Quick'n Queenstown

An easy start to the day with a trip over to the Sandfly cafe for coffee and baked goods. Once packed up and goodbyes said, we set off towards Queenstown.

Not too far from Te Anau we made our first stop at a wilderness reserve for a short scenic walk to a viewing platform near the Takitimu Mountains and foothills. The area is an ancient, low and slow growing Halocarpus bidwilli bog pine forest; a very unique and sensitive ecosystem.

The drive remained quite flat though the wide meandering valleys, with the distant snow dusted peaks.

Early afternoon found us in Garston where we stopped to browse a couple of shops and enjoy a mocha coffee.

Pretty soon we arrived at Lake Wakatipu, where the road hugged the shore, taking us over a hilly section called Devil’s Staircase. It was very windy, with a weather front pushing in from the south. While taking photos at the lookout stop we were pelted by more hail. Nice stinging sensation on the face 🥴

We stopped in Frankton and walked over the old dam, following a section of beach towards Kelvin Heights.

As we were a tad early for check in, we stopped and enjoyed a walk around the Queenstown Gardens. After checked in, we continued to wander around town enjoying the sunny afternoon. Lots of people about on this unseasonably cooler day but not busy. Eventually we found our way to 1876, the old courthouse, and enjoyed happy hour with a couple beers on the sunny patio. For dinner, we decided to take advantage of the hostel kitchen, picking up a couple of freshly baked meat, and a salad. No just any pie, but from Fergbakery! So fresh and delicious 😋

Later, A had a hankering for sweets, so we walked over and picked up something different, a deep fried Kiwifruit 🥝 from the fish and chips place.Читать далее