Approx 12 months ago we decided we would head across the ditch and spend 10 days on the South Island of New Zealand. We are basing ourselves in Queenstown with two overnight stops elsewhere on the island that you will see in future posts.
I’m somewhat embarrassed that after over 50 revolutions of the sun, I still haven’t visited New Zealand. It’s so close, I have so many wonderful Kiwi friends and colleagues yet had never bothered to get on plane and give the place a visit. I guess It’s something I always thought I’d get to later, well joke is totally on me, I’ve only been here a few hours and I can already see its drop dead gorgeous and amazing. I’ve been missing out. The flight over the mountains and into Queenstown has some eye popping views. We were also blessed with a clear sunny day on arrival.
The other novelty of visiting NZ after spending the last few holidays in Europe is that it’s only a two hour flight. Take off, quick meal and we are getting ready to land.
As far as travel days go, we had an amazing one. Home to the airport in about 40 minutes, one of the fastest checkins and security clearances ever in Sydney, less than 15 minutes from walking in the airport to looking for a coffee on the airside of the airport. Coffee was the usual Sydney airport affair, average and eye watering expense.
Took the jet ages to taxi around the airport, they had set flights to take off from the eastern end of the runway. Unfortunately we didn’t fly right over the city, as soon as we took off the pilot pulled an Elon (AKA a hard bank to the right…) and we went straight out to sea and over to NZ.
It was equally good in NZ, about 10 minutes from passport control to getting bags and passing customs. Only slight hitch was we went to the wrong side of the airport to get the hire car.
I spent a good 5 minutes talking pictures of the hire car checking for damage then remembered I’d paid extra for zero excess (walk away) insurance, so that was essentially a waste of time. Airport was only a 10 min drive from the apartment, after checking in we dusted off our Jandals, grabbed our chillybin and headed off to local supermarket to grab some local supplies. Pineapple Lumps are the bomb!
The other bonus of coming to NZ is the exchange is in our favour by roughly 10%, way better than visiting the UK !. Was also checking FB history, exactly a year ago we were in Spain, exactly the opposite side of the planet to NZ.
The lake here is massive, apparently it’s 380m deep. It’s so deep part of it is 70m below sea level.
We had booked dinner at the Stratosfare Restaurant at the top of Bobs Peak, you take the Gondola there. Of course it’s beyond silly cost wise for a buffet dinner (NZ$170 per person), but you are really paying for the view and the upkeep of the Gondola. Great selection of food on offer.
I think Dave Dobbyn was correct, this place really is a slice of heaven.
It's all about the coffee 