A Roo hop to Queenstown and a Kiwi run home

[RooFlyer]

you should do a Qantas safety video!

 

[cambriamarsh]

We also noticed getting a few items in a Woolworths in Auckland that it was very expensive relative to Australia for similar items.

Unfortunately correct. I've noticed the same and I live there.

 

[JohnM]

Unfortunately correct. I've noticed the same and I live there.

We fully expected that Queenstown would be expensive at bars, restaurants, activities etc.

It was the prices in supermarkets that we found mind-boggling - and not to forget the price of fuel (about NZ$2.75/L for 91RON petrol).

I see that NZ has a 13% VAT. I assume that applies to everything, without the fresh food exemptions we have here.

 

[JohnM]

Back to the bird and I snared the FO seat. PJM in 1A.

 

[JohnM]

 

[JohnM]

And moving on to fly down the northern arm of Lake Whakatipu.

 

[JohnM]

That was a good day out!

 

[cambriamarsh]

We fully expected that Queenstown would be expensive at bars, restaurants, activities etc.

It was the prices in supermarkets that we found mind-boggling - and not to forget the price of fuel (about NZ$2.75/L for 91RON petrol).

I see that NZ has a 13% VAT. I assume that applies to everything, without the fresh food exemptions we have here.

15% GST

 

[JohnM]

With the very long days, and glorious weather, we then went for a drive to sleepy little Glenorchy at the NW extremity of Lake Whakatipu.



Then back to Queenstown and out to historic Arrowtown late in the day.



Back to Queenstown and dinner at The Cow. It’s an iconic resto in Queenstown that’s been there since 1977. An old dairy or stables down Cow Lane. Now surrounded by tall buildings and upmarket shops.

Even though it’s a Queenstown icon, it’s a little away from the wharf area.

Anyway, I ate here with my family in about 1993 after squeezing in; similarly in 2011 when I was travelling solo. It rocked in those days, people queuing to get in.

It was fairly busy inside (duck your head), but we opted to sit outside, given the glorious evening and quietness. A table of four had just finished up, so we had peace and quiet by ourselves. Frankly, it was really nice to be away from the zoo around the wharf.

We were late eating, and they stopped taking new customers shortly after we arrived, so it may have been a lot busier earlier.

Simple food – pizzas and pasta, and a pretty good wine list.

A cracking end to a top day.

 

[JohnM]

Next day, we ventured east of Queenstown.

Up towards Coronet Peak. Obviously no snow in January, but the mountain bikers, hang gliders and paragliders were out and about.

Then it was around to the iconic A J Hackett bungy jump. I couldn’t convince PJM that I should have made a booking for her…



Continuing east to Roaring Meg.



And then on to Cromwell and its goldmining-era historic area rescued from the rising waters of the dammed lake.



We continued on with a loop through the nearby Bannockburn wine-production area (think Mt Difficulty, Felton Road) to Wanaka, which was a zoo. We didn’t stop in the town, but I was hopeful of showing PJM the stupendous view from Rippon vineyard, which is located around the lake from the town.

No go. Gated and entry now by appointment only. Probably not surprising, as I’m sure that most visitors, like me back in 2011, just drove in there to take in the view looking down the vine rows over Lake Wanaka. It’s featured in many wine books and on wine book covers. I never thought particularly highly of their wines back then – but the view was iconic. Can’t blame them for restricting access.

Pinched from their website:



We then bee-lined back to Queenstown.

 

[JohnM]

Righto, next morning was an appointment with the Shotover Jet. Whoo-hoo! A surprise for PJM and something I’ve wanted to do again since the first encounter in 1993.

The only camera gear permitted onboard are head-mounted devices. We didn’t bother to buy the video they make with two cameras on the ends of each boat. Here’s a few pics of other rides, taken near the boarding point.

The course they follow goes quite some distance downstream (to the left and under the bridge through the narrow gap). Speeds were up to about 85kph, and the boats can operate in only 8-10cm of water. Definitely a must-do in Queenstown.



The following day, our last day in Queenstown, came with low cloud and steady rain. We aborted our initial plan of driving over to the west coast as much heavier rain was forecast there. Instead, we drove south to Invercargill, which took us along the E edge of the southern arm of Lake Whakatipu and then through nice green and orderly farmland.

I didn’t take any photos that day.

Next day, Saturday, we flew to Auckland and overnighted at a studio apartment at the wharf area. We filled the afternoon and evening with some aimless wandering around the city and port area, not bothering to take photos.

Hauling out of ZQN.



Sunday morning it was back out to AKL for our AKL-PER NZ B787 flight.

My first time on a NZ international flight. The seat layout is somewhat odd, as has been variously commented on in AFF, but they are very comfortable, nicely padded leather-upholstered units to sit in. With everyone facing inwards on the starboard side, there is a feeling of staring at people opposite.

When I chose seats, I opted for the same row, facing each other across the aisle. If I were to do it again, I think I would choose successive seats in the single column on the port side, even though it means the person in front would need to turn back to talk. At least it would be worth trying that option.

Being a c. 8h day flight, leaving at c. 1400h and arriving at c. 1700h (2200h AKL time), we didn’t bother going through the process of having a FA make up the bed with its roll-out mattress. I think the guy in front of me was the only one that had the bed made up.

The food and bev, and inflight service, was very good, but I didn’t take any photos.



And that was it for a great trip.

 

[VPS]

Looks like fun - thanks for the TR

 

[Flyfrequently]

Very enjoyable read, thanks for the TR @JohnM &PJM

 

[bPeteb]

Thanks John for a great little trip review. We also had a cracker of a day with Air Milford from Queenstown.

We flew on a B777 back from BA to Auckland. I'd watched some reviews and chose the 'single' row with bALt and me in line. We could sit on the little footrest if we wanted a chat.

Facing the opposite row was a no. It brought back bad memories of the bizarre old BA product where you faced the person right beside you. Horrible!

 

[JohnM]

Thanks John for a great little trip review. We also had a cracker of a day with Air Milford from Queenstown.

We flew on a B777 back from BA to Auckland. I'd watched some reviews and chose the 'single' row with bALt and me in line. We could sit on the little footrest if we wanted a chat.

Facing the opposite row was a no. It brought back bad memories of the bizarre old BA product where you faced the person right beside you. Horrible!

I tried sitting on PJM’s footstool but it was really too dinky and the seatbelt was hard to extend, and seemed too short to be able to fasten it, so I gave up rather than wrestle with it.

 

[bPeteb]

I tried sitting on PJM’s footstool but it was really too dinky and the seatbelt was hard to extend, and seemed too short to be able to fasten it, so I gave up rather than wrestle with it.

Might have been naughty and just perched without the belt I'd imagine it would have been bAlt perching. His butt would have fitted the dainty size of the 'perch' way better!