Sunday, 9 August 2009

QUEENSTOWN TO WANAKA - CROWNING GLORY TIME

ARROWTOWN IN AUTUMN

Oh well,that will teach me for talking too much...didn't like the font so I changed it , hit enter and lost the lot....the words I then used are unprintable!

Well back to the beginning- maybe it will be shorter - as I do ramble a bit...
We left Queenstown on one of those wonderful autumn mornings - crisp beginning leading to a beautiful day - not a breath of wind.A day made in paradise - a day for meandering, exploring, taking it all in. Plenty of walking, frequent coffees, lots of photos then only a couple of hours driving as we were heading to Wanaka - over the Crown Range - via the fabulous town of Arrowtown .Lunch was on the other side at the famous old Cadrona Hotel - won't bother with a link here to Cadrona itself - if snowboarding and sking are your thing a quick entry on Google will bring all the info.I don't think I would stay at the hotel but the lunch was fine ...plus a draft Speights...him indoors drank wine- really- not a Southern Man at all!!!
Getting a bit ahead of myself here - back to Arrowtown - a true gem - surprisingly unruined by tourism but we were there in the shoulder season - so the tour buses were hardly around.
Everything about the town is great - it has a lot going for it.Great food at Saffron ( a renowned restaurant) quirky boutique Cinema Dorothy Brown's.
The stand out highlight for us though was the visit to the Chinese Goldminers' Settlement - the Chinese also came for the gold but have been, up until recently, largely ignored by our historians but the contribution they made to our country has at last been recognized.I found it as a New Zealander, very moving. CHINESE MINERS' SETTLEMENT,ARROWTOWN

Having explored the little streets we decided that the lofty heights of the Crown Range beckoned .What a road (the highest sealed road in NZ)- well it is now - but when you read about the trek of those first settlers you have to admire their pluck and courage.We come from very hardy stock!The View was - well, I think you should see it for yourselves - make you own mind up - because I will just go on in a gushy, over the top(!!) way - as I do...But forget the European Alps - this is heaven- damn I said I wouldn't go on...but I did....

THE CROWN RANGE TO CADRONA

Well Cadrona is just over the mountains ( she says casually) and after lunch it was on to Wanaka.
After the beauty of the summit it was hard to be impressed with the last part of the drive but we were.There was more wonderful autumn colour - they have planted a lot of Poplar trees over the years - they are fast growing and make excellent windbreaks.Very useful trees - in the country - not so great in town.
I like Wanaka.As a town, it is newer than Queenstown but an elegant little place - very popular as a destination for Kiwis - quite a few holiday homes - nothing cheap - some flashy- but it has what you need plus a great climate.We stayed at Minaret Lodge - great accommodation with everything you might need - Fran and Gary were great hosts, in spite of the fact we were last minute arrivals and they were off to South America within a couple of days.Southern Hospitality - you can't beat it!

LAKE WANAKA



View Larger Map

Use the reduce button to view the journey on Day 7

1 comment:

Unknown said...


thistrually amazing place for queenstown snowboarding..superb post i love.......this