15.05.10 Goodbye Queenstown

We had an awesome time in New Zealand but since we managed to sell the van (with 24hrs to go) its time to move on. We made lots of friends we will be sad to leave but will look forward to meeting them another time, another place.

16.03.10 Macetown MISSION

Adventure tuesday...Macetown....We took a trail on our bike map described as rolling hills and then solid hill climb. We got to the beginning of it, the sign said no bikes so we thought we would go up the 4wd track next to it presuming it would go same way. After about 3/4 of an hour as we hit a dead end, we realised we were up the wrong hill so we went back down and up the path which said no bikes.

A false start but no worries, onwards and upwards.....Turns out the sign was possibly advisory rather than spoil sport because we soon hit steep hills and trails not suitable for bikes. In the middle there was a section which felt like the described rolling and then steep path. We reached a saddle and looking over the other side we were not impressed, the path disappered into a tussock valley which we proceeded to drag the bikes through. Eventually we reached a 4wd track and cruised along to macetown which we promtly left again when we discovered the sand flies beat us to it!

We went back to arrowtown along the 4wd track which was great fun, downhill all the way with about 20 river cossings. it more than made up for the challenging beginning. An interesting trip with bike pushing, dragging and eventually some cycling involved!!

14.03.10 Around Queenstown

Dad in the woods near lake Slyvan, Glenorchy. We were beginning to think they were sending us around in a tiny circle but it was a lovely walk through the woods! We also played frisbee golf in the park - I obviously inherited my frisbee skills from mum and not dad...., went mountain biking in skippers canyon and mum got a pedicure on mothers day. It was great having them around and I was sad to see them go home. But next time we will meet up somewhere different and there will be more new sights to show!

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....

23.01.10 Jacks Point

This morning before work we cycled to Jacks point. Its a great easy ride along the edge of Lake Wakitipu. The weather has been gorgeous for the last week so trying to make the most of it. As you can see we quite like carrying our bikes even though cycling is much easier!

12.01.10 Summer in Queenstown!

Remarkable aren't they! Especially with snow on them.......

05.01.10 Skippers Canyon

A day off biking mission in skippers canyon. We started by bombing down the canyon on the zoot trail, followed by a long cycle back up! Not satisfied we embarked on another trail which started with an hours cycle up to the top of Mt Dewar rewarded with a cruise on a grassy downhill. Unfortunately the grass took Kate down heavy on her shoulder. We still had the boring uphill from the devils creek - and what a long uphill it was - a lot more pushing than cycling involved here!

After 7 hours cycling we were very ready for a glass of wine when we got home!

31.12.09 Jet Boating

This gift was a fast and furious one - we decided to take a close shave with the kawaru river gorge in a jet boat. They jet you along the river flying within inches of the rocks and spining you 360 degrees past trees and onto water only inches deep. As you can see it was great fun.

29.12.2009 Birthday

My Birthday day was organised by Charlie - a very full day, starting with the evening before, a night watching Kora - a NZ band - getting down with the local scene! The morning started with a ride on the TSS Earnslaw across Lake Wakitipu to the farm for morning tea and a bit of sheep shearing. On our return to queenstown we went for some wine tasting with a picnic at chard farm and quickly back for a ride up the gondola, shoot down the luge track, watch the kiwi haka, eat dinner over looking queenstown and finally topped off with a 4 x 4 ride down the hill because the gondola broke. wow what a full day! Oh and as you can see the luging was pretty close but Charlie just took it at the finishing line...

25.12.09 Christmas Day

After opening a few presents and our stockings Charlie ran off for his christmas twelve hour shift so I went and hiked up a mountain with the girls. We started in the toilet bowl at the remarkables, walked along the ridge line - sometimes rather precariously on the scree and then down coal pit road. It was hard work so the evening was spent with BBQ and wine on the sofa. Meanwhile Charlie finished work at midnight and headed into town for a few drinks.

Definately a different kind of a christmas day!!

04.12.09 On Your Bike

Following some generous christmas money we invested in a couple of hardy mountain bikes, we've done the lake trails next up the 'Vertigo' track! Awesome.

22.11.09 View from the window

As great as the van is, it doesnt have a bathroom so we decided to stay in a house for a while. With a view like this, its pretty awesome!