Is this Train #5? The Victorian

Is this a fifth train? We are on the same carriages pulled by the same locomotives as yesterday. We have the same narrator as yesterday. However, we are going in a different direction and when the train travels this route, it is called the Victorian. My call: Train #5!

The tour advertisement proclaims a Big Five. There is no mention of this run which has its own name.

We are headed north along the west coast of New Zealand. Our "guide" really a well-informed, articulate, and entertaining narrator holds our interest as we make the nearly three hour ride up the coast.

Shortly after our departure we are hugging the coast as the sun rises.

The ride along the coast is picturesque.

We offload in Oamaru. The town has gorgeous old buildings having never suffered from New Zealand's common earthquakes.

The buildings are very pretty.

Some of our group visit the Steam Pump Museum. We elect to photograph its weirdness from the outside.

There is much to see in this town and several ways to separate tourists from their cash.

CJ is not a fan of the porter type of beer. He finds an excellent porter at the local brewery. If we had it to do again, we would have forgone the tour provided bag lunch and had beer and pizza at the brewery.

The tour people do an excellent job of making a five-hour bus ride to Mount Cook pass quickly, comfortably, and interestingly.

Our route is through the Waitaki Valley and the town of Omarama. The attraction of this ride is the Waitaki hydroelectric power scheme. It consists of eight hydroelectric dams with power stations. 

The Waitaki hydro scheme is a series of interconnected lakes and canals. It accounts for 16% of New Zealand’s electricity supply and more than 56% of the average hydro-electricity storage. This storage will become increasingly important for ensuring there’s enough power when it’s required as more wind and solar are introduced into the electricity system, as these rely on wind or sun being available to generate electricity.

The Waitaki hydro scheme consists of eight power stations. Meridian owns and operates six of them: Aviemore, Benmore, Waitaki and Ōhau A, B and C. The other two (Tekapo A and B) are owned and operated by Genesis Energy.

Some of the dams are earthen dams and others are concrete.

Another of the hydro stations.

Yet another of the hydro stations.

Is this damn Carol or Carol at the dam?

The lakes behind these dams are huge.

We stop for a photo op on our approach to the hotel for the next two days. We have a rare clear day with great views of Aoraki Mt Cook.

Our room at Heritage, is ok, the view extraordinary. This bench is outside our room.

We have a chilled wine to enjoy.

Step from our room onto a shared veranda and this is the view.

The buffet is the best to date.