Queenstown

The morning before the white water rafting we went up a gondola to Bob's Peak for a panoramic view of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu. The Lake is 77km long and was again formed by glaciers many years ago. Gold was discovered and in 1862 The Shotover River was yielding as much as 5oz gold per shovelful - it was known as the richest river in the world. As we went down the rapids we saw many relics of the gold mines.





This is Queenstown from Bob's Peak.











Last night the rain came again - honestly when it rains here it really rains and being in the van the noise is pretty awesome...






This is from the back window of the Van - imagine going out in that to get to the showers!!


Due to the weather we changed our jet boat plans and took a trip on the TSS Earnslaw which is a coal fuelled steamship and has been on the Lake since 1912. As you can see the men working in the engine room I did not see Arthur for most of the trip :o)










This man is turning the wheels based on instructions from the Captain who rings a bell...


















Finally we left Queenstown - we really did not have enough time to do it justice .....we will have to come back :o)

We drove South down the Lake





had yet another cuppa










before arriving at our next destination which will be our most southerly spot - Lake Te Anau - our entrance to Fiordland....