Goodman Gossip: To Queenstown We Go

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

To Queenstown We Go

The day (Wednesday, March 22, 2017) began with a leisurely 2 hour drive toward Queenstown. The manager at our motel in Wanaka told us about an old historic hotel along the way that we should visit and savor a drink and a bite to eat. What first caught our attention, however, was the bra-lined fence across the road from the hotel at the Cardrona Distillery Museum. What???

The Cardrona Hotel was quite charming! We enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate and scone as we sat in the courtyard and soaked in the atmosphere of this adorable place.

As Bob and I drove to Queenstown, (or as I should say, as Bob drove me to Queenstown...yes, he did all the driving this trip. Thank you, Bob!) I couldn't help but imagine our daughter, Stephanie living it up for a semester abroad with her BYU Recreation Management department several years ago. I remember her joy at being able to bungee jump in Queenstown from what was one of the highest jumps at the time. She also completed a tandem skydive from an airplane! And now, Bob and I were on our way to the same adrenaline-filled New Zealand city. We stopped at the Crown Range Lookout where we caught our first glimpse of the big city!

We, of course, were much more sensible in our old age, and instead of jumping, we pulled into the Kawarau suspension bridge with the intent of watching others jump from the world's first bungy jump site! (Give us a break - when it comes to bungy jumping, once in South Padre was enough.)

Queenstown held the promise of excitement and we could feel it as we entered the city and walked around town.

Queenstown had an international flair and we enjoyed Greek gyros for lunch. That afternoon, Bob and I embarked upon the scenic drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy. About 15 minutes from town, we stopped at Bob's cove, where a 30-minute walk provided nice views of Lake Wakatipu. I was fascinated by the colorful rocks.

What a beautiful drive to Glenorchy! We stopped frequently to take photos of the dramatic scenery. I should mention that many people tour New Zealand with the intent of see all the filming locations for The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Glenorchy is included in that tour. Other movies that were filmed here include The Chronicles of Narnia and X-Men. The photos will speak for themselves as to the beautiful landscapes we encountered on this drive.