Wanaka Valley Heliflight

The next day, we headed back to Wanaka Helicopters to see if we the weather would cooperate enough for us to take a heli-flight. It wasn't perfect weather, but we decided to go for it anyway. H had the back seat to himself...
....and this was my awesome view up next to the pilot for our Mt. Aspiring Circle Trip.
The airport is quite a few miles outside of town, so we got the scenic view of the valley back towards the lake.
Flying along the Cardrona River was quite beautiful.
As we approached Lake Wanaka, much of the land in this area was very dry & desert like.
I'd really like to live next to a beautiful blue and green river...
Lined with trees & a few little rolling hills.
I imagine there is some good fly fishing in this river among these rocks.
We caught site of the Rippon Vineyard again.

I loved this cool little peninsula in the middle of the lake. I'd put my house there if I could!

On the far side of the lake, we started flying over the Matukituki River and though a broad valley.
The mountains rising straight up near the water's edge made for stunning scenery.

Supposedly Mt. Aspiring is up there in those clouds....
Such unique and striking landscape formations everywhere we turned.
It's an amazing vertical drop from the river bed to the nearby mountain peeks.
We finally are getting closer, but still seeing lots of clouds.
A few of the mountains had received a recent dusting of snow mid-summer.



Certain slopes and side of mountains were greener from the way the weather would drop rain and moisture on them. GOOD NEWS OF THE DAY: Well, now officially 3 trips behind on blogging- another 5 days in New Zealand, Washington State & Pennsylvania.