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Published: March 8th 2009
Friday 6th March - Took the scenic route to Queenstown over the Crown Range pass with its zigzag roads over the pass. Being Friday Queenstown was pretty busy but we managed to get into a site for the night.
Saturday 7th March - Sun shining so we went down into town - parked all day in free car park - you never have to pay for parking over here!! Wandered past the rugby field where a national Fire Station competition was taking part - plenty of laughter and plenty of beer being consumed!! Down into the town - really like Queenstown such a laid back place - everyone seemed to be donning on life jackets and wet weather gear for numerous water-based pursuits. Went into a very upmarket art gallery (the Ivan Clarke Gallery) which included Ivan Clarke paintings and bronze sculptures - of ‘The Lonely Dog’ fame - we were entertained by Helga the art gallery manageress, a very vivacious and likeable American. Want to go back to Queenstown another day to try out some of the activities but needed to get back to Wanaka tonight as we had booked to go on the Siberian Experience tomorrow if the
weather holds (consists of a 30 min flight, 3 hour walk, jet boat ride back). So made our way back to our favourite DOC site ‘Kidds Bush’ on the shores of Lake Hawea. On our way we passed a couple of hitchhikers, one of which had a bike!! As it was getting late we stopped loaded the bike in the back of the van plus all the rucksacks etc. Lovely couple the cyclist was a young American girl and the fella a Kiwi who had been doing some work experience with a rafting outfit in Queenstown. We took them beyond our campsite to one which was more on the main road so that they stood a chance of getting a lift the next day.
Sunday 8th March - Phoned first thing to see if the weather was OK for the flight and got the go ahead. Had to backtrack to Makarora and the weather started to close in. By the time we got there it was getting pretty wet and windy. As we drove along the Cessna overtook us and landed just as we arrived. Still going ahead. There was only Tony & I and one other NZ guy.
We crossed the road and climbed in the 4-seater Cessna - I didn’t have too much time to feel nervous until the pilot (Neil) said it could be a bit of a bumpy ride!! We took off from this grassy field and were airborne - it was a bit bumpy but amazing flying through the valleys and up to the peaks of Mt Aspiring national park. Glad to say that I managed better than I thought I would - even took some photos - though I think Tony’s leg still bears the scars when we hit the bumpy bits!! Landed on an even smaller grassy plateau - had our photos taken and then given directions for the start of the walk - only then were we told that we had to first wade through an icy river up to our knees! We would know when we got to the end when we reached the 2 dead trees! Accomplished this and in a mixture of light rain and weak sun headed off on our ‘tramp’. It was fantastic - got very high and then a long zigzag path down to the plateau where we were to meet up with the jet
View from Cessna
Anywhere to land?boat. Only had to wait about 20mins and the jetboat appeared. We donned on our life jackets and climbed in. What a ride - so exhilarating including 360 degrees turns - with plenty of stops for photos. It finished all too soon - a fantastic trip.
We had coffee and hot soup and feeling a bit weather beaten started back towards Lake Wanaka. Did a diversion around the southern end of Lake Hawea another wonderful spot at the foot of the mountains.
Camped at Wanaka tonight and having looked at the map decided to head for the Lindis Pass tomorrow and Mt Cook and Lake Tekapo in the McKenzie region. We must just keep in mind that we have booked an overnight trip on the Doubtful Sound for Wednesday 11th March!!
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mofw
is that the ministry of funny walks tackling the river crossing?!!!!!!