After a full day visiting Lake Matheson, a coastal overlook, a rocky beach, mountains, and the Blue Pools, we arrive at Lake Wanaka just in time for sunset.

At the hostel, I throw down my belongings and dash outside to photograph the waning sunlight dancing on the lake.

No doubt about it: autumn has arrived.

My friend Michelle and I attempt to visit Patagonia Chocolates for dessert, but it closes early. So we go for lattes the next morning instead.

Who knew Emerson’s was a beer? (Disclosure: I attended Emerson College in Boston.)

Across the street from our hostel, Cinema Paradiso pauses its movies half-way through to serve freshly baked cookies to the audience before resuming the film.

I end up jumping off the Stray bus to spend an extra night in Lake Wanaka. It’s cloudy and rainy, but I hole up in a waterfront cafe to edit photos. This also happens to be the morning the Daytime Emmy nominations are announced — I wake up to a text from my sister alerting me to Y&R’s directing team nomination. Not a bad way to rise and shine!

(Update: the Daytime Emmys were held this past Sunday and unfortunately Y&R did not take home the prize for directing. That honor went to colleagues at our sister show, Bold & Beautiful, and is well deserved!)

That wraps up my time in Lake Wanaka. While it’s quiet during the fall, prime ski season is just around the corner; in fact, I meet a girl in my hostel room who has just arrived from Canada to spend all winter working the ski lifts around Lake Wanaka. It’s very calm compared to bustling Queenstown and a beautiful spot to hang out for a few days.