Queenstown

Friday March 2nd-Sunday March 4th Queenstown

Friday we ate drove north.  So far we have been exploring the east and south, it was fun to head towards the mountains.  The weather wasn’t great, but we could still appreciate the ranges (Garvie and Eyre Mountains were first).  Once we reached the bottom of Lake Wakatipu we saw the Remarkbles range.  Queenstown has only 20k people, but it is known as the adrenalin capitol of the world (the birthplace of bungy jumping).

We checked into the Oaks Club Resort.  It is one of the nicer places we have stayed.  Its large deck overlooked the lake and mountains.  After our treat night we went to bed.

Saturday we walked along the lake and took in the amazing views.  Next we headed into town to enjoy Skyline Queenstown.  We did something similar in Rotorua.  This was a MUCH steeper mountain and the kids really enjoyed both the gondola ride up and the luge ride down (like go carts).  The boys went off on their own down the advanced track while we said prayers.  We tramped along a few walking tracks before enjoying downtown Queenstown.

Sunday morning we walked around downtown before church.  After that we enjoyed the Kiwi and Birdlife Park.  It was so much fun seeing the kiwi birds get fed.  There was a beautiful walk and lots of wildlife.  A free show was very entertaining.  After a stint in the Queenstown gardens we headed home.

Oaks Resort

The deck outside our hotel room.

Heading out for a tramp on Saturday am.

Not a bad view.

Peak!

A cool rock, the boys couldn't resist.

The gondola ride up (Tara is worried we will hit the rocks).

View from the gondola.

Triple trouble on the luge.

Gabe at the races.

Ski lift ride back up to the luge (Mom and Tara).

Gabe at the top of the luge.

Our walk through the pine forest.

Cool mushrooms on our walk.

A quick break on the deck of our hotel.

Downtown Queenstown.

Brody poses in the quaint downtown.

Not a bad view.

The kiwi and birdlife park.

A morepork (NZ owl).

A Kea (NZ parrot).

A tuatara up close during the wildlife show.

The beach outside the Queenstown Garden.

Inside the gardens.

Tara and Mom cross one of the bridges.

Sunday February 19th Nugget Point and the Catlins

Sunday February 19th Nugget Point and the Catlins

Today we woke up to a beautiful sunrise over the ocean.  We spent several hours exploring the beach in front of our house.  The kids climbed lots of rocks, found lots of shells, and, of course, got dirty and wet!

Jack’s Blowhole was first on the to do list.  After a long, and stunning walk we were able to enjoy the cool collapsed cave.

Tautuku Nature Walk was breathtaking.  A thick forest walk (one of the densest we have done) lead out to a pristine beach.

McLean Falls: another stunning walk led to one of the most impressive falls we have seen on either the North or South Island.  The kids absolutely loved it because they were able to climb out and get right next to the falls!  Mom, was not so happy about that part!  

It was back to Winton for another week!

Sunrise outside our window.

Exploring.

Do you think Gabe got wet and dirty?

The view from our deck.

The view on the tramp towards Jack's Blowhole.

Wish I had a better camera!  Ours can only capture a fraction of the beauty.

Jack's Blowhole!

The beach near the entrance to the tramp.

This was an awesome tramp-one of our best.

Brody on the trail.

This trail was not for the faint of heart or foul of foot.

The forest ended abruptly to this view!  Not bad.

We made it!

Watch for renegade sheep!

The best of the three falls we saw in the Catlins.

The walk to the falls was lovely.

McLean Falls.

Yes, if you are wondering, yes.  Mom was having a heart attack.

There was a walkway to the middle of the falls, yes there is a drop only a foot from them.

Hard to beat this.

Walking back.