Our friend Aaron (a Canadian and fellow UGA grad we met while living in Athens) just took a job in Queensland, Australia. He is visiting us this week, and it's been wonderful seeing an old friend here in the southern hemisphere. (This is your cue to start planning a trip, devoted reader. Hint.)His plane got in Friday night. Our plan was to get up Saturday morning, grab some breakfast at the farmer's market, drive into Central Otago for some wine tasting, and then on to Queenstown for the night. Saturday morning it was POURING rain and cold. And we looked at the weather forecast in Queenstown and it was POURING rain and cold. And we were dubious.
But we pushed on, and much to our relief the weather cleared up and we had an awesome little weekend trip. It's ridiculous that the Queenstown lakes region is an scenic 3 1/2 hour drive and we have not been to visit since we were on vacation here in January 2007. We WILL make it back more often. The air here just feels good to breathe.
Stopping to take pictures along the way. We took an obscene amount of pictures.
Peregrine winery
Outside Peregrine. Cool building in a cool spot.
I think this was only their third tasting of the day.
Our picnic lunch at Gibbston Valley winery & cheesery. Mmm. Cheesery.
Two tourists, a Kiwi, and his sheep.
Queenstown is super cute. I think a lot of Kiwis like to complain about it being too touristy because it attracts a lot of international visitors, but it's easy to see why they come.
Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown
View of Lake Wakatipu coming out of Queenstown Gardens
It seems like I should be able to make a funny comment about this statue, but I'm fresh out.
View of Queenstown from across the lake
One more lake picture
All in all, the weekend could not have been more fun and relaxing (except for learning an important lesson that gas stations are few and far between in Central Otago, and it is somewhat stressful to drive through the middle of nowhere for over a half-hour with the gas light blinking in your face). Just a great time.
3 comments:
lovely! and there's a gas station every five feet here but the blinking light is still a torment. you have to plan ahead these days...
soooo pretty. nice pictures too!
Well my dad has decided to come for a visit to New Zealand from Arizona so we figured we take him to see the best -- Queenstown. Any suggestions from your trip of what we should do for fun??
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