New Zealand - Day 5

Travelled 136 kms

We had a brilliant sleep, best so far. Yet again we awoke to brilliant sunshine and the promise of another fine day in paradise. Even better, there would not be a big lot of driving today. Our route would take us this way.

We drove up through Kawarau Gorge This is so easy. I’ll just put the route we followed and people much better than me can tell you more clearly what the plot is.

Our first experience was Roaring Meg, and Gentle Annie. Two very different rivers, which hurtle through this deep gorge. Legend says they got their names from two “ladies” being taken up to a gold miners hut. Roaring Meg was a flame haired waitress at a nearby hotel, and whilst crossing the river got her feet wet. This resulted in her giving off and ranting. The way they do! Gentle Annie however is not so deep, and the other Gal never got wet, and kept quiet. The way they don’t!

Gibbston is more of an area than an actual town. It is here that you will find a lovely cheesery.
Naturally we had to call in. They do what is now called Boutique Cheeses. I call them magical. A very helpful video, narrated by a Belfast man talks you through the various cheeses. Explaining the different processes used to perfect their art, only makes you crave even more for a piece of dairy from Mary. Yes a lovely lady is on hand to let you taste as many or as few as you wish. We tried a few, and decided to get some Kawarau Blue, Wakatipu Brie, Glenroy, and one more that escapes me. Mind you it never escaped my gub!

Another very short drive and we found something even more interesting. Yes and M wouldn’t even have a go. I was a very willing participant but only if she went first!

A big sign invited passers by to come and view for free. It was seeringly warm so we thought it would be a good idea to use their aircon rather than our own. It was a splendid break, we watched a few brave and all of them young and eager participants. A young female member of staff came over, as they do, and tried to coax us to have a go. I said that M should try it first as I was doing the driving. But even after watching intently there was no movement from M. Nor me! Not even a bowel one. After seeing exactly how it’s done I admire the jumpers even more. The eldest participant had been a ninety four years old, and I thought, he has seen and done everything, it wouldn’t matter if the rope broke anyway.

A little way further on we arrived at our next destination. Queenstown. Our home here would be in the Top ten holiday park of Creeksyde. It is a very well run site with a lot of nice touches, for instance, the showers have heated ceilings! The blurb will tell you all about it. Unless you’re into camping this will probably bore you. Suffice to say at $56 it was the most expensive and only five star site we went to. The pitches are all grassed and well kept; there are relics from the days of steam dotted about the whole place. M caught up with the washing while I lazed about watch TV in the communal lounge, in a big soft armchair!

There is a lovely vibe about this town. It’s one of the biggest towns we went to so we thought we should go and mix. We found a wee pub where we could people watch and how I enjoy that. I’m sure M likes it as well but maybe for a different reason! The funky Red Rock sits on a corner with one side looking down into the town and the other looking up at the mountains. It was just dead on, a great exercise in relaxing and admiring the view, or is it the phew?

The Lonely Planet book on New Zealand recommended the Fish Bone Restaurant in Queenstown, as one of their favourites so we gave it a go. We had starters, as I had yet to taste the Green Lip Mussels that I’d tried at home. Out of the Freezer!
Well now, M had the Prawns to start and guess what I had. Both superb, my mussels were piled high and so different to the ones back home. M had the lamb shanks while I settled for the catch of the day. A chunky meaty type of fish called Blue W something. I should have written it down but you know how it is. The service was very efficient, our waiter was a wee lad from Glasgow called Stuart. What else? There were also a number of Norn Iron accents in the room, along with a party of four thrushes, sat right beside us. Cheek!

On our way in to Queenstown we’d spotted the Gondolas. It was like a cable car taking folk up to a restaurant five hundred metres above the car park. When we were coming back to the campsite much later we could see the lights of the restaurant and absolutely nothing else, high above us. It was like a flying saucer standing still. We got home tired out at 11:30. Tomorrow was going to be another busy day.