As we come over the hill for our first view of Lake Pukaki including a clear view of Mount Cook and the Hillary step, deep turqouise coloured water as far  as the eye can see, I make the comment how lucky I am to have eyes.

The view is nothing short of dramatic. It never ceases to amaze and literally makes you gasp. And I am thankful that I am lucky enough to be able to view such amazing scenes.

Lake Pukaki is the largest of three roughly parallel alpine lakes running north-south along the northern edge of the MacKenzie Basin. It sits just outside Twizel and just past Lake Tekapo, another stunner.

We are heading to Te Anau, or ‘the centre of the universe’ as MOD calls it.

A week or two of hanging about, fishing, biking, potentially skiing (thanks Douggie and Annabel), perhaps a little to drink and no doubt a lot of eating and of course catching up with friends down there.

Down there, is a 7 1/2 hour drive from Christchurch. A little longer given we have our fur baby, Frankie, lounging in the back seat. Currently lying on top of the esky in the middle of the back seat. Actually.

The traffic is fairly heavy and peppered with moronic drivers willing to take stupid risks or happy to stop suddenly to turn into a ‘view’, unaware of the 20 cars behind rapidly activating their ABS brakes.

Onboard we also have an Apple Laptop left behind in Chch by our new besties, Lorenzo and Viv, who intend to ‘pop’ into MoD’s Te Anau house when visiting Milford Sound in the next few days.

Newly married, we met Lorenzo and Viv on Christmas Day when we were volunteering at the City Mission lunch. They had arrived in NZ the day before for a three week honeymoon. Knowing they would be on their own on the 25th they had registered to volunteer in August. The power of the internet.

The lunch was an interesting insight into a world we barely glimpse and a chance to be reminded how damn lucky we actually are.

Turns out MoD and I had been wanting to volunteer for years but usually that day was spent with family. This year, my turn to stay in NZ and an early Christmas with both sides of the family, turned out to be the perfect opportunity to tick a box. And take my mind off not being with my fam on this special day…yes I am not that goody good, it was a win-win situation.

We will do it again.

And that ‘again’ will come around quicker than we probably would like it too.

2019 has been an extraordinary year, filled with highs and lows and lots of in betweens, but predominantly lucky.

Lucky to be here, lucky to see and hear,  and lucky to enjoy the year.

We will spend NYE in Te Anau, and no doubt my New Years wish will be more of the same luck.