We left Queenstown after spending two enjoyable days there. Our next destination was Aoraki / Mount Cook in the Canterbury region and along our way we made a few interesting stops.
Bungy Jumping at Kawarau Bridge
In 1988, AJ Hackett developed the first commercial bungy site at Kawarau Bridge. Located at the gateway to Queenstown, this is the only bungy jump in Queenstown where the jumper can choose to "land" above the water, touch the water or get fully immersed. On the morning we were there, it was very busy and we got to see many people bungy jumping (not a cheap adventure thrill at $ 175.00 New Zealand dollars per jump!).
In 1988, AJ Hackett developed the first commercial bungy site at Kawarau Bridge. Located at the gateway to Queenstown, this is the only bungy jump in Queenstown where the jumper can choose to "land" above the water, touch the water or get fully immersed. On the morning we were there, it was very busy and we got to see many people bungy jumping (not a cheap adventure thrill at $ 175.00 New Zealand dollars per jump!).
Chard Winery
There are many wineries in the Queenstown area and the one that was recommended to us was Chard Winery. The setting makes this winery especially beautiful. On the one side there are amazing mountains and on the other side a deep cliff leading to a gorge with glacier blue waters. We made a short stop here to visit the winery and take in the amazing views.
There are many wineries in the Queenstown area and the one that was recommended to us was Chard Winery. The setting makes this winery especially beautiful. On the one side there are amazing mountains and on the other side a deep cliff leading to a gorge with glacier blue waters. We made a short stop here to visit the winery and take in the amazing views.
Cromwell
Cromwell is known for its great farms, vineyards and orchards, and as a result has some great eateries too. Cromwell is also affectionately referred to as the "fruit bowl of the south". We stopped here to try some fruit ice cream. The ice cream was made to order and we could make up our own flavour by selecting the different fruits that were on offer....delicious and very refreshing!
Cromwell is known for its great farms, vineyards and orchards, and as a result has some great eateries too. Cromwell is also affectionately referred to as the "fruit bowl of the south". We stopped here to try some fruit ice cream. The ice cream was made to order and we could make up our own flavour by selecting the different fruits that were on offer....delicious and very refreshing!
Sheep, sheep and more sheep
On our way to Aoraki / Mount Cook we saw more of what we had seen all throughout our travels around the South Island - more sheep ! It was hard to avoid seeing sheep, as their population in New Zealand is about 40 million! This time we stopped to observe them and take in the strange noises that they make (and it isn't exactly baa!). It was also funny to see them following each other in a line - now we know where that saying "Follow like sheep" comes from !
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
We traveled through the Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park (a World Heritage site) to get to the alpine village of Mount Cook. Of the 27 New Zealand Mountains over 3000 metres high, 22 are in this park. The highest of these is Mount Cook at 3754 metres, the tallest peak in Australasia. The closer we got to Mount Cook village, the more overcast and foggy it became. The weather in the Mount Cook area was so different to the weather we started out with in Queenstown that morning. At Mount Cook village we stayed at a lodge right at the base of Mount Cook, but unfortunately it was overcast and we could only see half the mountain (the peak was completely hidden under the clouds and fog). We hoped it would clear up the next day for a better view. That afternoon we walked around the small village and visited the Sir Edmund Hilary Alpine Centre. Sir Edmund Hilary is regarded by many as being the greatest New Zealander and a statue has been erected in his memory.
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