Queenstown, New Zealand

Immediately after arriving in Queenstown we headed downtown to explore the waterfront. This is Lake Wakatipu…don’t you just love the sound of place names here! We arrive at the pier just in time to see a jet boat return.

The boat has been out on the Shotover River ….not quite the same lyrical sounding name as Wakatipu, but the name does give a realistic indication of the type of ride these people have just had!

Hint: Click on any photo to enlarge it.

Oh, look! There is the TSS Earnslaw.

The Earnslaw is a vintage steamship that sails Lake Wakatipu providing tourists with a heritage experience. Steamships used to a common form of transportation in this area. Now it brings people to Walter Peak High Country Farm across the lake where visitors can experience life on a sheep farm and enjoy a delicious barby.

 Sheep ranching was..and I believe, still is…a major industry here.

This statue shows William Gilbert Rees. The plaque tells his story more efficiently than I could.

(Remember you can click on the photo to enlarge it.)

Lots of interesting, quality shops here along the lake. Many shops are in traffic  free zones.

 

Lots of restaurants…

Locals rave about this hamburger type place…Fergburger. It seems to be a local legend.

What caught our attention were the colorful names of the menu items.

 

 Would you like a spotted dick for dessert? A what!!

Well, of course, we had to try it.

Spotted dick (a dessert choice at HMS Britannia) turns out to be a traditional steamed pudding that sailors made. Quite delicious, actually. So were the scallops and surf and turf!

 

There is a gondola here in Queenstown run by the same company that has the one in Rotorua  and Christchurch. (see our gondola adventures there…click here.)

Quite a view from up here isn’t it.

 If you look the other direction you can see why travel in this area was so challenging in the past…and why aircraft landing here have to be very careful.

At the top of the gondola one can go cycling, can take a luge ride, can do a bungee jump, can board a helicopter to tour the region…and/or you can enjoy the excellent restaurant here at the top.

We will leave you here in the restaurant enjoying pavlova for dessert. Pavlova…that’s a meringue dessert we had not tasted until we came to New Zealand.

 

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