LAND OF THE KIWI, QUEENSTOWN
QUEENSTOWN
A resort town, or rather a regional city, in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. Resident population of about sixteen thousand. Tourists swell this number by the thousands. Queenstown is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long, thin, Z-shaped lake. Spectacular views are of nearby mountains such as The Remarkables, Cecil Peak and Walter Peak. All are often snowcapped and the area is well known for it's snow skiing.
Glenorchy
Is a small settlement at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu in the South Island region of Otago, New Zealand. It is forty-five km (28 mi) by road or about the same by boat from Queenstown. There are two pubs, a café and a number of small shops in the town catering mainly to tourists but also to the small town population.
Driving in Queenstown is fairly easy. Some streets are narrow and one way. Many tourist activities are in the town and surrounds. On Lake Wakatipu foreshore there is a larger than life statue of a Kiwi bird. This flightless bird is only found in New Zealand and is a nickname for all people born in New Zealand. Almost becoming endangered from predatory introduced animals, they now number about seventy thousand and individuals can live longer than twenty years. They are a nocturnal bird and are found in ground burrows. The Kiwi's claws are sharp and dangerous.
Glenorchy is mainly on flat terrain tucked up to extensive mountainous snow capped areas and Lake Wakatipu so the only option is to return back to Queenstown on the same road. The entire Queenstown - Glenorchy road is driven next to scenic Lake Wakatipu with views to The Remarkables range across the water. The views are quite remarkable. Pun intended.
The often snow capped remarkable, "The Remarkables" mountain range runs the length of Lake Wakatipu. Queenstown to Glenorchy road is a well maintained very scenic sealed road hugging the foreshore. Generally vehicle snow chains are not required. I know of two other Glenorchy namesakes. One in Victoria and one in Tasmania and have been to all three. Cruise Lake Wakatipu across to Walter Peak High Country Farm aboard the historic steamship TSS Earnslaw, very relaxing. Sometimes goats are seen grazing on the steep slopes beneath the Queenstown Chairlift. Lake Tekapo is just short of 300 km from Queenstown and on the road to Mount Cook National Park. During winter and spring months the Southern Lights or 'Aurora Australis' may be seen in the night sky.
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SHOTOVER JET BOAT ON THE
SHOTOVER RIVER
