Awesome Queenstown!!

Friday March 1 started a bit cool as we boarded the 8:30 a.m. bus in Dunedin.  The sun came up en route to Queenstown and it started to warm up.  By late afternoon it was 21C.  It was about a 4.5 hour drive through absolutely beautiful country-- mountains, farms with lots of sheep, lakes and vineyards.  The South Island really is as spectacular as everyone has said.

Mountains, greenery

Lots of sheep

Even some snow capped mountains

We made a "comfort stop" in Roxburgh.  The public toilets talked as one entered, saying you had 10 minutes inside.  Toilet would only flush after you washed your hands.  Music played inside- What the World Needs Now is Love.  Very high tech.

Roxburgh toilets

We continued and made a brief stop in Cromwell.

Lake Dunstan near Cromwell

We passed by a number of wineries before we dropped some passengers off  in Cromwell.   We will be coming back here to walk the 4 Barrel Wine Trail between four wineries on Sunday.

Wooing Tree--- beautiful setting-we will be back

Cromwell's Gold sign

Bikers passing winery covered with nets

We arrived in Queenstown at about 1:00 p.m.   Our host, Jason, met us at the bus depot and took us to a wonderful gourmet store to pick up some fish and produce and then to the supermarket to get the usual basics of milk, yogurt etc.   

Queenstown sits on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, with a backdrop of the dramatic Southern Alps.  The range which has jagged peaks is called The Remarkables-- very apt name.  Queenstown is renowned for adventure sports-- home of bungee jumping (done off the Kawarau Gorge Suspension Bridge).  It is also a base for exploring the region's vineyards and historic mining towns.  While the permanent population is only around 16,000, there can be 30,000 in town at any one time.  It's spectacular setting is a huge tourist draw.  We just missed the peak of the season as we are now in March.  

Our Airbnb is about a 45 minute walk from the centre of the City.  We are in an area called Sunshine Bay, which has spectacular views of the Lake.  We have our own suite (bedroom, bathroom and access to another bedroom to put our luggage.  We can also use the kitchen and dining room.  

Dining and living room area

View outside

Our bedroom as we arrived

Outdoor area we can use

Jason was heading downtown, so we took the ride.   There is a local bus that run every 15 minutes nearby.   We first visited the I-Site and booked a 12 hour trip and cruise of Milford Sound for Monday.  We also booked a small cruise of Lake Wakatipu for Saturday.  The weather was beautiful- lots of sun and warm.

We stopped for coffee at Vudu- sat in their lovely backyard near the Lake

Alain back in the sun

One minute from where we had our coffee

Boats, water and mountains- what more could one want

Jason had told us about Ferg bakery.  It is located beside the famous Fergburger, which has a long line waiting to order burgers.  Jason said the burgers are OK, but not worth the line-up.   However, one can just walk into the neighbouring bakery.  There is also a gelato store on the other side of the bakery.

Ferg bakery-- they made up a sandwich without butter for us

Line up at Fergburger

We took our sandwich and ate in a park near the water.

Lots of people in the park 

We sat and had a sandwich here

We wandered some more in town and found a lovely concept store called Slow.  We sat and shared a vegan Blondie (pretty good brownie).  Very relaxing.

Slow

Then more exploration.  We just cannot get over the amazing setting.

Leaves beginning to turn

We stopped at the Village Green to sit in the sun and listen to a rock band play oldies.  We still haven't figured out the New Zealand attraction to 1970s (and sometimes earlier) music, but it seems to be the playlist in all the places we have visited.

Band at the Village Green

We passed a sculpture of William Gilbert Rees (1827-1898), an explorer and founder of Queenstown. He and his wife Frances settled there in 1861 and built the first buildings by the Lake.  When gold was discovered in 1862, Rees was paid compensation of 10,000 pounds for the part of his farm that included Queenstown and he moved to Kawarau Falls.

Sculptor- Minhal Al-Halani. March 2001

A small beach in town

More views

Landing in Queenstown

We decided to hike back to our Airbnb.  Jason had told us there was a trail along the waterfront that we could follow back to Sunshine Bay.

Heading out of town

Following the trail by the water - another attempt at a selfie

Peaceful along the water- we saw very few people

Fearing a Russian invasion in the 1880s 

Views from the trail

Amazing to have this view everyday

There was a bit of a climb up to the main road, but we made it.

View on the street near our apartment

Truly remarkable Remarkables

Back at the apartment

House we are staying in-- in Sunshine Bay 

We will be in Queenstown for five nights.  It is the last of our nine stops in New Zealand.  We look forward to our adventures here.  We leave for Melbourne on Wednesday March 6.