13 Jan 2011 – Wanaka to Queenstown

Last night was very chilly for some reason.  Of course there were clear skies but we have had very nice temperatures to sleep with.  However we both woke this morning commenting on how much cooler it was.  We concluded that we are further south and also at a higher elevation.  Regardless we woke to find the sun shining.

We had wanted to complete a short hike in the area called Diamond Lake.  Diamond Lake Circuit Track is really a figure 8 type of layout and includes the Diamond Lake Lookout, Lake Wanaka Lookout and the Rocky Mountain Summit Track.  The total distance is about 7 km and the elevation gain is 775 meters.  Spectacular views include Lake Wanaka and a skyline dominated by the surrounding peaks. The distinct shape of Mt Aspiring/Tititea lies to the west.  The views in all directions were spectacular and it was hard to stop taking pictures.  We were able to have our picture taken together by another hiker.

We finished this hike and decided to stop back at the campsite to pick up the email addresses of our new friends, Kate and Gaham, and Rachel and Ian.  We will be staying in touch with them especially to see how Kate does with the Ironman. We headed into town to have a quick lunch and head off to Queenstown.  However we could not believe the number of people on the streets and around town all there for the ironman.  We did not bother to stop.

We asked Karen to give us a route to Queenstown and she set up a route that was only 70 km away.  But the road signs were saying 125 km and we were confused until we learned that there is a shorter route (Karen’s) that literally goes up and over the mountain through ski areas but the main road goes around and stays lower.   We suspect that winter time this road is likely difficult to keep open.

We arrived at a place to overlook the valley and a camera opportunity.  As we arrived at the pulloff who pulls in behind us but Ian and Graham who were going to Queenstown for business.  We had a good laugh but then they left us far behind as we headed down into the valley where Queenstown is located. I should mention that the road down is extremely slow with constant switchbacks (taken at 15 km max).  I am not sure I have ever been on such a narrow windy road as this that seemed to continue on for a very long time.

We finally got settled in Queenstown which is really a tourist town.  Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains.  William Gilbert Rees, along with fellow explorer Nicholas Von Tunzelman, were the first Europeans to settle the area. Rees was in search of pastoral land, and after an initial visit returned in 1860 to establish a high country farm in the location of Queenstown's current town centre. However the Rees’ farming lifestyle was to be short-lived. In 1862 gold was discovered in the Arrow River, a short distance from Queenstown.

Since it was late afternoon and we had already had a hike today, we decided to go down to the lake and walk along the Garden Park area.  The sun was shining and it was warm, but the breeze was unusually chilly.  We walked along the shoreline and I had a nice sit down on a bench to read for awhile.  Wes enjoyed walking in the water until a boat went by and sent a wave at him splashing his legs.  We finally walked around until we found the beach so Wes (thinking ahead) changed into his swimsuit and hopped into the water for a swim.  The water is glacier fed and of course it is NOT warm so I watched his cloths on the beach and waited.

Tonight we decided we needed to change our eating habits and go out for dinner.  Queensland is noted for its dining and wine options so we had to go out for Indian food.  It was excellent but we both felt it was more than we have been eating but the spicy food was a nice change.  Now we are going to relax since tomorrow is our hike here in Queenstown.  More to come about that.