28.02.10 Waterfalls and beaches..

We got up early and eager to visit the cathdral caves, some stunning caves....apparently. Apparently because we didnt get to see them, the beaches were shut due to a tsunami warning all around the pacific after the earthquake in Chile. Nevermind, waterfalls it is. First up, the Maclean Falls which were really impressive as seen above. Skipping a few closed beaches on the way we stopped at the next waterfalls - New Zealands most photographed - they must be impressive.... Not really, well a little but not as impressive as Maclean! Unimpressed we moved on towards Dunedin...

27.02.10 Curio Bay

We headed south towards the Catlins. This trip meant a bit of driving with lots of stop offs at beaches. Our first stop was Slope point, the most southerly part of main land New Zealand. Here we found a lighthouse made in Scotland, Mum and dad soon realised although they had travelled for days they had arrived in a place with lots of similarities to Scotland. Next we stopped at Curio bay with a petrified forest - fossilised trees. I had expected to see these standing in the water but actually it is a horizontal petrified forest.... more excitingly there were some penguins hopping about on the beach. Unfortunately this was where mum and dad discovered the other similarity to Scotland....the midges cousin, the sandfly, which loved Dad!! They had us hopping about all over the place so we moved round the headland to porpoise bay where we watched the waves crashing against the rocks, and the sealions crashing about the campsite.

That evening we stayed near the cathedral caves where we would visit in the morning....

26.02.10 Mum and Dad arrive

Mum and dad arrived in Queenstown. I was really excited to see them. Charlie and I took some time off work to spend some time and travel with them. The first stop was Charlies work! With such a great view up there we couldnt miss it. The luging races were great fun, close and as I remember it Dad just got it on the line in the final race..?!

15.02.09 Wye Creek Climbing

Climbing at Wye creek was just amazing, there are loads of routes to choose from but all of them have the stunning back drop of the lake. The 45min walk to the walls makes it a little harder but all the more rewarding. On this trip we had Kate with us and Charlie successfully lead a route outdoors for the first time which is fantastic for him.

We will definately revisit Wye creek for more climbing...

11.02.10 Gioia jumps

I could feel the nerves, my mouth was dry but I was ready to try to do the matrix jump - run, jump, turn and then shoot. I ran , I kind of jumped, I turned but then I quickly grabbed for the rope, perhaps hoping it would hold me up!! I screamed all the way!! Awesome fun with the scare factor!

11.02.09 Charlie does the matrix

matrix styleeeeeeeee.... pow pow pow.

09.02.10 Single Cone

We can see the Remarkables every day so today we said lets climb to the top. (We drove to the ski station - cuts out a lot of unnecessary walking!) It was a real scramble up and down. Once you get there you realise the remarkables are just one big pile of rocks and sometimes you wonder what is holding some in place!

On the way up we were using our hands and feet to scramble along the arete. At the top we had a quick lunch stop but could see the cloud moving in so kept going. The picture shows Kate inbetween single and double cone. Think it shows the scale and angle of what we were doing! From the middle of the picture we went down the couloir, this time using our hands, feet and our bums - obvious by the large rips in Charlies shorts!

It was a great mission, double cone next as we decided to save that one for another trip...

08.02.10 More Climbing.....

And swimming in freezing lake, wine tasting, frisbee golf and a ferg burger on the beach to finish it all of.. great day.

05.02.10 Moke Lake Mission

The mission - so following our cocktail night out we decided to go for a small bike ride (Charlies hangover included). The moonlight track follows a river around the base of Ben Lomand before arriving at Moke Lake and dropping down (via a black run mtb track) to the road back to town.

We set off on the 4km ride from town to the start of the track and quickly realised it was hotter and further than we thought, then a few km into the single track a local lady pointed out that we were following another couple that appeared to be struggling and basically checking if we knew what we were doing!

The scenery was amazing with mountains in every direction you looked, and a few beehives dotted around the 4wd track we followed for the second half of the track. We eventually made it to Moke lake were we stopped for lunch (4pm) and a brief swim before heading down to the road via lake dispute. To add to our water shortage concerns one of the bike derailers had bent and we still had the 15km ride back along the road to town... so we pulled in a favour and called our housemate to meet us at the bottom (with water and a car) and drive us back!

Awesome day, long day!

04.02.10 Christmas Cocktails

Jamie and Jo kindly gave us money to treat ourselves to cocktails. The 'coolest' bar in town is minus 5 so we thought where else would we chill out at the end of a 30 degree day. Ice walls, ice glasses, ice sculptures and vodka cocktails, and we had the whole place to ourselves! Following these cocktails we went to Bardeaux, another cocktail joint where I had a mojito - special because nobody else in queenstown has limes - there seems to be a lime shortage (apparently we are in the middle of the mountains with only two roads in and out!).

03.02.10 Climbing

Charlies climbing gear has been here for a while and he has been desparate to go but things hadn't gone his way until this week. After a few climbs at gorge road earlier in the week, I joined them for a climb at a crag at coronet peak. It was great fun but a little too close to the road so we took ourselves off to little thailand for a much more idylic setting on the shores of lake wakatipu. With climbing over there were small jumps into the lake - back another time for the 10m jump....

24.01.10 Lake Rere walk, Glenorchy

The weather has now been gorgeous for a few weeks running. With a couple of days off we headed up to Glenorchy. A circular walk along the valley made for a great day. Its was a really fun walk which wasnt too strenuous but rewarded with great views, a lake half way, which Charlie decided to swim the length of, and then a walk along the shore of lake Wakatipu at the end.

Charlie really enjoyed the swim, but was slightly scared at times when he could see ghostly trees below him in the water!

Next walk planned - the routeburn...