OK, so we were tired and desparate for a campground and pulled into the Haast Lodge and Holiday Park. The office was closed, the place was not full and as there were many available spots, we pulled into one and called it a night. We did a bit of star gazing as it was a crystal clear night and the milky way was visible. First thing in the morning we would register and pay. Management was none too happy with me as I explained our situation. After about 3 minutes of reading me the riot act the manager stated, "If you cannot get organized to get here before 8PM then we don't want you." He told me that it was clearly signed no late check-ins -it wasn't and at this point I wasn't going to fuss. In spite of not wanting my business, he still took my money. I understood his point-people come in and squat for the evening and leave without paying. Ok but we made sure to pay for the night and it wasn't necessary to bring me close to tears. I will never recommend his campground. This was our first and only rude/angry Kiwi to date. It is possible that he had loved ones in Christchurch and was stressed by that situation -giving the benefit of the doubt.
After breakfast it was off to Queenstown. A quick stop in Wanaka for the guys to visit another military museum, and for the girls to do some shopping. It simply would not be a vacation without some souvenirs and museums, right? Love Bird Gary gave me an opportunity to pass on the museum which I dearly appreciated.
The scenery in this country is very diverse. Mountains, glaciers, two oceans, lush green valleys, lakes, jungle-like rain forests, and wineries are all within a days drive. The drive to Queenstown did not disappoint. We found a campground that packed 'em in arm-pit-to-arm-pit but figured this was a tourist town and it would not be too different at any other campground. So, we bit the bullet and settled in for the night. Tommorrow was going to be a big day.
Queenstown sits beside a lake with much of it built on the surrounding hillsides.I was reminded a little of Lake Tahoe and it is full of young people no doubt drawn there for the thrills. Queenstown is noted for adventure sports like bungy jumps & swings, river surfing, and jet boating up the Shotover River. Extreme adventures are not my cup of tea so we skipped all of the above and did a zip trek, the gondolla & luge. The zip had me hanging by my ankles upside down and wasn't part of my plan but I an elderly Irish guy who'd had hip replacement surgery did it so I could not really weenie out. The luge is not the Olympic event variety. You sit upright steering and braking from a handle bar contraption. The rest of the group rode with reckless abandon while granny here rode the brake. In fact I came to a complete stop twice. I am now a traffic hazard to anyone behind me as I needed to use my feet to get my momentum going again. One poor guy came roaring around the corner not knowing that granny was moving slowly..if there was a seat belt it would have been stuck in the door dragging on the pavement, emergency flashers blinking wildly. You get the idea. I think I prefer zipping to luging. Since the people at the Zip Trek mentioned that detached retinas are not an uncommon occurence during a bungy jump, the Big Fella suggested paragliding as an alternative. Somedays he is full of surprises. My answer was an emphatic NO. Zipping and luging are about as extreme as I will go. I hate roller coasters,why would I paraglide! It was a picture perfect day and the views from the gondolla were spectacular. No paragliding necessary.
Maybe I will return to Queenstown someday and bungy swing but for this trip our day of thrills was done and that afternoon we left Queenstown taking a scenic route through a river gorge. The next destination Te Anau (said Teeahnoo) and a cruise of Milford Sound. Our lodging for the night was a sweet little holiday park named Mossburn Country Park. Run by a mid forties aged couple with children, two goats, sheep, and alpacas; we were charmed. The husband was more than happy to point out the Southern Cross and how to find it in the night sky. I found it and was thrilled. The proprietors encourage guests to feed the goats sheep and alpacas with "nuts" located in the kitchen. (Most holiday parks in NZ have kitchens for tent campers to cook meals. No need for a Coleman Stove.) Shake the bag and the alpacas will come running. I bought a bag of "nuts" shook it and all but the sheep came running to the fence. The mama goat tried head butting the alpacas out of the way but they managed to squeeze-in. Alpaca fur is quite soft and these guys were so gentle. They ate out of our hands. What a treat. Our showers taken and the animals fed, we said goodbye.
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