Wellington to Queenstown

Wellington to Queenstown

14 Feb - flew Air NZ (very good experience) from Wellington to Queenstown with an organised airport transfer from the Holiday Inn to the airport (they booked the most expensive, but we did get it to our self, and when we pointed out that he was charging us more than his advertised transfer fee he brought the price down to the standard level). Just because you stay in posh hotels does not mean you are loaded!!! We picked up a cheap higher car, in more ways than one, at Queenstown airport from Apex Rentals. We were keeping the hire car right through to the 14th March so got an excellent long term rental rate, and the ferry fare between Picton and Wellington was also included. We got a Datsun Sunny which was fine for the 2 of us, and best of all, was really cheap to run (petrol wise).

Our previous hire cars in the first 4 weeks had been through Hertz and Avis, we had new top of the range cars, which came at a price (and were expensive to run) but these had all been arranged before we left the UK via our travel agent (never again). As it was a long rental we were given a free guide book, New Zealand Driving Holidays by Donna Blaber - this proved to be invaluable for the tips and hints about off the beaten track and quirky things and places. An absolute must for any driving holiday in NZ.

14 Feb - 17 Feb we stayed at the Lakeside Motel in Queenstown ($139 NZ per night) but were upgraded for free from the motel room to a 2 bed, 2 story apartment with a lovely balcony directly overlooking Lake Wakatipu and a private garden with street entrance! On the 14th we took ourselves out for a walk around the town and stopped for dinner at the Dux De Lux (good, but not as good as the one in Christchurch). What did make the evening really good was the live Ska band they had playing late into the evening.

15th - toured around Arrowtown, the Chinese Settlement, the famous bungee jump bridge (I did feel tempted to jump but decided to be more sensible), a local winery, and also just soaked up the chilled ambiance of Queenstown over coffee overlooking the lake.

16th - we had pre-booked the Dart Wilderness tour. We were picked up near our accommodation in the morning and taken to Glenorchy for our adventure. The drive along Lake Wakatipu is stunning - you really see why the ranges are called the Remarkables. Once at Glenorchy you are split into 2 groups, those going up the Dart by jet boat, and walking back to the bus for the scenery tour, and those going up by bus and back by jet boat. If you get a choice, go up the Dart River by jet boat rather than down the River (a better experience). This was thrilling, we loved it. The boat was doing 360 degree turns on 6 inches of water (loads of squeals from the ladies). You were so close to nature you could touch and feel it. My o/h had met a family on the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb (on an earlier part of our world tour) and they voted this the best experience of their whole holiday down under. Do it, you will then know why. The walk from the river to the bus was about 30 - 45 minutes and was relaxing and pleasant. The views of the river from the woods struck you dumb with awe. The 4 wheel coach trip took you to the filming sites of many famous adverts and, of course, that film! (Lord of the Rings). In the evening we took the last trip on the SS Earnslaw across Lake Wakatipu, which included time at the Walter Peak High Country Farm to watch an amusing sheep sheering demonstration.

17th - a last wander around Queenstown and a coffee on the waterside before heading to Oamaru.





New Zealand, Wellington, Queenstown