Another business trip to Auckland! I am fortunate that Leslie can travel with me on so many of my business trips.
On this particular trip, on our way to the hotel, Leslie asked the taxi driver where we could find crayfish for dinner. He suggested Sails Restaurant. We made arrangements to have him pick us up later that evening and take us to the restaurant for dinner.
The restaurant is at the Westhaven Marina. The dining area is on the first floor with a beautiful view of the marina and the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Our starter was a smoked salmon platter. It came with a melba toast type cracker, beetroot, and assorted greens. Maybe it was the ambiance, but the salmon was the best tasting I had had in quite some time.
Smoked salmon appetizer.CrayfishDessertDessert
Our main course was the crayfish Leslie wanted. In New Zealand, crayfish are equivalent to lobster, not the mudbugs that one might find in Louisiana. Here, the crayfish are very similar to lobster. The main difference is the claws; they are much smaller on the species here. The meat looks the same as a lobster. It also pulls out in clumps like lobster. The taste though is not as rich. For me, that makes it all the more delicious. It was not served with melted butter; however, Leslie was able to talk them into bringing some to the table.
Dessert was just as good as the other two courses. I had the crème brûlèe. Leslie’s dessert was reminiscent of doughnut holes, ice cream, and caramel. It was quite good, but it made up for the crayfish not being rich!
One morning we walked to Albert Park and, subsequently, the Auckland Art Gallery. It was a beautiful morning. We found many varying views of the Sky Tower.
When we visited the gallery, one of the exhibits contained dozens of pieces of work by Gottfried Lindauer. He was a renown portrait artist in New Zealand at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. His portraits of Maori with their various moko facial tattoos. We enjoyed seeing so much of his work.
Strolling in the park.Sculpture in the park.Limbo
Saturday morning, we had time to tour around. We settled on taking the ferry from Auckland across the harbor to Devonport. We would have been hard-pressed to pick a cloudier, more drizzly day. But, it is what it is, so off we went.
There were several naval ships from around the world anchored in the harbor. They were taking part in the New Zealand Navy’s 75th anniversary. One of the invitees, the USS Sampson was absent. The ship made the trip to New Zealand to participate; however, it volunteered to be rerouted to the South Island to assist with recovery efforts following the 7.8 magnitude Kaikoura earthquake. That earthquake occurred about one week before the anniversary celebration. It would have been nice to see her. This appearance in New Zealand waters was the first time a United States ship had been welcomed for more than 30 years.
The Indonesian ship Banda Aceh, a Banjarmasin-class Landing Platform Dock.The Chilean tall ship, Esmeralda.The Chinese and South Korean frigates.
We got off the ferry at the Devonport pier where there are several shops and restaurants. We walked outside and saw a lot of activity in a park near the dock. There were dozens, maybe hundreds, of hand-painted and decorated wooden birds. On one of them was written, “Save the Godwits.” A godwit is a native New Zealand bird. Their numbers are declining. One estimate I saw was just 75,000 in all of New Zealand.
Save the Godwits.Looking at each one.A flock of wooden birds.
We continued walking around the CBD of Devonport, exploring the many shops and cafés. Near the Devonport library, there is a massive tree. Other than fake trees at Disney World, I am not sure I have ever seen a tree with such a large trunk.
Back at the pier complex, we stopped in the Devon on the Wharf restaurant. We had a leisurely lunch.
Devon On The Wharf.
After lunch, we stood in a queue to wait for our ferry back to Auckland. While there, I spotted a “no” sign. It was amazing to see one sign with so many “illegal actions.”
NO!!
Back in Auckland, we prepared for our journey back home. On our way to the airport, our driver took us to One Tree Hill. It offers 360-degree views of Auckland.
View toward the airport from One Tree Hill.The obelisk at the summit of One Tree Hill.View toward the CBD from One Tree Hill.Looking toward the harbor.The marina and the Auckland Harbour Bridge.MarinaRSS Resolution, a Singapore Endurance Class tank landing ship.The New Zealand ship Otago, a Protector class offshore patrol vessel.A kayaker.The Chinese frigate, Yancheng.The Republic of Korea frigate, Chungbuk.Fishing from the Devonport pier.Wall art in Devonport.A massive tree.Sky Tower.Sky Tower looking west along Victoria Street.Albert Park with the Sky Tower in the background.The fountain in Albert Park.Fountain detail.Albert Park and a view of the Sky Tower.Albert Park.Flowers in the park.Handrail leading down to the Auckland Art Gallery.A “guard” at the Auckland Art Gallery.Inside the Auckland Art Gallery.The Landing of Lieutenant-Governor Hobson at Waitangi, by Matthew Clayton (1896).Limbo by Judy Darragh (2015).Limbo detail.Limbo from above.The Civic Theatre building.Christmas display at the Farmers Department Store building.The intersection of Queen & Victoria.
Secretary of State Kerry was “wheels up” early Friday evening. That meant his visit to Christchurch, New Zealand, and the United States Antarctic program was over.
Once I got back to my hotel, the Ibis; I had dinner, a glass of wine, and prepared to check out early the next morning.
The following morning, I reported to The George Hotel at about 06:30. Some items need to be loaded in a truck and driven back to Wellington. I met a small vehicle and a driver there. In no time, the truck was packed, and we began our journey north.Our route was State Highway 1. We stopped in Cheviot to get a cup of coffee for the road. Then it was on to Oaro. Until that point, the highway was like so many roads in New Zealand. It wound its way through valleys and fields in the lovely rural, green countryside. At Oaro, State Highway 1 begins to hug the east coast of the South Island. Right next to the highway was the railway. We passed through Peketa, Kaikoura (little did I know I would grow to know a lot about this area very soon), Mangamaunu, and Clarence; before turning back inland toward Ward and Seddon.
The scenery in New Zealand is stunning at every turn. However, the view along this portion of the South Island, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, was some of the most picturesque I have ever seen. On the west side of the highway were towering hills. Tectonic plate movement thrust them up from the ocean many millennia ago. I marveled at how they seemed to shoot straight up from the roadbed. At a couple of points, there were tunnels because going through the towering hills was the only way highway engineers of the past were able to make any headway.Along the east side of the highway was the rugged Pacific Ocean coast. Now and then I spotted a few seals. In fact, at one point, there was a highway sign cautioning motorists to be aware of seals straying across the road. The rocky coast also appeared to be the perfect habitat for the much-loved paua (abalone). It was all such a beautiful sight.
I remember marveling at how portions of the hillside did not come crashing down onto the road… Our destination on the South Island was the small town of Picton. That is where we would catch the 13:00 Interislander ferry back to Wellington. I was looking forward to that part of the trip. It would be my first time crossing the Cook Strait. I was secretly hoping the crossing would not be in rough seas.
The main road through the Picton business district.The marina at Picton Harbour.
We arrived in Picton with some time to spare. I took advantage of the time to do a little shopping for tourist trinkets and to take photos.
Waiting in the queue to show our tickets, I saw the large sign with the current water conditions in the Strait. The broad arrow of the Twister-esque game spinner stopped on the pictogram of three-wave crests. The word above that ominous pictogram read “Moderate.” Oh, how I longed for something more in the green or blue-tinted area of the sign. I began to wonder whether or not I would have to deal with seasickness. Waiting in queue allowed ample opportunity to come up will all sorts of plans to deal with the potential discomfort.
Interislander ticket booth and sea conditions.The upper deck of the Kaiarahi. The ferry just departed Picton.Panorama of Picton Harbour.Sunfish sailboats in Picton Harbour.Picton Harbour.
I tried not to let my imagination get the best of me, but I have heard horror stories of Strait crossings taking seven-plus hours or stories about running out of seasickness bags. I wanted nothing to do with either of those eventualities.
The driver drove onto the ferry with no problems. We parked the vehicle and headed up to the passenger deck. Before departing Christchurch, I bought an upgrade to my ferry ticket to the Interislander Plus, which is roughly equivalent to a first-class fare. The lounge area has comfortable seating and coffee tables. Once the ferry is underway, there is food, drink, and alcohol available. While I did partake of some of that, I did spend a lot of my time on deck taking photos of Queen Charlotte Sound.
The beach at Bob’s Bay just outside Picton Harbour.A Picton Water Taxi.A tourist boat and a private boat pass.A private boat.Te Pangu Bay.Wider view of the king salmon farm at Te Pangu Bay.A king salmon farm in Te Pangu Bay in Queen Charlotte Sound.Erie Bay and Moioio Island.The only way to get to this home is by water.A bach along the shore.The beauty of Queen Charlotte Sound.The Sound as seen from Picton Harbour.The tour boat turning around to return to Picton.A tour boat in Picton Harbour.At the mouth of the Sound, a police boat in the distance.Weather station atop the hill at the mouth of the Sound.Queen Charlotte Sound looking back toward Picton.The mouth of the Sound. The North Island is in the distance.View from Queen Charlotte Sound, looking across Cooks Strait toward the North Island in the distance.
The voyage from the South Island to the North Island takes roughly three hours; about one hour in Queen Charlotte Sound, about one hour on the open water in the Strait, and then one final hour to get from the opening of the Wellington Harbour to the dock.
As it turned out, the crossing was very smooth. The water in Queen Charlotte Sound and the Wellington Harbour was very calm. The Strait did have some swells, but I did not think it was bad at all. I felt no sickness whatsoever. All-in-all, it was a brilliant success.By the time we docked, drove off the ferry, and arrived at the Embassy, it was about 17:00. We had additional help there, so the unloading went very quickly. After the unloading, I grabbed a taxi and went home, arriving around 19:00.
Shortly after midnight, I was unceremoniously awakened. At first, I thought it was Leslie shaking me, trying to wake me up. Once I did wake up, I realized it was Mother Nature shaking me. I found myself sitting up in bed, feeling the whole house violently moving back and forth. Leslie has a cross collection on one of the walls in our bedroom. They were swaying to and fro like leaves in the wind. I saw things on top of our dressers scooting violently back and forth across the surface.After roughly 30 seconds, the shaking stopped. New Zealand has a service that monitors earthquakes. It updates very quickly. I suddenly realized that we had just lived through a monstrous 7.8 magnitude earthquake. When we were in Pakistan, we went through a 7.2. That extra six-tenths was enormous. The earthquake epicenter was very near Kaikoura.
Leslie was bushed, so she stayed in bed. I went downstairs to begin to try to decipher what exactly had happened. It was during that time that I discovered the magnitude was 7.8. While I was watching television and checking for information online, the emergency sirens began sounding. It took me a while, but I finally found out that it was a tsunami warning.I was shocked that our house sustained zero damage; either to the structure or the contents.
Meanwhile, we had several aftershocks that seemed they should have been classified as earthquakes. Many were well over magnitude 6.0. All totaled, there were more than 5,000 aftershocks.
I made it back to work at about 04:00 to see what damage the Embassy may have sustained. I was glad to see nothing. To be sure, I arranged for an engineering firm to do a more thorough review. They found no issues.As news reports began to filter in, I saw the damage along State Highway 1; particularly in the stretch of highway near Kaikoura. The damage was substantial. Several parts of the highway were covered with dirt, rocks, and debris. That all used to be those magnificent hills I had just seen the day before. Parts of the railway were completely swept away and across the now blocked highway. Parts of the coastal seabed were thrust up by as much as six feet. I was so thankful the earthquake did not occur as we were driving.
I was equally glad that I made it to the dock. That next day, I found out the docks were damaged. As I drove home, I saw all four Interislander ferries anchored in the harbor. I was fortunate that I and the Embassy truck were not stuck on one of those. I really do not wish to go through another earthquake. I have had enough.
The green hills just prior to the mouth of the Sound.Moving toward the mouth of the Sound.A couple of homes near the mouth of the Sound.The south shore of the Sound.A very nice home along the Sound.Pencarrow lighthouses.Baring Head Lighthouse at the point on the far right.Baring Head Lighthouse at the entry to the channel leading to Wellington Harbour.On the deck of the Kaiarahi.In the midst of Cooks Strait.Police patrol boat just outside the entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound.In the distance, the point at Jordy Rocks.The mouth of Queen Charlotte Sound looking toward the point at Jordy Rocks.Rock formation at the outlet of Queen Charlotte Sound across from Okukari Bay.
We left home around 05:00 to make our early morning Air New Zealand flight to Auckland. The Mount Victoria tunnel was closed. Because of that, our taxi driver took us along Oriental Bay. Even though it was dark, it was stunning.
After checking in, we had coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Then it was off to the gate, onto the plane, and on to Auckland. It was smooth sailing all the way.After our uneventful arrival in Auckland, we walked to our next gate.
There was some delay in boarding the aircraft. One of the gate attendants told us it was because they were trying to load a stretcher on-board. There was someone in Papeete, Tahiti that was waiting for evacuation to New Zealand.
Once we got on the plane and pushed away from the gate, everything was fine.
Our trip to Tahiti is one of the oddest trips I have ever made, for one reason in particular; our travels took us to yesterday! We left New Zealand on Monday morning. We arrived in Papeete, Tahiti on Sunday evening. That is what happens when one travels to the east across the International Date Line.
Well before our trip began, we applied for and received French visas. We needed the permits because I was traveling to Papeete for business (indeed a sentence I never thought I would write).
The plane landed around 16:00 Tahiti time. When we arrived at passport control, we went to the Diplomatic line as usual. The immigration officer did not speak English very well. Leslie and I speak nearly zero French. As his questioning began, I knew it would be a problematic entry because I was having a challenging time hearing him. At one point, he asked if I had a military escort or an entourage waiting for me. I assured him all I had waiting for me was a taxi.
I could tell he was getting frustrated. I assumed that it was because of our language difficulties. At that time, an Air New Zealand employee happened to walk by the booth. The immigration official called out to her in French. He emerged from his booth, continuing to speak to her. Soon, all four of us were huddled in a group. We both used her as a translator. Finally, after numerous questions, he stamped our passports and allowed us into the country.
When we finally had our luggage and emerged into the terminal area, we spotted our driver. As we approached, she placed a beautiful flower lei on each of us. I put our bags in the rear of the van. Within 15 minutes or so, she delivered us to the Le Meridian Hotel.
The “newly” weds at the hotel.
At the check-in counter, the attendant immediately offered us a small glass of cold mango juice. It was both refreshing and delicious. After receiving our keys, we walked to our room. Our baggage was already there. I grabbed my camera and we walked down to the bar near the beach. The sun was just setting as we arrived at the bar. The views were absolutely stunning.
Sunset with palm and the remains of a pier.
We transitioned from the bar to a table by the ocean for dinner. The beautiful setting, the food, and the wine made it one of the most romantic dinners we have had in quite some time.
Ready for a seaside dinner for two.
Our room rate included a daily continental breakfast. One morning, we decided we wanted a hot breakfast. We went to the breakfast buffet to get eggs, bacon, and potatoes. That was the last time we did that. Breakfast cost us the equivalent of US$75. When we complained about that; the staff responded that it was an “all-you-can-eat” buffet. They were not interested in reducing the price. For the remainder of our stay, we kept ourselves to the continental breakfast side of the restaurant.
The restaurant was a beautiful setting. Along the oceanside of the restaurant, there was a large pond containing koi and water lilies. On the other side of the water was a large stone patio. Beyond that were palm trees partially obscuring the ocean view ocean. It was very relaxing to sit there and enjoy coffee in the mornings. The beach at the hotel sloped gently into the ocean. No waves were striking the beach because of the barrier reef. The reef and breaking waves were about a half-mile offshore. The water was warm and crystal clear. In the water, there were large clumps of coral. Several types of fish swam around the corals. It was beautiful to behold.
The le Meridien Hotel and pool.The over-the-water huts at sunset.Some lilies in the pond.Lily detail.
On one of my days off, we took a morning shuttle from the hotel to downtown Papeete. Our guide parked at the ferry terminal. We walked from there toward the tourist information building. From there, she led us across a busy street for a block until she pointed out the market. The walk was close to one-half mile.
The market was very clean and nicely done. In addition to some tourist trinkets, the ground level housed fruit and vegetable stands, butcher shops, and fishmongers. The upper level housed an assortment of tourist trinkets, clothing, jewelry, and artworks. I bought a couple of Tahitian shirts. On the way back to the vehicle, we stopped in another store where I bought some more shirts.
A woman shopping at the Papeete Market.The Papeete Market sign.The main market in Papeete.
When we walked back to the ferry terminal and port, we had some time to kill. The most impressive yacht we saw was the Arctic. Doing a little research, I found the boat began life as an icebreaker. It is nearly 88 meters (289 feet) long. It accommodates 12 guests and 25 crew. I guess that would be an OK way to travel the world.
The 88 meter Arctic yacht.
Later that afternoon, I used the hotel’s plastic kayak. I paddled nearly halfway to the barrier reef. It was during low tide, so periodically, the bottom of the kayak scraped slightly against the tops of the coral. I could look down on either side of the kayak and see the ocean floor. It was not very deep, probably eight to ten feet. Looking down, I saw all of the fish. The whole experience seemed surreal.
One morning we walked to le Musée de Tahiti et des İles (The Museum of Tahiti and the Islands). Similar to downtown, the walk was about one half-mile. For a small museum, the displays were numerous and well done. The vast majority had descriptions in English as well as French.
When we left the museum, we walked about 100 meters to the sea wall. There, the ocean waves crashed against the wall. There was not a barrier reef at this portion of the island.
A wave crashing at the breakwater. Moorea Island is across the way.Moorea Island seems to always be cloaked in clouds.
Our afternoon highlight was sitting in a chaise lounge, enjoying a glass of wine, and watching the sunset. The sunsets we saw were just stunning.
This is my favorite sunset shot from our visit to Tahiti.An amazingly colorful sunset.
The highlight of our trip, by far, was the Polynesian dance show. The show happened on the patio near the restaurant. The dinner buffet was a part of the price paid for the show. The performers included about ten men and ten women dancers. The drumbeats during the various dances seemed to reverberate right through our abdomens. If only I could move like the dancers, I probably would not be fat!
The costumes were very ornate.Looking right at the camera.
We woke up early and departed our hotel. We arrived at the airport at about 05:30. Getting out of the country was much more manageable. The passport control officer quickly stamped our passports. We breezed through security and sat down at the gate to await our flight.
We boarded the flight a few minutes late, but we did take off on time. During the trip, there was some turbulence, but nothing too severe.
We arrived in Auckland a little late. The Air TahitiNui pilots taxied the plane to the arrival gate and switched off the fasten seat belt sign. Everyone stood up and began removing items from the overhead bins. While that was happening, I noticed I could still hear the sound of the jet engines. I also noticed the plane’s door was not open. We stood there for twenty minutes. Finally, one of the pilots announced we were waiting for gate personnel to respond. We stood for an additional 10 or 15 minutes before the engine finally stopped, and the door opened.While we were standing, Leslie and I were getting nervous about making our connection to Wellington. Waiting for us when we finally got off the plane was a wheelchair attendant for Leslie. We informed him of our tight connection. While he nearly ran through the terminal, he told us the reason for the delay is that the engine had not stopped. That did not make sense to me. Regardless, the race was on to the Wellington gate.
When we entered the duty-free area of the terminal, people packed the central pedestrian aisle, of course. The wheelchair attendant veered off and rushed us through the paths of one of the duty-free stores. Shortly after merging back into the central aisle, we arrived at passport control. The immigration officer quickly stamped our passports.Our focus turned to the baggage claim area. We all rushed there. We waited and waited at the baggage claim carousel. Soon, there were just a few bags left on the belt, but we did not see ours. The wheelchair attendant asked for a description of our baggage. We described our bags. He quickly moved to the access-controlled door, went through, and within about a minute, he emerged with our bags.
An oddity of the Auckland International Airport is that the international terminal and the domestic terminal are not connected. There are two ways to get from one to the other; a free bus or a 10 to 15-minute walk, following a green line painted on the ground. The bus runs approximately every 15 minutes. We were lucky when we emerged from the international terminal; we could see the bus arriving. We boarded the bus with our luggage.The bus has to travel on public streets to get from one terminal to the other. Of course, that means traffic and traffic lights. It seemed we would never arrive. We still had to re-check our bags and make our way to the next gate. When the bus finally arrived, we dashed inside, found an Air New Zealand employee, and told her our following flight number. She broke the news that we would not make that flight. Luckily, Air New Zealand has multiple daily flights from Auckland to Wellington. She booked us on the next flight.
We made it to our gate, waited about 30 minutes, and boarded the flight. Our 65-minute flight to Wellington was uneventful.
We arrived, retrieved our baggage, and hopped in the Corporate Cab for our 30-minute ride home.
An outrigger canoe just before sunset.The time for the sunset is approaching.A billowing cloud.Some people enjoying a sunset dip in the warm waters.We were treated to this beauty nearly every evening.The over-the-water huts at night.The butcher shop at the Papeete Market.View of the ground floor of the Papeete Market.The sun is down for another day.The calm, colorful colors of the water on the beach-side of the coral reef.The long-boarder and the person behind continue south as the sun has nearly set.Clouds over Moorea Island.A person on a long-board with someone following behind.The over-the-water huts.Looking up.An outrigger canoe.A tall palm tree.The 117-meter Aranui 3.Possibly a tugboat in the port.Containers in the Papeete Port.The colors could change quite quickly.A wider view showing Moorea Island.A somewhat muted sunset.The evening view from the beach.The sun is barely visible behind the clouds.Sunset from the beach. Moorea Island is in the distance.Two of the dancers in one of the first dances.A very intense look.The group!The smile shows she was having fun!Two of the dancers.A line of women dancers.The grass skirts swayed and swayed.Two of the dancers.These were the most colorful costumes of the night.This was another fearsome dance. One can only imagine encountering the Polynesians for the first time when Europeans were exploring the Pacific.A moment during the first dance.Another pair of dancers.A moment of rest during the dance.High motion!This man danced through the women dancers.The two dancers.Two dancers.Another group photo of the women.Another group photo of the men.The beads of sweat indicate just how difficult the dancers worked.Group photo of the men.The main dancer of this particular dance.Group photo of the women.The young women were stunning. Leslie tells me the young men were too…This was a rather fearsome looking dance.Looking at the audience.Members of the musical section.Telling the story through song and gestures.One of the opening dance moments.Another costume another dance.The shot may look still, but the motion is evident by the lei moving through the air.The two main figures in the dance.An over-the-shoulder look from one of the dancers.The stare!The final pose of the women.If I dropped to my knees like these guys, I would need medical attention to get back to my feet.The reflection in the lily pond.Detail of men in the dance.The red costumes were very eye-catching.The final pose of the final dance.One of the men in the final dance.The heads may be still, but the hips seemed to never stop!
Our morning in Dunedin started at one of our favorite breakfast spots, Maccas (the abbreviated name down under for McDonald’s). Then it was back into the SUV to begin our nearly 200-mile journey to Queenstown.
The drive was not bad, just time-consuming. The roads in New Zealand do not lend themselves to cruise control. Instead, the vast majority of routes are two-lane, constantly curving to meld with the rugged terrain. However, the stunning scenery more than compensates for the slower, more twisting journeys. The weather was mostly cloudy with intermittent rain. That probably added time to our trip too. Between Alexandra and Cromwell, we encountered orchard after orchard. Punctuating the farms were the various fruit stands operated by each orchard owner.
Some giant fruit at Cromwell.Panoramic view of Lake Wanaka.
Departing Cromwell, the highway began to parallel the Kawarau River. We all agreed that portion of our journey reminded us of the drive from Gunnison, Colorado to Blue Mesa Reservoir.
As we got within ten miles of our bed and breakfast lodging, the GPS had me take a right turn. It was a turn that I resisted internally, but thanks to the GPS fiasco a couple of days earlier, I opted to follow the directions. The “driveway” was a little unnerving. It was incredibly long, steep, and barely wide enough for one vehicle. Ultimately, we did make it to our lodging, Trelawn Place. It was a stunning location.
The bed and breakfast is atop a cliff overlooking the Shotover River. The Shotover River drains into the Kawarau River and then into Lake Wakatipu. Lake Wakatipu is the lake upon which Queenstown sits. Periodically, one could hear, well before seeing, a jet boat traveling up or down the river. They were incredibly noisy. I was surprised local laws even allowed such a thing.
Looking up, we could see the 5,735-foot Mount Ben Lomond. We were all stunned by the beautiful setting in which we found ourselves. One negative we saw were numerous dead trees on the mountainside. It looked to us like the damage in the Rocky Mountains caused by the pine beetle. I do not know if that was the case in the Queenstown area.
The view from the B&B at which we stayed while in Queenstown. At the bottom of the valley is the Shotover River.The porch of our cottage.The yard and the main house at the B&B.
Our sleeping arrangement at the bed and breakfast was a standalone cottage. At first view seemed to indicate a comfortable accommodation. Unfortunately, the second bedroom was upstairs, the only space up there. There was not a bathroom on the upper level. That was a little disappointing when compared to what we spent. One upside was the cooking facilities. We went into Queenstown, bought some groceries, and cooked dinner in the cottage that night.
The following morning, our hosts cooked breakfast for us. During breakfast, they suggested we take a ride on the TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu. They also gave us directions to a “secret” parking area. We drove right to the “secret” parking area. It was merely a parking structure. The “secret” part was the fact that the lowest level was not usually full. We drove down to that level and quickly parked. Because of the topography, when we walked out of the structure, we were on the Shotover Street level. We walked through a commercial mall that was a block long. It took us from Shotover Street to Beach Street. From Beach Street, we could see TSS Earnslaw at the dock.
One had two choices to make regarding the venture on the TSS Earnslaw; an out and back trip or the inclusion of watching sheep shearing at the Walter Peak Farm. We opted for the trip out and back.
Launched on Lake Wakatipu in 1912, the TSS Earnslaw is nearly 170 feet long. The original design capacity allowed for almost 400 passengers and 11 crew. Power comes from coal-fired steam boilers. There are two main decks, an upper and a lower. Below that is a deck of crew service areas and the boilers.
Three passengers waiting to board the TSS Earnslaw.Sign near the ship.The coal fire in a boiler on the TSS Earnslaw.One of the workers stoking the boiler fire on the TSS Earnslaw.
We chose a table on the lower deck near the stern. That lower deck had three distinct sections. The area in which we sat had a service bar in the center; however, the staff did not provide service there during our venture. Moving toward the bow, one approached an enclosed area housed a see-through metal platform. One could enter the enclosure, walk along the platform, and watch the two workers feeding and operating the steam boilers. It was sweltering and humid in that space. Undoubtedly, it would have been even more uncomfortable if the space did not open into the upper deck. Looking up, one could see passengers on the upper deck looking down and taking photographs. The bow of the ship on the lower floor housed a small exhibit outlining the history of the TSS Earnslaw.
After visiting the exhibit, Lorraine reported to us she discovered what TSS stands for since none of the others of us could figure it out. TSS is short for a twin-screw steamer. I would never have figured that out. With the mystery solved, we prepared to settle back and enjoy our eight-mile journey to the dock at Walter Peak Farm. At about 13 knots, the trip took nearly 45 minutes.
The ship was very crowded. There were several Asian tourists on board. Queenstown is a popular spot for people to celebrate the Chinese New Year, 2016, the year of the monkey. I discovered that quite by accident when I tried to reserve lodging. There were very few vacancies during the time we were in Queenstown.
Chinese New Year, the year of the monkey.
The journey from Queenstown to Walter Peak Farm was like steaming from postcard to postcard. Even though the day was partly cloudy, the water was an idyllic blue. Near the shore, the water was so clear that one could easily see the bottom of the lake. That was particularly true as we approached the pier at Walter Peak Farm.
After docking at the farm, about 80 percent of the passengers disembarked. Shortly after the last passenger stepped onto the pier, the TSS Earnslaw departed. The journey back to Queenstown was even more relaxing, no doubt due to fewer passengers still onboard.
Passengers disembarking from the TSS Earnslaw at the Walter Peak Station Wharf.The house and gardens at Walter Peak Station on Lake Wakatipu.
Leaving the ship, we stopped in a souvenir shop. As it was getting on to lunchtime, after buying a few things, we slipped into Pub on Wharf.
A transformation drawing in the pub.Wood stacked as art in the pub.
One pint and a lunch later, we continued our stroll through Queenstown. We made it back to Shotover Street, where Hillary discovered the Odyssey Sensory Maze. She and I decided to tackle the maze. Leslie and Lorraine sat in the lobby to wait for us.
The maze consisted of multiple rooms. Black lights lit nearly every room, lending a characteristically bright glow to most items in the room. Different music playing in each room added to each experience.
To enter the first room, we opened a door from the white lobby. That made the transition to the much darker hallway even starker. The darkened hallway led to a room full of enormous rubber balls. Each ball was around three feet in diameter. Several bungee cords, resembling a spider web, kept the balls in place. Once through the bungee cords, I felt like a wee lad at a Maccas play area. The opposite end of the room had another spider web that we had to navigate to exit the room.
Pushing open a black door, we entered the next room. It was a room of mirrors and tiny lights. The arrangements of the mirrors and lights made it feel as though one stood amongst the stars in the cosmos. That included the view above and below. It was the center of the universe. Feeling along the wall, we ultimately located the entrance to the next room.
There are other Odyssey Sensory Mazes located around the world. Because of that, I shall not describe the other various rooms. I do not want to spoil others’ maze journeys.
Exiting the maze, we all proceeded through Queenstown. The next task, shopping. That is when I realized how much Queenstown reminded me of Aspen, Colorado. Queenstown is a major skiing destination on the south island. The streets contained a large proportion of costly automobiles. Many of the pedestrians had the aura of those with much more money than I will ever see. The vast majority of items in the stores were ridiculously overpriced. I surmise the only difference between the two towns is the slogan. “How’s your Aspen” has a much different ring than “How’s your Queenstown.”
Finished with shopping, we stopped at a grocery store and then went back to Trelawn. Relaxing there, we prepared for our departure the next day.
The TSS Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu.Walking toward the docked TSS Earnslaw.Sign near the ship.One different passenger added to the bunch.There was no doubt as to her job…The side walkway on the TSS Earnslaw.A family photo happening just above the coal boiler.View as the TSS Earnslaw departed the marina at Queenstown.The mountains alongside Lake Wakatipu.On the deck on the way back to Queenstown.Lying on the deck of the TSS Earnslaw, this was my view.A very happy passenger on the TSS Earnslaw.The fringes of Queenstown as seen from TSS Earnslaw.After docking, the TSS Earnslaw received a truckload of coal.The now-empty coal truck.A typical street in Queenstown.One of the shops in Queenstown.The central business district was bustling while we were there.Checking for connectivity.The Shotover River. One can just see a jet boat coming around the bend.An old cabin above the Shotover River.The view back toward our cottage.Some grapes above the Shotover River.One of the Shotover River jet boats.
