More Snapshots...South Island,NZ

Far left: D2 looking like she owns the place...Cathedral Square, Christchurch. We had completed a city tour by chartered bus, with only the two of us on board. What a bonus! No need to wait for other fellow passengers to re-congregate after visiting a spot. Thus, we saved valuable waiting time here which gave us more allowance for a leisurely guided tour.

Left: Near the Portobello Road corner where we stopped to have ice-cream at the parlour. The sign clearly point out Latham Bay. The winding road goes around the bay. We had driven out in the morning of the 2nd day from Dunedin in our rented car.

Bottom: DT and D4 on the castle steps of Larnach Castle.

More Snapshots...Cromwell, Larnach C, Fruitlands

The photos : The giant sculpture of the stone fruit outside the northern end of Cromwell town.
Larnach Castle grounds, Otago. D4 and DT at Fruitlands, a nice homely cottage where we had our lunch.

Cromwell

The town of Cromwell lies in the valley of the Upper Clutha River in Central Otago, between State Highway 6 and 8.
In 1862, gold was discovered here which led to thousands flocking here to try their luck at finding this irresistable fortune hidden in the grounds. When gold became scarce those who had settled here turned the area into a centre of pastoral farming and stone fruit production. There are vineyards too.
History
The town was likely named after Oliver Cromwell [ 1599 - 1658 ] whose New Model Army defeated the Royalists in the English Civil War and which led to the execution of King Charles I in 1649. Cromwell dominated the short-lived English Republic, conquered Ireland and Scotland and ruled as Lord Protector until his death.
Flashback: I remember D2 and I enjoying the movie " Cromwell" which starred Richard Harris, Alec Guinness and Robert Morley, a long time ago around 1971. It was a very good movie with top rate performances by the cast, especially R Harris, who acted as Cromwell. If my memory serves me correctly, it also garnered an Oscar Award for....maybe Best picture. Has any reader here seen it too?

Arrowtown, Wanaka and a teahouse stop.

Picture source: Alpine Motel and suite from motel website.

Lake Wanaka from Tourism NZ.

Owl's pick: Arrowtown, Wanaka and teastop.

From Queenstown, driving in a North-East direction for about 21 km, we came to the historic township of Arrowtown. This place came into existence in 1862 when gold in fabulous quantities was found in the swiftly flowing Arrow River. Miners from all over the world flocked to the fledgling town. A shanty town emerged on the banks of the river but this was soon washed away in the spring when flood waters rushed through, with loss of many lives. As a result, the miners then constructed small cottages of stone and timber on higher ground, established churches and planted handsome avenues of trees. Their legacy today is a picturesque town that retains its old world charm through careful preservation of historic buildings and trees.
We enjoyed walking around the many shops and restaurants, went into some and bought some genuine "Arrowtown gold " in intricate gold-leafed black boxes and other stuff.
We bought DT and D4 some gifts from here to remind them of our love and of this unforgettable visit.
Wanaka [ Centre pic ]

From Queenstown, to Arrowtown, to Wanaka is about 112 km proceeding in a north-northeasterly direction. Wanaka is located on the south shores of Lake Wanaka, in west Otago.
Embraced by the Southern Alps, Wanaka is Otago's 2nd resort town after Queenstown. The crystal-clear water of Lake Wanaka, NZ's 4th largest lake, reflect the snow-capped peaks of Mt Aspiring National Park. Thus this town is a magnet for visitors who fancy outdoor adventure and indoor luxury.
D4 had made prior booking for us at the lovely Alpine Motel situated at 7, Ardmore Street. The lake was just across the road from where we were! So after checking into our suite, we made our way across the lake where some swans were coasting nearby. It was a very peaceful, scenic and tranquil town.

The Southern Scenic Route

With our very own rented car we made the best use of the beautiful and scenic roadways as shown on this map. You can pick up any number of copies available at most tourist destinations or attractions. The maps are free.

Queenstown

Nestled on the shores of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Southern Alps, this place was so named because" it was fit for Queen Victoria". Today, Queenstown is recognised as NZ's premier visitor destination and as one of the friendliest cities in the world. It has the reputation as the Adventure Capital of NZ. With earth, water and air, there is something to thrill any adventure seeker. Centrally located, it serves as a gateway to the Fiordlands and destinations such as Milford and Doubtful Sounds. Other attractions such as Glenorchy, Wanaka and Arrowtown are all within an easy drive.

We made our way to Queenstown to sample some of the highlights. It was in deep winter, with heavy snowfalls everywhere. DT and D4 had taken leave from their work commitments to join us in this episode of our trip. We had booked an apartment unit #4 at Wakatipu View Apartments at 14, Frankton Road for our stay. We had our own parking bay right at the front and it was very cosy and comfortable, with a kitchen attached.

In the morning, we had to move the overnight snow from our front porch area as well as those on the car. It was completely covered! The temperature was below zero degrees C. But we were all well insulated from the shopping we did in Dunedin...mostly polar/thermal inner clothings, gloves and socks. But the main thing that kept both D2 and myself warm were our special winter jackets which had been through thick and thin, from sub-zero temperatures, to some of the wettest and coldest regions we've encountered in our travels.

We had no worries for DT and D4 as they are veterans of the place.

Christchurch,Dunedin and north

Top picture: Right in the heart of Cathedral Square, which is the city centre of Christchurch, South Island,NZ. This whole place is so named because of the cathedral which is in the background. The Christchurch Cathedral is of Anglican origins. Four major avenues surround this popular destination . There are numerous attractions within the square and park. I noticed a huge statue of the famous Antarctic explorer Robert Scott nearby and went closer to read the inscription. He was one explorer that fired my youthful imagination about adventure, courage in the face of extreme adversity and heroism. Yes, I have read and re-read various accounts of Scott's Last Expedition. So, why was his statue erected here?
The base of his expeditions was nearby.
Christchurch is the largest city in South Island and has a population of about 345,000.

Centre picture: Dunedin
This is one place, one city that has captured our hearts. It is truly beautiful and breathtaking. The heart of the city lies on relatively flat land, west of Otago Harbour. In the late 19th century it was actually a swamp that was eventually drained off. The spectacular Dunedin skyline is dominated by a ring of 7 hills, remnants of a volcanic crater. In the city centre is the famous " Octagon", a popular draw for all visitors. Here, we noticed many students of the nearby University of Otago, hanging out amongst the cafes, eateries, quaint shops, malls,galleries etc. It is full of movement and life. DT and D4 proudly took us around the University where they both had studied in. It was a picture -book setting. If I could be young again and given a chance to study in a university, this would surely be my top choice. D2 and I just love the peace and lovely setting and everything within easy reach.
In Dunedin, we located Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world. In the Guinness Book of Records it says the gradient is 1 in 2: 9. Walking up that street makes you dizzy. It certainly requires much effort. Walking down is also peculiar and funny. So, many people try running down the street....quite effortlessly, if you can somehow keep your balance!
This street is close by to where our dear friends, the Turners DT, Nick and M live.

Bottom Picture:
A snapshot of an old farm barrow in the countryside.