Blogs from Queenstown, Otago, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 6

After getting over Haast pass we headed into Wanaka and tried to find a place to stay there for the night. Since Wanaka and Queenstown are both the place to go for skiing and since it is still winter and one of the coldest winters in a long time here...we couldn't get into any of the backpackers in town. We did manage to get a douple room in the Holiday Park. This double was a building make of just concrete walls and it had a bed that kinda felt like a slab foam and not in a good way. Like if you just sat down in the middle the sides would bend up so that the top and bottom of the bed were not actually touching the bed frame. I can't complain too much as it ... read more

Day 207 - 27/3/06 Queenstown Luge We still love Queenstown. Dux de Lux may have absorbed our favourite pub, McNeill's Cottage Brewery into part of their restaurant but another decent pub, Monty's had opened next door, so all was well. Having not had the energy to travel up in the gondola last time we were in Queenstown due to ski fatigue, we were determined to do it this time. We got to the bottom station at about 9am & were the first non staff people to travel up to the top. The early morning cloud that had covered the tops of the peaks had burnt off & the whole of Queenstown was bathed in autumn sunshine. Having stared at the view for quite some time & appeared in some Japanese tourists pictures it was time for ... read more

Gamble Number One Despite a poor weather forecast, Emma, Matt (a friend from Brant Lake - I say friend, really I should be less liberal with the use of that term, let's just say this dude I know, well actually dude is probably overstating his case and to say I know this guy - I had never actually conversed with him until he arrived at the airport the other day - so there was already a large element of risk in this trip) and I took off to QT. Already living on the edge, by choosing a 3 hour car journey with two (practically) strangers I could barely contain myself. I entertained the passengers with stories of my youth which made the time fly by. What felt like 18 hours later, we arrived just short of ... read more

Since we last wrote, we've travelled from Akaroa (east side of South Island) to Te Anau via Mount Cook and Queenstown. Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin ... Sunday 19/2 Drove for almost six hours, stopping at Lake Tekapo to soak up the turquoise waters, historic church and coachloads of tourists (last bit was unintentional). Managed to find a quiet spot for a picnic lunch before continuing on our way to Mount Cook. The last hour of the journey passed in a dream as eyes were locked on the mountain (and sometimes the road). Stunning. Drove up to Mount Cook Village for a walk around and much needed break before heading for Glentanner Campsite, some 20kms away. Another cracking view from the 'bedroom' window so we settled down with bottle of the local fizz (Lindauer ... read more

Hello again. feeling quite a bit better today, thank goodness. A good massage to help my head and neck was a start, and then I indulged in a bit of retail therapy! A foldable plastic bowl, a Backcountry dehydrated meal to try on the Kepler track next week and a merino cardigan/jumper. Oops, the last one was a bit extravagant but I like it and was sick of wearing my fleece whenever I needed warmth. And I may just pop back for a camping pillow! Anyway, here's the next instalment of photos... off for lunch and then to Glenorchy, looking out for Lord of the Rings film sites along the way. ... read more