NZ news

Have taken M away for a surprise 4-day-long-weekend in New Zealand. 

 

Yesterday flew from Melbourne to Dunedin, then drove to Queenstown.  A long day (left home 7:30am, arrived 8pm local time - 6pm melb time) but worth it.  We are staying at The Dairy , an awesome boutique hotel in Queenstown.  Incredible view from our room and balcony over The Remarkables - a range of snow-capped mountains.  

 

Last night had dinner at The Cow - a pizza joint in a 140 year old milking shed full of atmosphere and good pizza. 

 

Today we drove to The Remarkables, including a 13.5km each way drive along a VERY steep and VERY rough gravel road and hiked up the mountains for a while.  Hiking in snow after being in Melbourne just yesterday was a little surreal (and also given that it is about 20 degrees celcius in queenstown toay).  Very beautiful, very cold and windy, very slippery on the ice and snow.  Amazing experience.  Crossing my fingers some great photos.  Then some more hiking, including a great 1 1/2 hour walk up and down Queenstown hill along a very pretty path, again with great views.   Finally, jetboating through canyons.  In theory it's terrifying but in practice i was exhilarated rather than scared.  The operators were clearly pros and i didn't feel in any danger.  A lot of fun, though, as you are hurtled around the water in tight canyons in a boat 5m x 2m with 2 V6 engines pumping out a total of 520hp.  Got very wet.  Then afternoon tea included at the hotel and a nap.  A pretty good day so far.  More to come.