screams expensive and has amazing views of the water, and the popular Water bar also has a happy hour on its house wine and beer. It's a sports bar that feels very typically 'sports bar', but also has great views of the water and over 10 craft beers on tap. Lala land is a cocktail bar tucked round the back of I-site, up a flight of wooden stairs, and is the place to be seen hammered at 2am. Open 'til four and serving some of the best drinks in town - it's back bar is very impressive - head here to dance and finish the night. 

I'd liked to have stayed longer, but Queenstown calls.

L, L and A. Xx 

Tourists.