Also on the South Island are some pretty substantial lakes, any of you who have seen the recent Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies will have seen some of the scenery and lakes in the films which was largely shot around the Queenstown/Wanaka/Glenorchy areas. These lakes seem to pick up any whiff of a northerly wind and accelerate it into what one kiwi windsurfer described a “bitch slapper” in other words a strong gale! Lake Pukaki has the most amazing colour, a milky sky blue which comes directly from the melt waters of glaciers at the base of Mount Cook and other mountains that are at the head of the lake. Be warned though, the air temperature might be in the mid 20’s and the strong sunshine makes it feel very blissfully warm but once you get in the water it’s shockingly cold! I managed 20 minutes before my feet couldn’t take any more!