FLIGHT TO QUEENSTOWN FROM AUCKLAND
JETSTAR FLIGHT JQ 293.
We had a pick up from our hotel at 11.00am and the Blacklane driver arrived at 10.50am, we quickly checked out and loaded our luggage into the car, and travelled without any delay to Auckland Domestic Terminal. The Jetstar flight was scheduled for 1.15pm, then amended to 1.45pm and we subsequently boarded at about 1.50pm with take off / departure amended to 2.20pm.
A pleasant flight with sensational scenery as we moved over the Southen Alps of New Zealand. Ther below photos reflect the scenery. Weather was cold but dry. There are desperate for more snow.
As an aside it seems that Jetstar only have a flight time and schedule to get you to arrive at the Airport, but they never leave on time or on schedule. In our flights from Honolulu and subsequently New Zealand each flight has been between 30 and 45 minutes late. They are really glorified cattle trucks.
But they offer a cheap no frills service.
Upon arrival in Queenstown my phone wouldn’t connect to the Yes Car Rental Firm so we caught a taxi to their compound and then arranged to pick up our little Toyota.
Then had a relatively quick drive into our hotel.
The following photos reflect the wonderful scenery as we come over the Southern Alps.
We have enjoyed the flight. The delay means that with the wait to collect our luggage and then get to the Car Rental yard, the afternoon has gone and we are forced to travel with the lights on.
We are fortunate that the flight is almost totally through cloudless skies. The mountains and hills are covered i n snow.
We were delayed a little in awaiting our luggage arrival on the carousel. Eventually the 3 cases came and we left. We then picked up our little Toyota from Yes Car Rentals and drove along the lake toward our Accommodation at The Rees Hotel and Luxury Apartments. It is in a stunning g backdrop of the Lake with snow capped Mountains in the background.
Our Little toyota, which needs a push getting up the bigger Hills. But it will do us Well.
We unpacked the car and were shown to our Suite which was up graded (7122). The weather is cold at 8 degrees C. We check in quickly and we are delighted.
The photos probably don’t do it justice.
The Reception Area and Loun ge / Bar of the Rees , Queenstown.
We unpack and then change for Dinner in the True South Restaurant, which has a wonderful reputation for serving terrific meals. We sit by the window overlooking the lake, but there is no view on this dark evening.
Our decision is to have a main meal and their dessert. Ken enjoys two glasses of wine being a Pinot Noir and then Cabernet Savignon. Our waiter iOS an Indian chap from Delhi and recommends the Pinot as an outstanding wine. He is proven correct. We enjoy a delicious meal in a very nice restaurant. We had booked for 7.00pm and we were back in our suite by 8.45pm fully sated.
The evening comes and goes very quickly, we sleep well and look forward to a challenging day tomorrow.
We are faced with several alternatives as to visiting small towns and villages. We eventually decided to visit Arrowtown about a 25 minute drive from our accommodation here in Queenstown.
The drive is along good quality highways with spectacular scenery all around. Arrowtown is an old gold mining town and then provided a service delivery township to the farming and associated agricultural areas. There are 2 rows of old remodelled and restored buildings selling a variet of tourist materials. In addition, there are a variety of hotels/ Cafes/ Restaurants selling all sorts of levels of food and fare. There are also several excellent wine stores and testing and tasting of flights. It is an expensive part of the world with many visitors from all over for the skiing.
Unfortunately, the snow fall has been most and many of the skiing world travellers and coaches etc haven’t come in 2023. They de[pserately require further snow because without such it will be a disappointing season.
We have a Cappacino at a local Wine Store and it is excellent. We then walk down the street, taking in all of the shopping and demonstrations as well as considering our luncheon alternatives and preferences. Jeanette decides that we will have lunch at a local pub. We select the Fork and Tap Al house and Restaurant. We have a most enjoyable luncheon of Lamb shanks and Hamburger. They were really good.
Following lunch , we choose to continue our walk through the township, we are amazed at the Realestate prices of current properties offered for sale, but we recognise that it is a global Venue attracting skiers and tourists from across the world and the market gauges this as a premium area and attracting unbelievable property prices. Modest renovated moves are attracting prices of in excess of 2-3 million dollars.
All in all we enjoyed our couple of hours in the traditional township of Arrowtown (about 25km from Queenstown)
We then decided that we would visit a nearby Lake with several viewing platforms across the Lake, known as Lake Hayes to the snaps capped mountains. It is beautiful undulating land gradually climbing g away from the flatter areas of the lake precinct up until we come to the sharp angles of the mountains. Ken talks to several locals who are out for a walk and all decry Climate Change and the dismal Snow season and lack of international visitors. Lake Hayes is a smaller lake with beautifully manicures walkways. Jeanette tried to take photos of the geese but as we approached they wouldn’t do the “right” thing.
From here we came back to Queenstown.
After parking the car in. The Level 3 underground caqr park we returned to our suite. Had afternoon tea.
The Weather has deteriorated somewhat with ther sun disappearing under a blanket of clouds.
We have enjoyed our visit to Arrowtown and Queenstown. Tomorrow we intend to drive to Glenorchy.
We took these photos from the lounge of The Rees with its full length windows looking out over the Lake to the Snow capped mountains.
A beautiful day for the Scenic Drive to Glenorchy
Follwing an enjoyable breakfast we plan to drive into and through Queenstown then drive along the lake to Glenorchy which is highly recommended as a beautiful tourist scenic drive over about an hour.
Weather is just perfect . Cold and yes no snowfall so the locals are particularly worried as to when the next fall of snow will arrive.
But to tourists such as us , it is near perfect.
The Scenery is just superb, without any breeze. Traffic is light withe return only showing about 120 cars passing us.
We choose to sto at about b5 or 6 tourist marks highlighted for photos.
We returned from Glenorchy , following an enjoyable lunch and then went for a walk along the lake.
After such a lunch , we decided that a light night of cheese and pate together with yoghurt and fruit was a means of having a light meal.
Took some photos and then followed the AFL and Melbourne enjoyed a compreg]hensive win over the Richmond tigers. then had messages and videos from David, Chris and Peita ath the MCG with the boys. Plenty of stinging and celebrations and a big win virtually assures a top 4 finish.
Weather is predicted to change with a front coming through tomorrow afternoon.
We both sleep well, waking at around 7.30am. Then breakfast and packing and check out from the The Rees is at 11.00. they are unable to extend for an additional hour.
All goes well, we take further photos, then check out and drive into Queenstown aiming to visit the Cable car and then ride it. Unfortunately, we hadn’t expected the terrible parking in that general area and after an hour we decide to take some photos but it is too hard to. Do anything more. there is a significant amount of roadwork and construction being undertaken and parking is diabolical.
It was disappointing gin Queenstown to face the challenges of parking .
So we drove the 5km back to Frankton, then enjoyed lunch , visited K Mart before topping up the petrol in our Rental Car and dropping it off at Yes Car Rental. then a shuttle to the airport and a lengthy wait following the shuttles transfer to Queenstown Airport.
We sat, enjoyed a coffe finished some emails and update this report.
We now have a two hour wait after checkin , pass through the necessary Customs and Security. all works well. Then into the lounge.
Ken had earlier advised Gavin of our flight details. We will call him after we pick up our luggage at Melbourne International Airport.
We have enjoyed a fantastic holiday ion Honolulu and then New Zealand. Most things have worked well, perhaps apart from arrival here where Ken’s phone wouldn’t work to ring for the Yes Car Rental Shuttle and we had to use a taxi to get us to the Yes Car Rental Centre. the Taxi driver took us down , but apart from this all good.
We are fortunate to be well, able to travel and independent to see all of these wonderful places.