Queenstown, New Zealand Part 2

Tuesday, August 4 - Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Queenstown, New Zealand is filled with so much to do!  One day we rode the Queenstown Gondola to the top of the mountain for an incredible view. The gondola was like a sky lift as we had our own car going up and coming down the mountain.  There are a couple of shops and a restaurant up top and a luge ride, but by far the best thing was the view.  We could see for miles as it was a really clear day.

Another fun thing we did was tour the little town of Arrowtown.  We toured the Chinese goldmining settlement and went in several cute little shops.  We actually went in the Arrowtown Museum; it was well done and quite informative.  We opted for lunch at The Postmaster.  It was snowing, so the mulled wine really hit the spot, and the food was yummy.

After Arrowtown we went by the first bridge bungee jump in New Zealand.  The set up is great with a gift shop and observation deck for those who would rather watch than jump (that was us).  We did see three jumpers.  It was fun watching them dive off towards the rushing water below.  Their brains had to be telling them – this is not right!

We also toured Gibbston Valley Winery.  We took the wine cave tour (we were the only two on the tour!), and got to taste four different wines including a barrel taste.  Our guide was really nice and knowledgeable about the actual winery and different types of wine.  Once the tour was over, we tasted three more wines and bought a delectable bottle of pinot noir to take with us.

We absolutely loved our time in Queenstown!

Queenstown, New Zealand Part 1

Tuesday, August 4 - Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Queenstown, New Zealand is absolutely breathtaking.  On Tuesday, August, 4 we flew from Sydney to Queenstown.  We arrived on a cool, rainy day, but Hertz had our rental car parked right outside the door of the airport.  We had to get a bit acclimated to the car as the steering wheel is on the right and you drive on the left.  On our way to the lodge, Edi and I were awestruck.  No matter the direction, the view was incredible, almost unreal.

We arrived at The Remarkables Lodge and Boutique Hotel and got a warm welcome from the hosts and staff. The Alpine Premier Suite was so nice; it was quite comfortable with a nice claw foot tub.  It had a coffee/tea service and wonderful views.  The lodge itself is very homey with two different sitting areas, one with a cozy fireplace that is lit each night and one with a pool table and media area.  We enjoyed the hot tub and the sauna - the perfect way to relax after an adventurous day out in the snow!  The night of the big New Zealand/Australian rugby match, Alan and Amanda set up the big screen and projector for us and other guests to enjoy.  Amanda brought in chips and popcorn – it was a fun evening.  The backyard area not only has an incredible view of the Remarkable Mountain range, but it has goats and chickens that we got to feed!

Queenstown is such a cute town.  It has great shops and lots of restaurants from which to choose.  We spent some time shopping and just enjoying the town.  We had hot chocolate at Koko Black – the best hot chocolate I have ever had!

New Zealand is quite the adventure land.  We drove to the Snow Farm one day.  It was cold and snow was in the forecast.  As we got closer and closer to the top, the road conditions got worse.  We had to stop to put snow chains on the car; the only problem…one of them was broken.  We made it to the top with only the one, and luckily Edi was able to get someone to help him fix it before driving back down.  Once there we were ready for our dog sledding adventure.

I’m not going to lie…I was a bit nervous, but once we were introduced to our dog team and were taught how to lead the pack, it was an absolute blast!

Next was cross country skiing.  I have always wanted to give it a go thinking it would be easier than down hill skiing.  It was quite difficult as you really have to maintain your balance.  We had a really good instructor and after our lesson got to ski the trails.  I would love to do it again. 

By the time we had finished the trail for the third time the snow was really coming down, so we had to get that other chain on the tire and head down the mountain.  Edi was a great driver!  We made it down the mountain safely, and stopped to take the snow chains off.  Our dog sled instructor and our cross country ski instructor both stopped and asked if we were OK -  it was really nice that they took the time to inquire.  We stopped at the Cardrona Hotel for a break.  They had a roaring fire going, so we had a beverage (I opted for wine since I was not driving) and cheese scones.  They were like giant cheese biscuits from Red Lobster – yum!  Just what we needed.  After our refreshment, we were on our way.

Back at the lodge, we had dinner at the lodge with some of the other guests.  Amanda and Alan had prepared a delicious Indian meal – it was scrumptious!  After dinner, we did a little reading by the fire.  What an incredible day!