New Zealand is so pretty that even its highways are worth flying halfway across the world. 

From Wanaka, we drove over Haast Pass toward the south island's west coast. Unlike the passes we're used to in Colorado, Haast doesn't climb thousands of feet in elevation. In fact, the highest point is only 564m. But what it lacks in elevation gain, it makes up for in lush, forest-y beauty. We stopped a few times as we made our way up and over to enjoy short bushwalks to waterfalls and bridges over crystal-clear blue pools.   

Side note: the following is an actual conversation we had this week:
"I need to come up with better ways to describe the water than 'crystal clear' and 'turquoise'"
"It looks just like that light blue gatorade"
"You're totally right! What's the name of that one?"
*Googles "light blue gatorade flavor"*
"...glacier freeze."

#duh

We continued toward the west coast via the Great Coast Road. Our favorite stretch was the Glacier Highway, named for the end of the section, Glacier Country. The roads hugs the coastline as your car winds through a range of vegetation, ranging from coastal scrub to rainforest, all thriving off that delicious glacier freeze. 

This is only a sampling of the amazing scenery to be found throughout New Zealand's South Island.  

Can you believe we're still on the first of two islands? Neither can we. 

PS. Grace is still injured so Joyce and Arthur took over as our obligatory couples pics stand-ins.