WANAKA AND QUEENSTOWN

21st of June was the first anniversary of the death of my brother Jonathan from Lung Cancer. Here it is the shortest day and in England it will be the longest day. I woke up with a heavy heart but did not want to be sad. So Rachel and I took the hire car to Queenstown. It is an hour and a halfs drive from Wanaka. Again we passed some stunning scenery. When we got there we wandered around one end of the lake and there was a little church so I popped in to say a prayer for Jonathan. I really missed the rest of my family so much and felt so far away for the first time. But later in the day there was an email from my mother to all of us and it made me feel a lot closer to everyone. It really made me realise that family and friends are so important in life! I hope that Jonathan would be proud of what I am doing and what I have achieved in my trip so far.

There was a distinct buzz in Queenstown as they are preparing for their winter festival which starts at the end of the month. Many of the rich beautiful people were beginning to gather. For one second it made me hanker after the good life, but then I reflected on what I have enjoyed about this trip and it has to be the feeling of going back to basics and talking to people from all over the world, in all walks of life, and I dismissed the materialistic thoughts and headed back to Wanaka.

The next day I took the hire car to explore the surrounding areas of lake Wanaka.
I drove up as far as the start of the 4 wheel track to Treble Cone ski resort.
But then turned back because I would never have made it to the top in the hire car. I made my way back to the shores of Lake Wanaka where I sat and had a little cry as I thought about Jonathan and life in general and my work and how I feel I was treated by various people and how I would handle it so differently now. And how lucky I am to be enjoying this trip so much!
It was a particularly clear and beautiful afternoon and when I finished sitting there I felt so peaceful and focused on what I want from life.
That night Rachel and I went out for a meal to chill out before I left for Queenstown.
The next day I was up bright and breezy to catch the bus from Wanaka to Queenstown.
I was the only passenger so I got a very intensive commentary on the various vineyards and why Pinot noir is thriving in the region! And what areas were used in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy. There are lots of advertisements for Lord of the Rings tours, but they would be lost on me because I have read the book, but I have not watched the films. Some people are arriving here in New Zealand and spending the whole day in the telly rooms at the hostels watching all three films back to back so that they can then go on the tour. I do now know why they do not just go out and enjoy the scenery for what it is, rather than wasting a day inside!!!!

I booked into the YHA on the edge of the lake Wakitupu in Queenstown and the view from the hostel was wonderful.

The remarkables mountain range and the Eyre mountains form a breathtaking backdrop to the town. I stayed in Queenstown for three days and I spent a lot of time walking around the lake and the park just soaking up the beauty and calm of the place and ignoring the commercial side of the place. I also took a ride up a hill on the gondola cable-car for some amazing views over the town.


And I explored the various laid back cafes and bars in the town before I left for Te Anau.