We landed in Queenstown early — 8:30 a.m. — and had a bit of sightseeing on our way into the hotel — Hotel St. Moritz. Our travel agent had picked a two bedroom apartment for our stay — with breakfast and housekeeping so nice!
Views from our room.
We walked down into town and wandered around then John and I came back to the hotel while the younger ones went to a wine tasting bar.
We had an early dinner at Fergburger — a memory of John’s from our trip here 11 years ago. We had taken a Tauck Tour of Australia and New Zealand then and really loved this city….and Fergburger. Well, it has only gotten more popular — long, long lines — but they moved fairly quickly.
The next morning brought a highlight of the trip — a helicopter ride with four different stops and lunch. I will limit the pictures because you’d kill me if I included all of them.
Next was the stop at the beach…..looking out on the Tasman Sea!
Fresh water heading to the sea.
That green rock is New Zealand jade!!!
As the helicopter takes off for the next stop….
The next stop is for our picnic lunch. The colors of the lake from the sun and sediment beside us were amazing — from brown to yellow to turquoise to blue — gorgeous! And I might mention that is was a perfect day for flying — all sunshine and not too much wind….plus a great pilot!
Our next place to stop was on a glacier; those are a couple of hikers who were camped there for three days!!!
Our last stop was on a cliff overlooking beautiful scenery (like it all was). I was on the cliffside as we were getting ready to touch down…..and it was a small place to land — only time I was nervous. But really not very; our pilot has a five month old little girl they named Harvey — I felt sure he planned to go home afterward!
And then one of the funniest things — we were provided biodegradable golf balls for our amusement!
And then we headed back to Queenstown…..but before we leave a little amusement for you. This was hanging in the office of our helicopter company.
After dinner we stopped in to Patagonia for a little ice cream and then watched an escape artist get out of a straight jacket and chains — quite an amusing street performer!
The next day was another fun, fun adventure — the Shotover Jet Boat. John and I had gone on it 11 years ago and had fond memories. It is quite thrilling to be speeding through a narrow canyon close to the walls and doing 360’s just for fun. We were in the last row and got damp from the spray……until the last 360 right at the end — we were drenched!!! Hence the hat in the rest of the afternoon pics!!!
That was so much fun!!!! Then it was off for a late lunch…
But an amazing thing happened on this trip. John and I had met a couple from Hawaii, Sherman and Stephanie Hee, on the Tulip Tour we took out of Amsterdam nearly two years ago. Sherman got my blog from Sydney and emailed me that they were in Queenstown. I contacted them and we met them for an amazingly good Indian dinner at Bombay Palace that night!!!! And they showed up with a big bag of Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts for us that they must have brought from Hawaii! Thanks, Sherman and Stephanie!!!!
On our last day we went on a wine tour of the Central Otago Region of NZ. We had a very knowledgeable guide and we enjoyed our tour. We had three wine tastings and an antipasto lunch….a good day! Our first stop was at Kinross.
The roses were put there originally because if the vines had any disease or distress it would show up first in the rose bushes — smart!
Next stop was at Mt. Difficulty where we also had lunch, an antipasto plate which was great! There was a wine named after a woman who entertained the miners in 1862, the year of the gold rush. Apparently she was a red-headed, vivacious and loud Irish woman — who was also much in demand! Her name was Roaring Meg.
Our last stop was at Misha:
We ended our Queenstown stay with our best dinner of the trip! It was an Asian Fusion place named White and Wong’s. Afterward we had one last trip to Patagonia Ice Cream. Our first sprinkles of rain happened that night…..but just sprinkles!
Happy New Year to All! On the road from now….
Beth
thanks for sharing
great trip..looks like you all are having a really good time. happy new year
Happy New Year to you all!! I know I’m a day late maybe even two since it is 10:20 pm here in FW. I am gaga over the water color! It looks like it is dyed or somehow enhanced to see all those shade of blue-green. Amazing!!
WOW! What wonderful memories you have. Thanks for sharing with me. I loved every frame! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Loving your blog as always. Love to all you guys. It’s so great that your kids often join you. Reminds me of when my dad was alive! 😘