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Kia Ora - Aotearoa
  • Janette and John

Kia Ora - Aotearoa

A 31-day adventure by Janette and John Read more
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  • Trip start
    November 15, 2023
    Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Brekky at Tullamarine.1Santa's chair at Tullamrine - the most popular photo op.Nachos for 'lunch'.1

    Off to Queenstown

    November 15, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Left Molyullah about 1.30 yesterday, drove down to Melbourne and parked the car at Andrews Parking. Their shuttle bus driver dropped us opposite the Parkroyal Hotel where we stayed last night.

     After checking in, we walked over to the airport to see where the Virgin check-in is located in order to save time looking tomorrow.

     Up early today and across to the check-in by 6.30. Had coffee and croissant and boarded at 8.00. Left 20 minutes late but arrived on time. I reckon there were only four of us on the plane wearing masks.

     By the time we cleared customs it was about 2.00 (NZ time). Taxi to Glebe appartments, checked in, unpacked a little.

     Started to feel a tad peckish so decided to walk into town. It's very hilly and the walk into town is downhill from here. We were very aware that the walk back would be tough…

     Had nachos at 3.30 (1.30 AU) and a bit of a wander around. We found a supermarket and stocked up with some of life's essentials - bread, butter, Vegemite, muesli bars…

     The scenery here is stunning. - the lake and the mountains. The town is busy and vibrant. There is a really big marathon this Saturday which probably accounts for accommodation being scarce when we first tried to book.

    We have been advised that we may not be able to book in anywhere for dinner on Friday. I've always wanted delivered pizza in Queenstown.

     Haven't done much after we got back except to confirm our next flights and try to work out what to do tomorrow. Looks like the Kiwi bird park, chair lift up the mountain, a lake cruise and maybe take a bus to Arrowtown.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Should be called Temptation.
    William Rees - founding father of Queenstown.2At Lake Whakatipu, Queenstown.Gardens own bee hives.

    A walk in the park.

    November 16, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 3 °C

    Up early, had tea and toast and decided to walk down to the lake to book tickets on the 11.00 am lake cruise. Did that, Janette spoke with Denise re where to eat tomorrow. Denise suggested an Indian with lake views. We found it and booked.

     Had time to kill before the cruise so had a coffee in the ice cream shop followed by a walk in Te Kararo Gardens alongside the lake.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Crested GrebeTrees struck from wooden channel markers.Outflow into the Shotover River.Aptly named Remarkables.

    Million dollar cruise for $49.

    November 16, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    Had to be on the dock by 10.50 for departure at 11.00. Before we boarded, Peter, our captain, had a plate of goodies to feed to the trout in the lake. The are really big, probably because he feeds them three times a day before each cruise.

    Janette and I elected to sit in the open section at the stern. Turned out to be great views from there for the entire hour and a half cruise.

     The lake is huge - the third largest in NZ - with some prime real estate around its shores. It has several rivers feeding it but only one outlet, the Shotover River. This river is too shallow for all but the jet boats.

     We saw some Crested Grebe on the water. Crested Grebe are a rather rare and unusual species of water bird that is barely able to walk on land. They create floating nests made of weeds and sticks. Nests are attached to underwater debris, but when lake levels change, nests can be lost.

    Jetboats and speedboats have caused them to become endangered.

     Down near the outlet to the Shotover River, there are several 'bushy islands'. Many years ago, channels were marked with wooden posts - some of them took root and thrived.

     The weather this morning was ideal - sunny and mild. Peter commented, “this is the first calm day in weeks”.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Heading up.
    Putting on a brave face.Our digs.Luge track.In the Kiwi Park.

    Gondola and Kiwi Park.

    November 16, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    After lunch (seafood chowder, dockside) we walked up to the Gondola and took a ride up to Bob's Peak. It is the steepest cable car in the southern hemisphere.

     Views from the top are every bit as good as promised.

     There is an option to ride a luge to get back down. We didn't do that, we took the gondola down, but we would luge next time.

     Adjacent to the gondola is the Kiwi Park.

     The park's aim is to educate people about New Zealand's native fauna. Unfortunately the Kiwi house is kept dark as Kiwis are nocturnal and no photography is allowed.

     Ones eyes do adjust to the dark somewhat and the Kiwis (the birds that is) are seen as shadowy creatures.

     Dinner down by the lake - Thai.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Chinese miner's hut.
    Bob's Peak shrouded in cloud this morning.Bleak on arrival in Arrowtown.Denise and Michael.Chinese miner's huts.Chinese miner's hut.Chinese miner's hut.View from our dinner table.

    Arrowtown

    November 17, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Woke today to cold, wet weather. Walked down to the lake for a coffee anyway.

     Denise and Michael arrived at 11.30 and we headed off to Arrowtown.

     Arrowtown is a historic gold mining town. It is located on the banks of the Arrow River, 19.5 kilometres to the east of Queenstown.

     There are many well preserved buildings that were used by the European and Chinese immigrants who settled during the town's gold mining era which began after gold was discovered in 1862.

     It is well geared to tourism with many up market shops in the old buildings. They are mainly either clothing shops or gold, jade and opal jewellery shops and extremely expensive.

    Booked in for Indian tonight at the Taj on the lakeside…    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Lakeside for brekky.
    Just relax.WOW!!!Mt Cook.Christchurch.This is what happens when the waiters offer to take your photo...

    Transit ZQN to CHC

    November 18, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Packed our bags ready for the 10.00am checkout. Met Denise and Michael at 9.30 and walked down to the lake for brekky.

     Driven to airport at 10.45 and checked in. Plane to Christchurch on time. Trish and Paul have been delayed two hours so won't get in till about 4.00pm.

     Flew over snow capped mountains most of the way then over the Canterbury Plains as we neared Christchurch.

     Picked up at Christchurch airport by taxi driver courtesy of APT. The devastation caused by the earthquake is still very evident.

     Arrived at Rydges Hotel about 3.00pm.

     Not having had lunch, we were feeling a little peckish so went for a walk down to the tram terminus and New Regent St. Had a coffee and bagel - that should get us through till dinner.

     Trish and Paul arrived at the hotel about 7.00pm and we virtually went straight to dinner.

     Decided to go to the Gondola and punting on the River Avon tomorrow. We will book for the Akaroa French Connection for Monday.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    All aboard.
    Reassuring message on door...Mountain sheep.Lyttleton Harbour.

    Another gondola ride.

    November 19, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    After a buffet breakfast in the hotel, we headed off. Plans for today are to ride the gondola to the top of Mount Cavendish, overlooking Lyttleton, and then to take a punt on the River Avon back in Christchurch.

     As we were to travel by public transport, we walked to the bus interchange and took the number 8 Lyttleton bus which dropped us off right at the gondola station.

     This climb is not as steep as the Queenstown gondola. From the top the view is across Lyttleton and its harbour. Lyttleton harbour played an important role in Antarctic exploration in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Explorers would dock here and stock their ships before heading south.

     A coffee in the cafe at the top helped the view go down. Then it was time to take the return trip down in the gondola and take the number eight back to town.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    The boatshed.Pre-punt briefing.1

    Let's take a punt.

    November 19, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    After alighting from the number eight bus, it was a shortish walk to the River Avon. We walked along the river bank till we reached the Antigua Boat Sheds.

    We were booked in for 1.30pm so, to kill half an hour, we had a cool drink.

     We were given a pre-punt briefing about the dos and do nots of our 'cruise' :-
    # do keep hands inboard
    # don't dangle fingers in the water - the eels will bite them off
    # don't stand up
    # don't rock the boat - the punter might fall in
    # don't fall in
    # if you do fall in, the water is only waist deep

     The punt lasted about half an hour. We went upstream through the Botanic Gardens admiring the very large, old, mainly English trees, and waving to all the people ashore who wished they were us.

     The return trip was a bit easier on the punter as we were now going downstream.

     Both ways we had to dodge some rather incompetent canoeists.

     The hardest part was trying to get out and at the same time retain some dignity.

     A very enjoyable experience.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Overlooking Akaroa.

    Akaroa - French Connection

    November 20, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Akaroa is situated on French Bay at the side of a huge inlet from the Pacific Ocean which was formed from two volcanic craters. Akaroa is the Maori word for 'long harbour'.

     Akaroa was first settled by French whalers in 1840. They liked it so much, they decided they would like to live there. Unfortunately, it took them two years to go back to France and return to Akaroa.

     When they did get back, they discovered the British had signed the Treaty of Waitangi with the Maori chiefs. It was actually signed in Waitangi and then taken around the country for other chiefs to sign - one of those places was Akaroa.

     The choice they now had was between returning to France or staying and living under British rule. They stayed.

     The french influence can be seen everywhere in the style of buildings and french street names.

     It is a quaint little village well geared to tourism. It must get really crowded when the cruise ships come in…    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Our dolphin watching boat.
    Waiting to board.Long white cloud.Site of the Akaroa Maori signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

    Akaroa. - dolphin watching cruise.

    November 20, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    We booked on the 1.30pm dolphin watch cruise. It is a two hour cruise and we hoped to see dolphins, fur seals, cormorants and penguins.

     The dolphins are called Hector's dolphins. They are the smallest of all dolphins and are unique to these waters.

     The fur seals are New Zealand fur seals. The penguins are the small and rare White-flippered penguins. They are the smallest penguin in the world.

     The cruise takes people out past the 'heads' into the Pacific Ocean. On the way we saw amazing volcanic rock formations and caves. We were warned several times that we are looking for wild animals and we may see none. Also, if we did see dolphins, they are usually in groups of only four or five.

     Apparently we did see a penguin - it was so small, with only its head showing, that it looked like a little duck.

     A solitary fur seal put on a bit of a performance for us - just lazing in the water and rolling over.

     It was over an hour before someone yelled “dolphin”.

     Sure enough we got tantalising glimpses of one, sometimes two, moving so quickly it was hard to know which way to point the camera, let alone get a picture. I resorted to leaving the camera switched to video in the hope I would catch something.

     These short sightings continued until, reluctantly, the captain said we must head back. At least we had seen some.

     Suddenly there was squealing, the boat slowed, and it was quite obvious that the captain himself was surprised by the number of dolphins we were seeing - possibly ten or twelve.

     Back to the dock in time for a coffee and catch the bus back to Chistchurch.

     The driver dropped us at an Indian restaurant that specialises in authentic Mumbai street food - only complaint - too much food.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Now - be gentle.
    Bridge over the River Avon in the Botanic Gardens.In the Botanic Gardens' Rose Garden.Fountain in Botanic Gardens.'Our' tram for canapes and drinks at the start of our APT tour.Inside the temporary cardboard cathedral.

    Quake City.

    November 21, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Plan for today - a visit to Quake City then a walk in the Botanic Gardens.

     On the way, Paul found a new friend but he is a bit quiet.

     Quake City is a museum that tells the stories of the people involved in the Christchurch earthquake in 2011 - rescued and rescuers. The ground 'liquified', buildings collapsed and 185 people died.

     There are photographs, videos and news broadcasts that only start to tell of the horror that must have taken place.

     Being a tad weary I headed back to the hotel and left the others to go into the Botanic Gardens.

     Tonight we join our APT tour. We are meeting at 4.00pm and walking to the tram depot for a city tour on a tram. There will be drinks and canapés on the tram and then we're back here for dinner.

     We are now in APT's hands - tomorrow we head to Mt Cook…    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Reflections across Lake Pukaki.
    The good shepherd.Lupins - shame they're a weed.Mt Cook as seen from room.Visitor Centre.Sunset on Mt.Cook.

    Aoraki - Mt Cook.

    November 22, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Bags outside room at 7.30. On bus at 8.30. Set off for Mt. Cook.

     Stopped for a photo stop at the church of the good shepherd - supposedly the most photographed church in New Zealand. The church was built in commemoration of the pioneers of the area. The good shepherd also refers to the sheepdogs that made it possible to farm sheep in this area.

     Stopped at Geraldine for a 45 minute break. Some had lunch, we stocked up on muesli bars, had a coffee and Janette bought a new top.

    Next stop - 30 minutes at Lake Tekapo. Janette and I had a toastie and a cuppa.

     Then it was on to Mt Cook Village.

    But, the water in Lake Pukaki was so calm and reflective that we stopped for another photo opportunity. Tim, the bus driver reckoned he'd never seen the water so calm and reflective.

     Checked into the Hermitage Hotel where every room has a view of Mt Cook. Instructions were to meet at 6.30 for the 'world's best buffet dinner'. It didn't disappoint.

     Tomorrow morning - the Glacial Experience - out onto a glacial lake in zodiaks…    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Kitting up.The ice picks up gravel and rock and so the icebergs can appear quite 'dirty'.

    Glacier Explorer

    November 23, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌫 8 °C

    All we knew was that this experience involves boarding a zodiac, being taken out on the Tasman Glacier Terminal Lake, seeing and being informed about the glacier and its icebergs.

     A pre-requirement is that each person must be able to walk the 1.5kms into the lake (and out again) in 20 minutes on uneven ground.

     The tour company bussed us in as far as a car park and then we walked in. The weather was bad. We kept our fingers crossed that it wouldn't be called off. Our driver, Toby, reckoned that, had the weather been a bit worse, it would have been.

     Toby alternated between drifting quietly on the water while educating us about the glacier, the formation of the lake and the icebergs, and using the zodiac as a jet-boat. The speed really was necessary as the lake is seven kilometres long and the toe of the glacier is at the other end.

     After an hour on the water, we returned to land freezing cold, soaking wet and very happy that we'd done it.

    Walked back to car park, boarded our bus and continued on our tour…    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Don't fall in - that water's cold!
    The glacier looks black because of all the rock it gathers.Frozen to the marrow, wet through - and loving it.The toe of the glacier - the bluer the ice, the more recent its calving.Terminal face of the Tasman Glacier.Walking back from terminal lake.A walk at Mt Cook.

    More on Glacier Lake

    November 23, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌫 8 °C

    As was the case in so many places we visited, the local guides here pointed out how things are changing. This lake has only existed since 1990. The wall at the bottom end of the lake is the moraine, where the glacier once ended. The moraine is the debris that is pushed along by the glacier.

     The toe of the glacier is now at the top end of the lake, some seven kilometres away.

     Ice dropping off a glacier is referred to as calving. A large calving event coincided with the Christchurch earthquake in 2011. So much ice dropped from the terminal face, it caused tsunami waves of 3.5 metres.

     Opinion is that the glacier will continue to recede…    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Shattered.

    Moeraki boulders.

    November 23, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Stopped to see the Moeraki boulders, a phenomenon found here on the beach.

    The Moeraki Boulders are unusually large spherical boulders lying along a stretch of Koekohe Beach on the wave-cut Otago coast of New Zealand between Moeraki and Hampden. They occur scattered either as isolated or clusters of boulders within a stretch of beach where they have been protected in a scientific reserve.

    These boulders are grey-colored septarian concretions, which have been exhumed from the mudstone and bedrock enclosing them and concentrated on the beach by coastal erosion.

    After a short walk down to the beach, we braved the weather and walked down the beach to view the boulders.

     Then it was back on the bus and on to Dunedin.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Olveston House.
    Now that's a mirror!1Hatch from kitchen to butler's pantry.Water purifier.

    Olveston House - Dunedin

    November 24, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 7 °C

    Olveston was built for Dunedin businessman, collector and philanthropist David Theomin, his wife Marie and their two children Edward and Dorothy.

    Designed by acclaimed English architect Sir Ernest George, Olveston was built as a family home furnished with fine art, furniture and artefacts purchased from all around the world.

    Intended for future generations of Theomin’s to enjoy, this was not to be the case as both the Theomin children died without heirs. Surviving the death of her father, mother and elder brother, Miss Dorothy Theomin lived at Olveston until her death in 1966, when it was discovered the house and the original contents were gifted to the City of Dunedin.

    Opened as a historic house museum in 1967, Olveston is a time capsule as little has changed inside the house since it was occupied as a family home between 1906 to 1966.

    Olveston really is an authentic and original historic home depicting the life of a wealthy merchant family in the early part of the twentieth century.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Larnach Castle.

    Larnach Castle, Dunedin.

    November 24, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 8 °C

    Larnach Castle was built by wealthy businessman and politician William Larnach from 1870 over a period of twenty years. It is valued for its architecture and craftsmanship, quite an achievement at the time, overcoming the sourcing of materials and the very challenging building site. The carving throughout is stunning.

    Intriguing stories of the family tragedies and scandals kept everyone enthralled during the tour.

     Bought by the Barker family in 1967, it has been meticulously restored. The gardens are equally as impressive as the fully furnished home, affectionately known as “The Camp”.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Te Anau.Lake Te Anau.On Lake Manapouri.Wilmot Pass looking down on Doubtful Sound.

    Doubtful Sound - No doubt about it.

    November 25, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 5 °C

    Today we're booked to go for a cruise on Doubtful Sound.

     First - what's the difference between a fjord and a sound?

     “A fjord is an underwater valley carved by glaciers. Generally narrow, with steep-sided mountains on either side, these U and V shaped valleys were carved by ancient rivers of ice which have since disappeared. Because these valleys are below sea level, they have been inundated with sea water, creating the fjords we see today”

     “Like a fjord, a sound is a valley that has been filled with sea water. However, a sound is usually formed by the flooding of a river valley, not a glacial valley. This means that the topography is usually less narrow and more gently sloping than a fjord, but it is no less spectacular.”

     “Doubtful Sound Patea spans a staggering 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the head of the sound to the Tasman Sea. It is the deepest of New Zealand’s 14 sounds and its immense size leaves all who visit feeling humbled yet uplifted by its powerful physical presence.”

     “The sound branches into three arms which provide opportunities for scenic cruise boat passengers to explore up-close sheer cliff faces, impressive waterfalls and tranquil overnight moorings. Doubtful Sound Patea also provides shelter to New Zealand’s southernmost population of bottlenose dolphins and tawaki, the Fiordland Crested Penguin.”

     “Spend just a short amount of time immersed in Doubtful Sound Patea and it is easy to understand why early Māori named the sound, Patea - meaning ‘place of silence’. Here, visitors find silence amongst a dramatic landscape with echoing birdsong or cascading waterfalls the only sound to break the stillness.”

     At one point the Captain turned off the boat's engines and asked everyone to be silent for a couple of minutes - quite an experience!

     “With no road to the fiord, the experience of getting to Doubtful Sound Patea is an adventure in itself. Doubtful Sound Patea is only accessible to visitors by a tour excursion departing from Manapouri.”

     So, bus, Te Anau to Manapouri (20 minutes), catamaran to West Arm (1 hour), bus across Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove (45 minutes). At Deep Cove we boarded our catamaran for our three hour cruise.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    1st stop - Te Anau Downs.
    2nd stop - Mirror Lake.Car park superintendant at third stop - a Kea.1.2km Homer Tunnel through Darran Mountains.Milford Sound.

    Milford Sound

    November 26, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Bags out at 7 for an eight o'clock departure for Milford Sound. Our cruise was booked for 11.00am, so we had a 2 1/2 hour drive with three photo stops.

     The drive includes a 1.2 km tunnel through the Darran Mountains at Homer Saddle.

     Although called Milford Sound, it is actually one of New Zealand's 14 fjords..

     As a fjord, Milford Sound was formed by a process of glaciation over millions of years. If the rocks at top of the fjord sides are rounded, it means they were below the glacial ice level and were worn smooth. If they are jagged, they were above the glacial ice level.

    The village at the end of the fjord is also known as Milford Sound.

     Milford Sound runs 15 kilometres inland from the Tasman Sea at Dale Point and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) or more on either side. Among the peaks are The Elephant at 1,517 metres (4,977 ft), said to resemble an elephant's head, and The Lion, 1,302 metres (4,272 ft), in the shape of a crouching lion.

     Milford Sound sports two permanent waterfalls, Lady Bowen Falls and Stirling Falls. After heavy rain temporary waterfalls can be seen running down the steep sided rock faces that line the fjord. They are fed by rainwater-drenched moss and will last a few days at most once the rain stops.

     The cruise took us the whole length of the fjord, out along the southern side and back along the northern side. It is difficult to describe the size and scale of it all.

    The return trip was back to Te Anau then around to Queenstown. We arrived at our hotel at 6.00pm. Two full days here now with lots of free time.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    The Church Winery.

    4 wineries - 21 wines

    November 27, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Gibbston Valley, Kinross, Mt Rosa and The Church.

     Four wineries with five wine tastings at each and lunch at the second.

     Picked up at 10.00am by Shaun from Altitude Small Tours for our wine tour. We were six people only. We didn’t know much about the day to come except that it was a wine tour. Shaun explained we would visit four wineries, sample five wines at each and have lunch at one of them. As it turned out, we sampled six at one winery.

     First was Gibbston Valley where we arrived with half an hour to spare before our tour and tasting. We sat around a table and Shaun used his Sommelier's smelling kit to 'test' our sense of smell

     The tasting took place in their wine cave. This had been 'dug' (blasted) into the mountain by the first owner. It is a constant 14 degrees C.

     We bought a bottle of riesling and then visited their cheese shop and bought cheese and crackers.

     Next was Kinross where we tasted two of their own wines and one each from four other wineries that they are the cellar door for - Hawkshead, Coal Pit, Valli and Wild Irishman. They are small boutique wineries not large enough to have their own cellar door.

     We had lunch here having pre ordered with Shaun which also reserved us a table.

     After lunch, Mt Rosa and another five wines and then the Church for another five…

     Back at the hotel by 4pm.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Walter Peak High Country Farm.
    Walter Peak High Country Farm.TSS Earnslaw.Coal fired engine.Shearing demo.Mia on roundup duty.

    Across the lake for BBQ buffet dinner.

    November 27, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Tonight's buffet dinner was at Walter Peak High Country Farm which is on the other side of Lake Whakatipu from Queenstown.

     To get there we sailed on the TSS Earnslaw. It is a coal fired steamship built in 1912, the same year as the Titanic. It burns a ton of coal per hour! There's talk of making it more eco friendly - but how???

     The buffet was excellent - plenty of seafood, meats and desserts.

     After dinner, we all walked to the little amphitheatre for a shearing demonstration, but the highlight was Mia, the border collie, herding the sheep back down the hill.

     We set sail to return to Queenstown at 9.30 and were back at our hotel at 10.30.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Coffee spot lakeside.
    Another coffee stop.

    A day off.

    November 28, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Nothing organised for today so we can just take our time and take it easy. So, a later breakfast and catch up with washing and ironing.

     Walked down to lakeside and had a coffee before heading into the park.

     Yesterday we received a 10% discount voucher for a fish'n'chip van and we decided that we would get some for lunch and eat it lakeside. What a disappointment! It was awful!

     Ah well, it happens.

    Walked around to dockside, had a coffee and then wandered around the shops before heading back to the hotel. Beat the rain back - it's turned quite bleak this afternoon - just as well we're eating in the hotel restaurant tonight.    Read more

  • Janette and JohnKia Ora - AotearoaJanette and John
    Thunder Falls, Haast River.
    Bungy bridge just outside Queenstown.Wanaka.Haast River.Haast.Haast - driftwood on beach.Franz Joseph Glacier - photo taken from where the glacier once ended!

    North to the west coast.

    November 29, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Today was just a day of travel from Queenstown to Franz Joseph.

     The seating system on bus tours is that everyone rotates seats each travelling day. This way everyone gets a turn in a front seat. We were up the front today, and what a great scenery day to be there.

     We had lots of stops, the first being not far out of Queenstown at the original bungy jumping site. We stayed long enough to watch the first jump of the day although he just stepped off the platform rather than dive.

     There was spectacular scenery the entire way - lakes, snow capped mountains, waterfalls, driftwood covered beaches…

     As we neared Franz Joseph, there was a little concern that the cloud would be too low for us to see the glacier. It was decided to go in and hope to see it. From the car park there is a walk to the viewing area. Fortunately, the cloud was just high enough for us to see the toe of the glacier in the distance.

     This was as far as we were allowed to go. This viewing area is where the glacier ended in 1908…    Read more

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