Friday December 28th

---

Friday December 28th
We have now been away from home for 3 months and whilst we miss our family and friends we don't miss our home, cleaning it, decorating it, shopping, cooking, paying the bills for it! We stayed in Te Anau last night and went to the cafe for breakfast. After a walk around the town we met at the I-site office where we picked up info on a walk. We drove to where Rob could fish and we went for a walk on the Keppler Trail. After walking across a swing bridge the walk went through what appeared to be a fairy glade. Uphill at first but soon we were meandering through forests of ferns and trees that overlooked the Waipitu river. It was a glorious walk but after about 30 minutes Steve's ankle started to give him gip so he decided to rest awhile. We continued a bit uphill in places but mostly even and winding and so beautiful. We walked out on to a board walk over the wetlands seeing birds feed on the lake and small dragonflies buzzing around. We decided to go back so the walk took in all about 2 hours. Steve and I decided to head back to Queenstown as I had wanted to see the Maori Haka. The journey back was also stunning with mountains either side and pastures with sheep and deer and cattle grazing. There was hardly any cars on the road and we were soon in Queenstown. We took the gondola to the top of the mountain behind Queenstown which gave us magnificent views of Queenstown and the surroundings. We saw the golf course which was in a peninsula out in to the lake amazing! We then went to the show which was good but not quite what I was hoping for both Steve and I had to partake in the show me joining in with the ladies swinging some ball around and Steve trying to do the Haka! That was amusing especially the tongue sticking out bit and starey eyes. We then walked in to Queenstown and found an Irish pub where we ate lamb which we cooked on a stone. It was a two for one which not only made it good to eat but good on the pocket as well. As we sat there we listened to a lady play the piano and we looked out on to the mountains and lake. we wondered if Naomi had ever sat there. Driving back to Wanaka as the sun was going down gave a new perspective to the mountains and once we had passed the hairpin bends made for a great journey. There was a full moon which made a special end to another perfect day

---