I finished my last night in Franz Josef by popping to a restaurant next to the hotel for a bowel of soup, Corn & Bacon Chowder! Yummy. Then got a pretty early night.
I woke up in the night at 3.30, the same time Georgia should have been landing in Australia! I couldn’t settle whilst I waited for a message to say all was well, I tried checking the flight on line, but couldn’t find it, Which didn’t help my anxiety! Finally at 4.45 I got a message to say she was safe and sound with her siblings in Australia❤️ I couldn’t get back to sleep so did some checking of my itinerary etc, then finally drifted off to sleep 20 mins before my alarm went off!! 😬
I was taking a tour bus from Franz Josef through the Southern Alps, past lakes and through Westlands National Park, Mount Aspiring National Park and on to Queenstown. The coach picked me up at 7.25, then picked up some other travellers from various spots in town before leaving at 8am (kinda wished I’d been last pick up!) I got a great seat at the front so I had a fantastic view, as always I chatted briefly to the driver, Ray, he seemed liked a nice guy. The weather was pretty dismal, low cloud, rain you could barely see the mountains as we drove through to Fox Glacier. Such a difference from yesterday and made me realise again how lucky I had been with my Helicopter Flight.
The bad weather continued for the first couple of hours, with just occasional glimpses of blue in the sky. Ray became very chatty, telling me Information about the area, stories about things and people (I feel he should have been doing this through his microphone for everyone, but hey ho!) He seemed to know lots about everyone, even people who lived in what looked liked the middle of nowhere, Ray knew then! He talked a lot about our first stop, which was going to be at a Salmon Farm with a wonderful Cafe, hot Scones, log fire it sounded awesome! The reality didn’t quite live up to my imagination! It was cold, the scone was warmed in the microwave to within an inch of its sad life! the salmon were swimming round and round in little tanks 😢 and Ray decided to sit with me and regal me with more stories about the wonderful cafe, the best scones! (Trust me I’m now an expert on the cheese front, and these are not the best) He also told me a story about Lighthouses in Cornwall, which he had already told me twice…..which was a worry 😳 Hey Ho, off we went on our way, the weather still not great, but improving a fraction. We had to cross over the Haast Past a long high, steep winding road. We stopped halfway up to change drivers, we stopped at a wonderful place called Thunder Falls and had time to walk down through the forest to look at the Falls, which were amazing. The colour of the rivers are stunning, as I’ve said before because they are Glacial rivers they have this magnificent blue colour. Sadly this meant that chatty Ray was leaving and as he left the bus he gave me a slightly awkward, hug/handshake thing!
On the way here we pass literally 100s of creeks, some large, some small and some barley there, but as the weather had been so poor I had been pay attention to them, the reason being that the New Zealander’s very kindly name each and ever one, on bright yellow signs. The names were brilliant. Some better than others. I’m not sure who names them but I feel there are lots of different people, with varying levels of humour and wit! I started noting them down and here are is a selection of my favourites, chosen for a number of reasons, which some of you will know!
Random Creek, Grant Creek, Wilson Creek, Dick Creek, Stinky Creek, Beccia Creek, Mossy Creek, Gentle Annie Creek, Dancing, Dismal and Dizzy Creek (one after the other!) Windbag Creek and my favourite Glitterburn Creek!! There where many many more. 😍
Once we had changed drivers, we climbed steadily out of Haast Pass and seriously it was like entering a different country! The sun was shining the sky was blue, unreal!
The Views again are stunning, we were traveling through a valley with mountains either side, I saw lots more Kareakea (New Zealand Falcons) which are awesome. Then suddenly we were beside the most gorgeous turquoise Lake. It is Lake Wanaka. A huge glacial lake. Then we headed through a Pass called the Neck which separates Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea the 2 lakes are simply beautiful and huge and almost untouched and pure. We stopped for a short while on the shores on Lake Wanaka, before heading through Kawarau Gorge, which used to be a huge Gold mining area, it still mines gold but not to the same level as 100 years ago. You can still see some of the old shacks, and equipment, the gorge feels very different to the openness of the lakes. The river again is a stunning blue!
Then we exit the gorge and through and Gibbston Valley a big wine making region and there is Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu!
Queenstown has lots of Ski resorts as it’s surround by huge mountains! It attracts lots of Young ski enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies! There is Bungy Jumping, Jet Boats, skiing, heliskiing, zip lining, It is the home of the first commercial bungy! It definitely has a party town vibe going on!
By the time I arrived it was evening so I checked into my YHA then went out to have a look around, the lake looks awesome and everything is close by, and walkable which is good. I had a glass of wine and got chatting to an American lady, Donna, who I would say was my age or possibly older, she is apparently here in NZ to make a film, I asked what film and she said a kind of horror and…….then became a bit evasive, it’s quite low budget so I suspect it might be a bit like Debbie does Dallas but with Zombies and Kiwi fruit! 😂😂
After another drink by the lake I went to get Dinner and the place to go is FergBurger It’s a small takeaway Burger place, with queues out of the door, It took me 20 mins to order and get my burger, which is made fresh, but it was worth the wait! It was delicious.
Today, having checked the weather, which was due to be raining by lunch time, I got up earlyish and took the Skyline Gondola to the top of another mountain, which offers the most amazing views of Queenstown. I have to say I’m not a huge fan of the Gondola…bit wobbly and insubstantial for my liking, but once up there the views are fantastic. I watched people doing Bungy jumps! Why?? Seriously, it gives me palpitations just watching it! The rest of the day I spent looking in Art Galleries, walking by the lake and then reading my book! Lovely.
I have a very early start again tomorrow as my bus for Te Anau leaves at 7.05am 😳😬
Kia Ora my lovelies. 😘💖
Hereandthereclaire.com 
I am really loving New Zealand you have definitely made it go into my bucket list! Not sure about Bungee jumps either though, think I would pass my cheese scone in the way back up!
Can not wait to hear your next adventure xxx
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Queenstown it is then, i can drink lots of wine by the lake and chris go be an adrenaline junkie for the day haha.
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