Adrenaline Rush Queenstown and Glen Orchy

It was hard to leave the tranquillity of the Mt Cook valley, but there was a lot to see in our 2 week trip.

So on to Glen Orchy, via Queenstown and a Ferg Pie to sustain us.

We had a camp meal by the lake at Glen Orchy but decided to stay in the motel (not such a great idea in the end!!)

 

Barbara, Amy and Rob went Jet boating and Fun-yaking up the Dart river the next day and the stalwart trampers set off up the small looking Mt Alfred (it only looked small because everything else was HUGE!!), 6.5 hours later we got back from our estimated 2-3 hour walk! It was fabulous though!

 

 Malcolm saying this mountain is only 'that big'!

 A tough climb for a DOC walk

 

 Paradise is on the left of this view and the trees were filmed as the forests of Middle Earth in LOR!

 

 The river is where Barbara and kids were jetboating - they popped into Paradise on their way back!

   A superb days walk


The next day we camped in a very hot and busy DOC site on the lake just up from Queenstown - where Malcolm got to try out one of his Christmas pressies - a solar shower.

Queenstown saw Malcolm Paragliding from Coronet peak, Amy Canyon swinging from the top of the Gondola, Rob wild horse riding and Shona and Barbara battling it out on the luge! (not as dramatic as it sounds but Barbara only won because she sent a flying water bottle missile to put Shona off!)

 



Christmas camping 2015

Oh what a superb view to greet us on Christmas morning from the tent. Mount Cook, white glaciers sparkling in the sun against a pure blue sky. Christmas???

 

But normal celebrations including Christmas stockings, bucks fizz, crackers and bacon butties followed.

Steve getting in early with the moustache theme!

What a wonderful place.

And special delivery from Rhian and Callum  - made a perfect morning.

We had a gorgeous walk up to the Tasman Glacier Lake which has icebergs on it!, as our Christmas day stroll before going to dinner at the posh Hermitage Hotel. a treat of all kiwi cuisine, plus turkey and Christmas pud!

After a lovely drink at the hotel we went back to the tents to change into our glad rags before returning to the hotel for buffet dinner.

 

 The drive home to our wee tent city was magical as the full moon rose over the snow capped mountains after a perfect day.

Our walk on Boxing day was just as spectacular going to the Hooker Glacier over several swing bridges up to the lake at the end of the right hand glacier coming down this side of Mr Cook.

 

 

An iconic Mt Cook Lily.

Summer Holidays 2015 - will we get all the stuff in the car??

Well what a superb summer holiday we had with Barbara, Steve, Amy and Rob down in the majestic mountains of the South Island.

The Gamman family arrived in mid December to an unsettled early summer, they had a great sail round the Hauraki Gulf and islands on Mauni with Graham and Diane, where a highlight seems to have been the wine tasting and lunch on Waihiki island and a brisk beat back to the marina. They even sailed past Shona on the Ted Ashby.

Two days before Christmas we all met at Christchurch airport and all 6 of us piled with all our camping gear into the 7 seater car, and guess what we fitted in comfortably - much to the relief of Steve and Shona who had been a bit concerned!

After a couple of hours we arrived at our first camp spot at the glacial blue lake Tekapo. Time to test all the stuff we had squeezed into our luggage!

First a cup of tea! - Thanks Amy

 

 Next to try the tents - we ended up with 4 instead of 3!

 

 

 

 

Now for a Barbie - a bit chilly this evening!

 

But a glass or two/more was an effective way to stay warm!!

 

 

 

Barbara and Steve visited the same camp site 25 years ago on their honeymoon. This holiday is to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

 

 

 

 

 So with all the camping kit in working order we were off to serene Lake Pukaki (Rhian's happy place) and to Mt Cook Village and our campsite at Glentanner.