November
7, Wednesday
I’m entering the Southern Lakes District
Lake Wakatipu: “New Zealands longest lake (approx 77 kms) and 3rd largest covering an area of 290 sq kms. It is also one of the deepest at 372 meters having been carved by glaciers over a period of hundreds of thousands of years.”
Looking back along the road I just travelled.
Ice covered mountains ahead
The Remarkables mountain range: Elevation 1,943 meters. During the winter months The Remarkables skifield has skiing and other winter activities. The ski area has 3 mountain bowls covering 540 acres (2.2 km²). The patrolled area covers 220 ha with 6 lifts (3 quad chairs, 3 magic carpets, and a tow rope). Terrain is rated as 30% beginners, 40% intermediate and 30% advanced. The whole skifield area is 540 acres (2.2 km²) with 6 lifts. Average annual snowfall is 3.67 metres.
and better as we get higher up.
Valley towards Arthurs Point
Views from the top of Queenstown Hill
Paragliding: OK, my cousin Renée sent me an email saying that she went paragliding here, so I decided to check it out. First thing I notice is that it’s called “G-FORCE” paragliding. Then I watch a few para-gliders sail past over the water, looks good so far.
I opted out of having lunch up on the mountain top and decided to keep exploring, so I took the gondola back down the mountain.
Had not noticed this contraption on my way up. There is someone hanging at the end of the rope.
Queenstown from the Gardens
It had been a long day and I decided that it was time to walk back to the motel and get some rest.
The view from the window in my room at the Bella Vista Motel. It wears its name very well.
I checked out of the motel by 10 am and drove out of Te
Anau on my way to Queenstown (Land of Lord of the Rings) only 170 km, but a 3
hour spectacular drive. The first part
of my route is the same one I came in on Highway 94, but then I veer north on
Highway 6 for the bulk of the route to Frankton and west the short distance to
Queenstown.
I’m entering the Southern Lakes District
Lake Wakatipu: “New Zealands longest lake (approx 77 kms) and 3rd largest covering an area of 290 sq kms. It is also one of the deepest at 372 meters having been carved by glaciers over a period of hundreds of thousands of years.”
Looking back along the road I just travelled.
Ice covered mountains ahead
The Remarkables mountain range: Elevation 1,943 meters. During the winter months The Remarkables skifield has skiing and other winter activities. The ski area has 3 mountain bowls covering 540 acres (2.2 km²). The patrolled area covers 220 ha with 6 lifts (3 quad chairs, 3 magic carpets, and a tow rope). Terrain is rated as 30% beginners, 40% intermediate and 30% advanced. The whole skifield area is 540 acres (2.2 km²) with 6 lifts. Average annual snowfall is 3.67 metres.
I arrived in tiny Queenstown:
Haden’t pre-booked a motel, there wasn’t much in my motel booklet and
I did not have a map so I found a parking spot in the downtown core and went hunting
for a tourist information office. The
young lady was very helpful since I was first trying to see if I could book any
tours for this afternoon (just missed the 1 pm departure on those). I booked a half day morning tour for the
following day and when she asked where I was staying in Queenstown so that they
can come and pick me up, I got to ask her my second question about
accommodation. She made a few phone
calls and within 5 minutes, I had a motel room booked nearby. I obtained maps and brochures about things
to do in Queenstown, as well as my tour of the area for tomorrow, and made my
way back to my car to drive to the Bella Vista Motel on Main Street. Another room on the second floor, but the
young man at the reception desk offered to help me with my bags. Since I’m not hauling the big suit case, I
managed the rest on my own. I’m still
using that plastic Mexican looking checkered bag for the clothing I’ll need
during my drive around New Zealand.
Queenstown is the “adventure
capital of the world” according to one of my NZ brochures; “one of the brightest diamonds in New
Zealand’s jewel studded crown”. Skiing,
snowboarding, hiking, white water, sky diving, para-gliding, bungee jumping,
canyon swinging (I don’t even want to know what that one is), you name it,
Queenstown seems to have it.
After organizing my things in my room, I decided to make
the most of my afternoon and start touring Queenstown. First on my list was to walk to the Skyline
Gondolas and check out the views from the top of Queenstown Hill, 790 meters above sea level (2,500 ft) and 456
meters above Queenstown (1496 ft).
Going up the gondola
The views keep getting better...and better as we get higher up.
Valley towards Arthurs Point
Views from the top of Queenstown Hill
Paragliding: OK, my cousin Renée sent me an email saying that she went paragliding here, so I decided to check it out. First thing I notice is that it’s called “G-FORCE” paragliding. Then I watch a few para-gliders sail past over the water, looks good so far.
Then
I watch them spiral rapidly down to a small green field below the rock face I’m
standing on. I mean REALLY RAPIDLY SPIRALLING. I was ready to throw up just watching them. I kept telling myself “Renée did this” but I
still couldn’t talk myself into it. Now
if they had been landing on that huge field on the other side of the lake with
that immense downward slope, I definitely would have gone up. (photo above the hang glider) This item will have to stay on my bucket
list until I find a suitable location.
Kilometric sign posts: I’m a long, long way from home! 12,404 to Vancouver + another 3,538 to OttawaI opted out of having lunch up on the mountain top and decided to keep exploring, so I took the gondola back down the mountain.
Had not noticed this contraption on my way up. There is someone hanging at the end of the rope.
I walked around the tiny downtown area (about 4 blocks by
4 blocks) filled with shops and restaurants.
It really is a resort area. I
found a restaurant where I could eat lunch and read a bit more about the things
to see in Queenstown that would not be covered on tomorrow’s tour. The town was established in the 1860s during
the gold rush to Arrowtown.
I then decided to walk around the Queenstown Gardens that
occupy the small peninsula. My camera
decided to act up again and I could not take any photos, but I did take some
with my camcorder. Not as good quality
for photos, but it is excellent to film.
Queenstown from the Gardens
It had been a long day and I decided that it was time to walk back to the motel and get some rest.
Marjo: I haven’t
finished touring NZ yet, but this is a definite possibility! If not to live, then definitely to
visit. I don’t think they get
earthquakes here, but they may get avalanches or rock slides. It’s tiny however, only about 17,000
population, so keep that in mind!
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