When we left the boat in Doubtful Sound it was not raining – just and the morning had gone – it was 12pm. \u00a0We walked up the hill and back to the car…. which was just as we left it ….. I was a bit worried leaving all our luggage in the car but NZ is so safe…. it was fine.<\/p>\n
We set off to Arrowtown and our last 3 days in NZ. \u00a0We needed to return to Te Anau northwards before turning east and then north. \u00a0It was soon raining and it was really a miserable day and cold. \u00a0We had the heater running in the car. \u00a0Lunch was the leftover food from yesterday’s lunch – a vegetable wrap and crisps….. and some chocolate. \u00a0w did however pass some good stuff ….<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020417-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\nAs we headed north the weather improved and it started getting a bit hillier and we started to climb…. and then suddenly there was snow on the peaks.![\"P1020418\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020418-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
We reached Kingston (not on Thames but on the southern tip of Lake Wakatipu. \u00a0it was time for a break and we drove off the road north to see if we could find a cup of tea. \u00a0No joy but a beautiful view of the lake and we knew Queenstown and Arrowtown were the other end of the lake. \u00a0The remainder of the journey up the eastern side of the lake was nice with the snow adding a magical touch…. it was freezing however.<\/p>\n
We eventually stopped for a cup of tea about 4 after Queenstown in a place which was a modern dormitory town Lake Hayes Estate in a bar\/restaurant called\u00a0The Hayes<\/a>. They had wifi and we suddenly realised we had been out of touch for about 48 hours and the Cyclone (Gita) had been on the news and Charlotte had been trying to make sure we were OK and also had missed her job dramas and interview \/ phone trouble. \u00a0Good to catch up.<\/p>\n We were close to Arrowtown and after some discussion as to whether we should visit a vineyard or not we decided to drive pass Amisfield Vineyard<\/a> as it was on the way and Hilda had said it was very nice. \u00a0It was nice but after getting out of the car and walking in we left – it was a posh restaurant and a wine selling area. \u00a0Nothing to do or see on a quick visit. \u00a0Time to get to Arrowtown. not an impressive photo to prove it. We could not arrive at the house until 6 – the owner was at school – and so we stopped briefly in Arrowtown and walked up and down the high street. \u00a0Very nice quaint place. \u00a0We would be OK here for a few days.<\/p>\n We arrived at our new home for the next 3 nights about 6 and met Annie. \u00a0What a scatty chatty lady. \u00a0And a lovely little dog. We had a pre-dinner drink in the local pub, The Fork and Tap<\/a>, (super craft beer) and had a lovely chat to 2 ladies (cousins) from the UK. \u00a0One in her early 60’s and the other probably 70 visiting NZ and family.<\/p>\n Dinner was super tapas in La Rumbla<\/a>\u00a0where we sat at the bar Day 21<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n We decided to head off to Glenorchy at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu. \u00a0The drive down there was amazing, lovely snow capped hills \/ mountains and lots of places to stop and take photos. \u00a0The weather had improved and it was warm and sunny – much like a good fresh summer’s day in the UK. \u00a0Apparently known to be a super drive …. “If you are self-driving the South Island and only have time to do one scenic drive, this should be it.” <\/a>\u00a0 The first walk was to Invincible Mine<\/a>. \u00a0We had a long drive down a gravel track for about 30 mins outside Glenorchy and never saw any clear signs to the walk. \u00a0We eventually got to another car and there was a young German couple who told us you could not drive any further without a 4 wheel drive! \u00a0We parked and took a look …. there was a stream crossing the road which was too rough to drive through … perhaps the cyclone again. \u00a0We walked about a bit wondering where the walk was and eventually decided to walk up the road and wade through the stream. \u00a0Boots and shoes off It was a super walk – about an hour and 1\/4 up with wonderful views and some interesting bits from an old mine at the top. The view to the north is Mt Earnslaw which was in Lord of the Rings. The walk down was about an hour. \u00a0We did try and walk past the mine up the hill to the snowlike which was only about 1-200 ft above us but we could not find a route which took us much further than about 50 ft higher up so we turned back.<\/p>\n Lunch was a sandwich and some Anzec biscuits bought back in the Glenorchy shop – The General Store<\/a>. \u00a0Over priced. Eaten on the walk.<\/p>\n The afternoon walk was Mt Judeh to Bonnie Jean Hut<\/a>. \u00a0A nice picnic on the way up.<\/p>\n A much longer walk of at leat 2 1\/2 hours up. \u00a0Quite hard work after the morning and we nearly quit before getting to the hut. \u00a0The light was starting to fade when we got down – not dark but late afternoon<\/p>\n .<\/p>\n When we got back no one was at the house and we had a quick shower and headed back into Arrowtown for dinner. \u00a0We decided to eat at the Fork and Tap where we started the evening the day before. \u00a0All in all a good day.<\/p>\n Day 21<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Our last full day and we decided to go to Wanaka as apparently it is very nice and a much less busy place than Queenstown.<\/p>\n We hit road trouble straight away – the shortest road to Wanaka was closed and therefore the only way to get there is a longer loop. \u00a0Well the plan was to go to Wanaka so we decided to continue. \u00a0We then hit further road trouble – the main road was being resurfaced – and we sat in traffic jams for about 45 mins…. not how we planned to spend our last day. \u00a0We nearly turned around a few times but turning round was hard and probably dangerous. \u00a0Eventually we got through the road works and actually the drive was very nice through all the vineyard areas in Central Otago – what a lot of pinot!<\/p>\n Wanaka was busy but nice. \u00a0A town on a pretty lake full of youngsters. \u00a0We parked the car and went to the tourist office to see where we could walk and what to do and then had a coffee (yes more coffee!) at\u00a0Kai Whakapai Cafe<\/a>\u00a0before going to do a walk just outside town up a hill called Mount Iron Track<\/a> which has amazing views across Wanaka and the hills around. \u00a0 Lunch was a sandwich by the lake It was then time to head back – given it has taken us two hours to get to Wanaka. \u00a0We decided to try and go back via the route which was closed in the morning and hope the road would be open. \u00a0The road goes through a place called Cardrona which is obviously a skiing area but in summer looks dead. \u00a0There were conflicting signs as to whether the road was open or not but we decided to go on anyway. \u00a0The road got narrower and steeper and there were not many cars but there was the odd car coming in the other direction so we continued assuming the road would be open. \u00a0Eventually we got to the top and the view was amazing.<\/p>\n We continued down the other side and passed what was an obviously filled hole in the road (we later found out a massive bounder had fallen on the road which was why it was closed). \u00a0The views on the way down were even more impressive and there was a super view point looking over what I know is Speargrass Flat an green flat area surrounded by hills – yet another great NZ view.<\/p>\n When we got back Annie was there with some friends at the back of the house drinking wine and beer (it was Friday and school finished). \u00a0We said hello and then went inside to shower. \u00a0When we were a bit more presentable her friends had left but Annie offered us a glass of wine and we sat on the deck at he back of the house and helped finish a bottle of wine left over. \u00a0Nice chat.<\/p>\n We decided to have dinner at the Asian Fusion place in town Fan-Tan<\/a>. \u00a0Very nice food with another good Pinot Noir.<\/p>\n Day 24<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Once we had packed our bags and said goodbye we decided to spend the morning in Queenstown and go up the gondola – The Skyline<\/a>. \u00a0It was a nightmare to park near by but we eventually found a car park and walked 10 minutes – there was a brief queue (about 10 mins) and we are on our way up. \u00a0There was a super bike ride down and the bikes could be taken up on the outside of the gondola cars. ![\"P1020421\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020421.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"IMG_0757\"](\"https:\/\/michaelnaylor.files.wordpress.com\/2018\/03\/img_0757.jpg\")
This photo was the next day when the weather was better. ![\"P1020422\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020422-1.jpg\")
Very nice and we chatted and had a cup of tea. \u00a0The room was nice, there was an electric heater, and the house had a nice lived-in feel. \u00a0Annie suggested a few places to eat and we both had a hot shower, changed and felt ready to explore dinner and plan for tomorrow.<\/p>\n![\"IMG_0728\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/img_0728-1.jpg\")
and had some super food walked down with a good local pinot noir.<\/p>\n![\"IMG_2757\"](\"https:\/\/michaelnaylor.files.wordpress.com\/2018\/03\/img_2757.jpg\")
We stopped for a coffee (much have been the 100th+ cup) and a super cake at a cafe and information point called The Trading Post<\/a>. \u00a0They were very friendly and helpful and suggested a couple of walks which we decided to do.<\/p>\n![\"P1020459\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020459.jpg\")
and back on again – the water was freezing – and the walk start was just around the corner.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020433-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020448-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/img_2602-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/img_0745-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020465-1-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020467-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/img_0488-1-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020484-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020470-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/img_0489-1-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n![\"P1020489\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020489-1.jpg\")
A good hour and a half up and down.<\/p>\n![\"P1020495\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020495.jpg\")
and then we decided to hire some bikes and go for a cycle. \u00a0We hired from a place called Green Toad<\/a>. Strange shop but on looking at the link seems like a better place to hire than some others – anyway the bikes OK and was only $40 for 2 hours. \u00a0Getting back on a bike was nice and we cycled around the lake around anti clockwise for an hour to a holiday \/ camping area on the river feeding Lake Hawae (the lake Wanaka is on).<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020496-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020499-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/img_0544-1-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020503-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/img_2604-1-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/p1020512-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n![\"IMG_0764\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/img_0764.jpg\")
We had a nice coffee (!) \u00a0![\"IMG_2766\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/img_2766.jpg\")
at the top and had a wander about.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/img_0766-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/img_2764-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/img_2647-1-1-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n![\"IMG_2770\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/img_2770.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"IMG_2774\"](\"https:\/\/www.thenaylors.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/img_2774.jpg\")
went without a hitch and we had a 2 hour stop over – time for a beer and a glass of wine.<\/p>\n