Wanaka to Queenstown: The Crown Range-did it!!!!

February 7, 2017

Today we tackled the Crown Range from Wanaka to Queenstown. Last time I did this ride I had to walk some of the hill but today I MADE IT!!!. The big difference this time was that the temperature was much cooler so we did not have a heat load on top of the climb that was 12% for 3km at the top. The total ride was 79km with 4000ft of climbing. I have a photo of the profile below. The best part was the downhill that was very steep with some tight switch back curves. We had a lovely lunch stop in Arrowtown before finishing in Queenstown.

Lake Wanaka as we departed this morning.

A panorama of Lake Wanaka and the mountains in the distance.

We stopped at the Cardrona Hotel for a break. Here is an example of NZ coffees.

Our coffee/rest stop before the big climb. This is the oldest hotel in NZ.

From the top of the Crown Range a view of the valley with Queenstown in the distance.

A view of the big descent with Christopher enjoying it, well almost.

Our audience on the way down, male deer/elk.

Hair pin turns on the way down, I am glad that we went in this direction because the other way was worse, more climbing over a shorter distance (ie steeper).

Restored Arrowtown, formerly a gold mining town.

Shotover river and one of their jet boats.

Three photos from the top of the Crown Range climb. This road is the highest paved road in NZ.

Today's ride: 79 km (49 miles)
Total: 1,756 km (1,090 miles)

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