Next stop was Queenstown where we picked up our official photographer (my brother, Mark) who travelled with us in the back of the car, stopping us at ridiculous spots on the road to shoot ferns, rocks or anything else that we couldn’t see. Seriously though, Mark is a much better photographer than Euan or I and the photos that will end up in here will be mostly his.
On the way from Te Anau to Queenstown we stopped off at a little café in the middle of nowhere that did fabulous coffee and ridiculously large hot chocolates. Euan didn’t need to eat for a day after this.
The first view of Lake Whakatipu pulled us to a halt but we had to imagine what it would look like with the surrounding mountains covered in snow
We were all staying in an apartment (thanks Mum!) right in Queenstown and about two minutes walk from the centre of town and the lake. Queenstown was quiet (but we weren’t complaining) and while it rained most of the time we were there I can see the appeal of the place and it must be amazing in the winter with snow on the mountains that fringe Lake Whakatipu.
This is a rather moody shot of Queenstown with the Remarkables (mountain range) in the background
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
This massive tree was just asking for a hug, so I gave it one
and when it wasn’t raining we explored the town and surrounding area. We came across the most social game of bowls we’ve ever seen (everyone seemed to be holding a very large drink and many seemed to be nearly getting hit in the feet by returning bowls!)
That night we met up with Philip and Antonia, old friends of mine. Antonia and I were friends in the same class at school from 7-11 years old and Philip was in the class above. They’re a couple of the fittest people I know and are into the more extreme racing. Most people hike the Milford Track but Philip runs it. Both are world-class competitors in the world of orienteering and have done that as long as I can remember. I saw Antonia in London a few years ago but hadn’t seen Philip for at least 28 years. It was fantastic to catch up with them both again.
We headed out of town to nearby Arrowtown, an old gold mining town that sprung up in the 1960’s and the site of an old Chinese settlement in NZ. It’s a very cute, pretty little town with some very quaint old (in the NZ sense) buildings
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
There was a great bakery where we had lunch before heading off wine tasting
and we turned the corner and look what was there, looking very out of place!!
First on our list was Chard Farm, a few km off the main drag down a narrow single-lane dirt road that had a pretty steep drop off into the river below. The main road is on the right of the photo, the road to Chard Farm on the left
The vineyard is nestled in a valley between mountains, quite a stunning setting but I’m sure it could be very bleak at certain times of the year
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
They had a cellar door host and were happy to take visitors in for free tastings. Gold coin donation if no purchase was made.
We thought that was pretty generous and made the most of it!
We were there for a while as it was a lovely place to hang out and quietly sample some great Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir (our favourites)
Needless to say we didn’t leave empty handed.. we very nearly didn't leave at all!
Next was Peregrine just down the road. I’d bought a couple of cases of this for my team in London one year for Christmas so I was keen to visit. Where Chard was more traditional, Peregrine had gone for a more funky design
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
They had some lovely Pinot Noirs (and for much less than I’d paid in London!) but the puppy was the best. He was so black you can’t even see where his head is!
Just down the road from these vineyards was the site of the original bungy jump.
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
We watched the last jump of the day and even if they were taking more jumpers Mum and Paul were very definitely NOT jumping. It’s only a tiny jump, something like 48 metres but you do get dipped from head to waist in an icy river. No thanks!
We also visited Gibston winery and did a short tour that was pretty good although Paul and I apparently asked too many questions….! Not us, surely! This place was more commercially diverse than the others but it was interesting to taste difference between Pinot Gris’ and Rieslings grown within 1km of each other on the same soil.
We had two nights in Queenstown before heading over the Crown Range to Wanaka. Unfortunately the view (supposed to be amazing) was ruined by the cloud and rain but Mark got some pretty shots of the scenery
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
and, again, the lupins were stunning. Euan and I drove on by this time but Mark (who was in Mum and Pauls faster car) made the game even by his added weight and also by slowing it down by stopping to take photos of the lupins. Later on in our journeys we heard the story of an old eccentric local who would fill his pockets full of lupin seeds and go hiking through theses hill, throwing seeds out surreptitiously. So it’s thanks to him that we have these photos I guess.
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
We stopped at the top of the pass,
imagined what the view would be like
and waited for a lone woman cyclist to reach the top. She was nails, absolutely nails. Not only was it raining and really cold, but she was wearing ¾ pants, only a light rain jacket and she was really working.
We were high enough for there to be a (snow) chain fitting bay sign (she's passing it in the below photo) and the wind was blowing hard - my umbrella blew inside out and nearly away a few times.
This was at the bottom of the mountain, our ½ way point, the NZ-famous Cardrona Pub
that had a really pretty back garden
The lady cyclist got to the Cardrona Pub, did a U-turn then headed back over the mountains into Queenstown, not even stopping for a beer. Nails.
PS. For those cyclists out there, here is a typical road surface in NZ. Awful. Rough chip and it makes for really hard going.
View Larger Map
On the way from Te Anau to Queenstown we stopped off at a little café in the middle of nowhere that did fabulous coffee and ridiculously large hot chocolates. Euan didn’t need to eat for a day after this.
The first view of Lake Whakatipu pulled us to a halt but we had to imagine what it would look like with the surrounding mountains covered in snow
We were all staying in an apartment (thanks Mum!) right in Queenstown and about two minutes walk from the centre of town and the lake. Queenstown was quiet (but we weren’t complaining) and while it rained most of the time we were there I can see the appeal of the place and it must be amazing in the winter with snow on the mountains that fringe Lake Whakatipu.
This is a rather moody shot of Queenstown with the Remarkables (mountain range) in the background
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
This massive tree was just asking for a hug, so I gave it one
and when it wasn’t raining we explored the town and surrounding area. We came across the most social game of bowls we’ve ever seen (everyone seemed to be holding a very large drink and many seemed to be nearly getting hit in the feet by returning bowls!)
That night we met up with Philip and Antonia, old friends of mine. Antonia and I were friends in the same class at school from 7-11 years old and Philip was in the class above. They’re a couple of the fittest people I know and are into the more extreme racing. Most people hike the Milford Track but Philip runs it. Both are world-class competitors in the world of orienteering and have done that as long as I can remember. I saw Antonia in London a few years ago but hadn’t seen Philip for at least 28 years. It was fantastic to catch up with them both again.
We headed out of town to nearby Arrowtown, an old gold mining town that sprung up in the 1960’s and the site of an old Chinese settlement in NZ. It’s a very cute, pretty little town with some very quaint old (in the NZ sense) buildings
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
There was a great bakery where we had lunch before heading off wine tasting
and we turned the corner and look what was there, looking very out of place!!
First on our list was Chard Farm, a few km off the main drag down a narrow single-lane dirt road that had a pretty steep drop off into the river below. The main road is on the right of the photo, the road to Chard Farm on the left
The vineyard is nestled in a valley between mountains, quite a stunning setting but I’m sure it could be very bleak at certain times of the year
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
They had a cellar door host and were happy to take visitors in for free tastings. Gold coin donation if no purchase was made.
We thought that was pretty generous and made the most of it!
We were there for a while as it was a lovely place to hang out and quietly sample some great Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir (our favourites)
Needless to say we didn’t leave empty handed.. we very nearly didn't leave at all!
Next was Peregrine just down the road. I’d bought a couple of cases of this for my team in London one year for Christmas so I was keen to visit. Where Chard was more traditional, Peregrine had gone for a more funky design
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
They had some lovely Pinot Noirs (and for much less than I’d paid in London!) but the puppy was the best. He was so black you can’t even see where his head is!
Just down the road from these vineyards was the site of the original bungy jump.
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
We watched the last jump of the day and even if they were taking more jumpers Mum and Paul were very definitely NOT jumping. It’s only a tiny jump, something like 48 metres but you do get dipped from head to waist in an icy river. No thanks!
We also visited Gibston winery and did a short tour that was pretty good although Paul and I apparently asked too many questions….! Not us, surely! This place was more commercially diverse than the others but it was interesting to taste difference between Pinot Gris’ and Rieslings grown within 1km of each other on the same soil.
We had two nights in Queenstown before heading over the Crown Range to Wanaka. Unfortunately the view (supposed to be amazing) was ruined by the cloud and rain but Mark got some pretty shots of the scenery
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
and, again, the lupins were stunning. Euan and I drove on by this time but Mark (who was in Mum and Pauls faster car) made the game even by his added weight and also by slowing it down by stopping to take photos of the lupins. Later on in our journeys we heard the story of an old eccentric local who would fill his pockets full of lupin seeds and go hiking through theses hill, throwing seeds out surreptitiously. So it’s thanks to him that we have these photos I guess.
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
(Photo: Mark Cooper)
We stopped at the top of the pass,
imagined what the view would be like
and waited for a lone woman cyclist to reach the top. She was nails, absolutely nails. Not only was it raining and really cold, but she was wearing ¾ pants, only a light rain jacket and she was really working.
We were high enough for there to be a (snow) chain fitting bay sign (she's passing it in the below photo) and the wind was blowing hard - my umbrella blew inside out and nearly away a few times.
This was at the bottom of the mountain, our ½ way point, the NZ-famous Cardrona Pub
that had a really pretty back garden
The lady cyclist got to the Cardrona Pub, did a U-turn then headed back over the mountains into Queenstown, not even stopping for a beer. Nails.
PS. For those cyclists out there, here is a typical road surface in NZ. Awful. Rough chip and it makes for really hard going.
View Larger Map
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