Checkout and flight back to Sydney 27 February

Day 7 February 27

Get up extra early, need to pack up and clean the unit and be out by 8am.  Evan nearly falls down the stairs as he takes our bags down and ends up waking everybody who isn't up yet.

Manage to get all our bags into the 2 cars and we leave the keys in the unit as reception isn't open yet.

Drive to airport and drop cars off.  Drop keys and papers off at rental desk.

Line up to check in. Check in and then go through security to enter passenger area.  I have a oat and honey breakfast bar.  Mark is busy eating our leftovers from the unit.   Then we go through customs and immigration. Go through duty free and I buy some sets of hand cream, lip gloss, etc. Sit a while in the lounge area until our flight is ready to board.

Board and we are sitting in the back, while Evan and A. Cath are up the front of the plane.

When they finally serve refreshments, I get a egg, mayo and lettuce sandwich with a packet of chips and Janet gets the Pie Face mini snack box with sausage roll and pie, although she has to wait a while for them to heat it up.

When we finally arrive, get though customs and immigration without scanning. Lily calls home and Darren ends up coming to pick us up.  Spend a least an hour waiting in the car park.  Drop Evan and A. Cath home, and then go home as Darren is going out and so we don't go out for yum cha for lunch.

Coronet Peak, Kelvin Heights 26 February

Day 6 Thursday 26 February

Our last full day here in Queenstown, NZ. 

I go for an early morning walk down to the lake, while Evan preps for breakfast. Get back and make breakfast, every one still sleeping.

Today we take a drive up to Coronet Peak. Our first sighting of sheep. The ski station is closed over summer. There are some other sight seers, a group a bikies and what looks like a film crew. Admire the scenery from up top. Watch the paragliders take off. There are also hang gliders too.  Take a walk around, but as it's closed, nothing much to do, until Janet discovers there is free wifi with a fairly strong signal. So we stick around a bit, while Evan uploads his photos, Janet updates on Viber, and Lily chats with HK relos.

Drive back down and head to Frankton. Decide to buy some food at supermarket and have picnic by the river.  End up buying a roast chicken and a loaf of bread. No salads. Look for the Kawarau picnic area, but end up in the cul de sac which we got lost in looking for the Remarkables Market. Only a small green area, not quite a park by the river. So we decide to go to Kelvin Heights and see whether there are any good spots by the lake that we can have out lunch.

Lots of nice houses in Kelvin Heights, and walking paths down to the lake but not many roads.  Eventually find one that leads us to a boat launching ramp and small park with play area.  Stop here and have our chicken sandwiches. Go for a short walk on the path around the lake, but don't go all the way to the end.

On the way back we stop at the Wakatipu Outlet Historic Bridge lookout. See some shotover boats going down the river.  Head back to the resort, freshen up then we walk into town to find somewhere to eat our last meal in Queenstown.  Think everybody's sugar level was low.  No one suggested any place, so I decided we should check out a Chinese restaurant. Yes? No?  Janet's kitty is out of money.  

If we go to a restaurant, everyone will need to put in money to pay.  Not many of us have cash left.  We'd need to use credit. We head upstairs get a table, but after looking at the menu and the prices, I think everyone is shocked.  Decide to order, but no one willing to suggest the dishes.  Lily at the stage gets peed off and gets up and walks out.  Well, what can you do, we all decide to get up and walk out.  Can't enjoy a meal when all the family isn't there.  Mark chases after Lily, whilst we go our way. Go and check out the pizza place. Also looks expensive.  Ultimately we end up back at the O'Connells food court ordering thai, and this is where Lily and Mark are as well. They sit separately to us. Together, but not together.  

After dinner, we go for a walk down to the wharf.  Evan still wants to take photos of the wharf at night.After a while it's getting cooler, so the others head back to the resort, while Evan and I hang around the wharf area to take photos.

Glenorchy Wednesday 25 February

Wednesday 25 February

With no bread for breakfast, Evan and I take an early morning walk into town to buy some bread, but when we get to the Fergbaker, we see that the line to Fergburger isn't long, only 2 customers in line, so we decide to have burgers for breakfast. Although the lines are short, looks like they have orders piled up as it's a 20 min wait to get our burgers.  We order 3 burgers, a Southern Swine $12.50, Morning Glory $10 and Dawn Horn $12.50. Evan paid for the burgers. So would have loved to have eaten it there and then, but we walked it back to the apartment, took photos with it and then cut it up into quarters to share and try each one. They are worth it and I'm so glad we bought them.

Then after breakfast, we decided to take a drive to Glenorchy.  Stopped at Wilson Bay - a very nice spot for a picnic - the water is so calm and clear, if it was a hot summer's day, this would be the place to go swimming. But today the temperatures had plummeted and it was cold.

Then continuing our drive we stop at Bennett's Bluff - so windy, we can see Glenorchy in the distance. A nice lookout to take photos, but so very windy and cold today.

Continue our drive until we get to the welcome sign where we stop to take photos. Drive through the town to the waters edge.  It's so cold, everyone needs to pee, so they take shelter in the boat shed/museum.

Photos and then a drive back into town to find the public toilets. It's lunch time, so Janet makes the decision for us to have lunch in the Glenorchy Cafe. Orders quiche and chips.

Everyone orders a drink, hot chocolate, coffee, tea. Sit a while and have our lunch. After lunch we take a walk down the main street, check out the shops. Lily and Kaylene spy the dental assistant Mackenzie? and they end up talking.

After Glenorchy we drive a bit further south, cross a very long bridge over a river, which is not quite dry. Stop to take photos.  Drive further but the road becomes an unsealed road, so we turn around and head back.

On the way back we spy a waterfall which Evan drives straight past, so we U-turn and head back. Not quite as spectacular as it is very far away up the side of the hill. Take photos anyway then head off back to resort. Get back and have a home cooked dinner, before heading out for a walk around the park.

The others walk ahead and soon Evan and I have lost sight of them. Not sure whether they have gone into town or gone back to the resort.  As I have the key, we decide to head back to the resort, otherwise they may be waiting for us. Get back to the resort and they aren't there.  They have gone into town and are shopping, as they come back way later, after we have both had our showers and we're watching tv.

Evan's 50th and Arrowtown Tuesday 24 February

Tuesday 24 February

Woke up this morning and it is very misty. The hill is shrouded in mist.  Evan takes a walk into town to take photos, while Megan makes breakfast. Breakfast is left over pasta, french toast, ham, cucumber, avocado and tomato. There is a surprise on Evan's plate when he gets back, a message written in pasta - Happy Bday.

Today we are going to Arrowtown, so after breakfast, Megan is in the lead car and stops at the Old Historic Bridge.

Photo stop of the Shotover river and Coronet Peak and Remarkables. On the way to the bridge they notice that there is water cress growing along the path, so on our way back to the car, they egg Evan on to pick some for soup tonight. Janet produces a plastic bag, so he fills it with as much water cress he can pick.

Next stop is Lake Hayes Pavillion and Showground. Great views of the lake, this is a spot for weddings and functions.  Then it's on the road to Arrowtown.

Get to Arrowtown and look for a spot to park down near the historic Chinese Village. Check out Dudley's Cottage - good for souvenirs. I buy 5 aluminium kiwi/sheep figures for the people at work. They are like $12 each.

The others are already checking out the Chinese settlement.

Photos of the outhouse. Things look different though to the time we were there last. Seems a lot more spread out.

Have lunch at the Arrow Thai Food Restaurant, after not being able to get a table with 7 seats at The Stables Restaurant. We all order individual dishes. I order Satay chicken with rice.

After lunch we take a walk around the town.

Up and down the streets, taking photos, checking out the shops. I buy a mini jade kiwi from the jewellery shop. I think I bought a necklace with gold flecks here when we first came.

After checking out the shops, we head on down to the river. No pan, no gold. Kaylene and Megan build an Inukshuk with rocks laying around. After checking out the river, we've seen just about everything, so we go to drive home, but before we do, I do a loop of the town and we stop at the Catholic Church and the Anglican Church, and then we head back to Queenstown.

After a rest, we head on out to find a restaurant to celebrate Evan's birthday. Unfortunately the place we want to eat at has no tables available and it doesn't look like any of their patrons will be leaving soon, so we end up going to the Pub on the Wharf.

All mains are $20. Get a booth, but it seems small for all of us, so Evan looks for a bigger table, and he manages to get one which we can sit at comfortably, otherwise we would have had to sit at two booths, which is not what Evan wanted. I order the 3 Hour Slow Cooked Steak (3 hour slow cooked rump steak served medium/rare with mushroom sauce, salad, rosemary potatoes and onion rings). Kaylene and Lily order the Pork Belly (Stuffed with apricot, sage, onion and slow roasted. Served on potato mash and seasonal roasted vegetables with a warm apple sauce), Evan and Mark order the South Island Lamb Rump (Served with rosemary potatoes, green beans and a harissa sauce), Janet orders the Whole Baked Flounder (Oven baked whole fish served with rosemary potatoes, salad greens and caper butter sauce) and A. Cath orders the BBQ Pork Ribs (Tender slow cooked ribs coated in a sticky plum sauce, served with salad greens and fries). They are all pretty big servings.  I can't finish my steak. Maybe should have shared dishes, but it's reasonable for the price. Evan shouts us drinks, soft drinks and cider. So full, we take our time eating.

After dinner we take a walk up to the supermarket, as Mark needs milk for breakfast. Decide to buy cake at Fergbaker, what's a birthday without cake. End up getting a Ferg's Famous Boston Cream Donut and a Carrot Cake. The carrot cake is very crumbly, but the cream donut is to die for. Using the candles provided for dining, we decorate the cakes and sing Happy Birthday, Evan cuts his cake. Take photos, and we all have a piece of each cake.

Happy 50th Birthday Evan...it's one to remember.

Puzzle World Wanaka Monday 23 February

Monday 23 February

After breakfast, we head off towards Wanaka, but lots of photo stops along the way.

 First stop is the Kawarau Suspension Bridge - the home of the bungy and it's where Megan bungy jumped at least 19 years ago, when she was 30. So many years ago, but it just seems like yesterday. A lot has changed in 19 years, but the jump is still the same. A new huge centre has sprung up where there use to be just a small shack. The viewing platform also incorporates a zipline ride. The bridge area where jumpers jump seems to be bigger and there are more people jumping.

Back on the road, we pass fruit stands and stalls, some big, some small. We pull into one, where Janet buys some apricots and nectarines. Then a bit further down the road we pass some signs saying cherries for sale, so we follow the signs and its a drive through cherry farm, no need to get out of the car, the cherries come to you, already bagged, it's $10 a kilo, so they buy one bag and we buy one bag - they turn out to be big and juicy, almost want to turn around and buy more.

Along the way to Wanaka, we take a detour into Cromwell. stop at the big fruits and Cromwell sign to take photos. Spy some shops nearby, so decide to have lunch there. Subway for lunch.

Back on the road until we get to Puzzling World Wanaka.  Take photos outside, but as there isn't much time and it closes at 5pm, Evan buys our tickets (we all get our hand stamped) and we check out the Illusions Room.  Then the sculptures room.

Then we get lost in the maze. Janet and Kaylene seem to be able to find the coloured towers, but the rest follow like sheep and get lost. Megan manages to find 3 of them, the rest find 2 with help and Evan finds only one and gives up and exits the maze using an emergency exit.

After backtracking and working our way around, the rest finally find the official exit to the maze - hot and thirsty, we head for the bubblers and then for the Roman toilets.

What a laugh, Kaylene decides to take her long pants down for a photo shoot, keeping her undies on of course, but the reaction of a man who walks in is just too hilarious - hope he doesn't think she was using the loo for real. So funny.

We find Evan in the shop trying to work out some puzzles.  Spend some time here, before it's time to go. Decide to check out Lake Wanaka. Drive into town and park near the lake. Take photos, then take a drive around to Beacon Point.

 Decide against the bush walk, so we head back to Queenstown via the Crown Range road, very steep and curvy - not good if you get car sick, lucky Megan was driving.

 Stop at various lookouts to take photos. But drive straight past the Cardrona Historic Hotel.

One car continues to the shops - Evan, Janet and A. Cath to buy supplies for dinner and the other goes straight back to the apartment. Evan cooks pasta with bolognese sauce for dinner with side salad. Unfortunately for Mark, it's not spaghetti, so we have leftovers for breakfast the next day.

Skyline Gondola and TSS Earnslaw Cruise Sunday 22 February

Sunday 22 February

Breakfast of french toast, tinned spaghetti, hash browns, ham, avocado, cucumber and tomato, before we ventured for our walk to the Skyline Gondola.  Was pretty much a straight walk from one end of town to the other and then up some not so steep roads. Evan bought the tickets after it was decided that Evan, Kaylene and Megan were going on the luge. The rest would just take a ride up and look around. Ended up buying 2 rides, which was not enough..."should have bought the 10 ticket ride" Evan was heard saying. Janet, Evan and A. Cath went up in the first gondola, Mark, Lily, Kaylene and I in the next.

Up at the top, we took in the scenic views from the deck. There is also free wifi up here. Lots of  photos later, we head out and up the hill. Find a spot for the rest to sit and catch us as we come luging by. Then Kaylene, Megan and Evan head to the chairlift which will take them up to the start of the luge run. Evan is holding the GoPro taking videos. We leave our camera's with the others. Next time, if there is a next time, will need to take one with us.

Although you need both hands to hold on to the steering wheel to start and brake, the camera can go into a pocket. After given our instructions, and seeing how we perform they let us loose on the track.  Megan heads off past Kaylene who is very hesitant. Follow me....and she's gone. Try to slow down so they can catch up, but it's very hard trying to hold back. Almost cause a holdup, when two other luges are stopped right in the middle of a hairpin turn, but Megan takes the right, Kaylene takes the left and Evan follows behind...although Megan slows down and almost stops too...need to get it going again. Get to the bottom and oh what fun...time to go up for another run.  This time, Evan looks for a helmet which can house a GoPro - finds a lady who has just picked one up, doesn't look like she'll have a GoPro, so Evan asks if he can swap, lucky she gives it to him. This time he goes first with the camera strapped to this helmet facing backwards so it films Megan and Kaylene coming behind him.  They just have to make sure they can see him.  On checking the videos when we get back - yes they are ok, not too bad. Evan buys a photo of all three on the track, even though Kaylene isn't happy with it.  In the meantime Mark has gone for a walk to check out the hill, the others are where we left them.

Take more photos on the hill, before heading in to check out the cafe and souvenir shop. Decide not to eat there. Head back down to get some lunch.  Fergburger line is too long. End up going back to O'Connells food court and had Thai, Sushi and Maccas.

Then we head to the Steamer wharf hoping to catch the 2pm trip, Can see that they are starting to board passengers. They are still selling tickets, so again Evan buys the tickets and we board from the rear as the queue to get on in the middle of the boat is too long. The top of the boat is packed, so we stay down the bottom towards the side and back. The round trip takes 1 and a half hours and we go to the Walter Peak Farm to pick up and drop off passengers before heading back to Queenstown. Whist on board you can check out the engine room and there is a museum, but we just mostly stay up top taking in the scenery. 

After the steamer ride, it's time for a treat. A. Cath treats us to Patagonia Chocolate ice cream. We decide on 1 cone with 2 scoops and 1 cup with 2 scoops. The cone has Mocha Cream and Patagonia Dark Chocolate with Macadamias and the cup has Banana Split and Passionfruit. All agree the banana split is yummy.

They have free wifi for customers, so we sit outside eating our ice cream and using the wifi. It's towards the late afternoon, almost dinner time and paragliders are dropping out of the sky on to the beach.  Looks like they've finished for the day up on the hill and one by one they make their presence known. Some perform acrobatics before landing, others just land. What a show. Janet and A. Cath head back to the apartment to prepare dinner. Mark goes off for a wander. Lily, Kaylene, Evan and Megan take in the spectacle.  Just when you think you've seen the last of the paragliders, more appear.

So we stick around and watch until there's no more, the sun is setting at this stage, getting cooler and time to get back. Janet and A. Cath have prepared a dinner of beef with tomatoes and onions, vegie soup and rice.