Author: Rosie

Queenstown is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen, perfectly framed by The Remarkables that soar above the town and crowned by the skiing mecca of Coronet Peak. All of this is rimmed by the meandering coves of Lake Wakatipu and the houses that rise from the lake shore up the hills. It is a town running on adrenaline if you are so inclined for any action and adventure you choose or can think of. It is a fine dining and party place too, it has excellent shopping and art galleries. The only thing about Queenstown is that you will want to come back in every season to see its ever changing face. Rosie and The Operator are so going to come back in the winter with all the snow on the hills….fly in jobbie me thinks though.

Rosie got out the insect repellent and liberally sprayed….no good at all, the little buggers were totally resistant and a blood drinking party was happening on her cankles.  It was hot, we observed the dress code of long pants, long sleeves and socks….Rosie did wear her sandals with her socks as a tribute to the west coast.  We set out the table and chairs and stubbornly had dinner outside in the swarm….

there she is The Fox Glacier, like a grubby river frozen in mid track while rolling down the hill, which is essentially what it is. On TV they look so much whiter and prettier…Oh well, nothing a deluge of rain wouldnt fix…oh, then again it pretty much rains here on the hour and it still hasnt helped.

On the morning of the 26th March 1896 the morning shift was going to work down the mine.  4 pit ponies were on duty down the shafts and they didnt want to enter the mine, they tried four times to get the ponies to enter and in the end they had to cover their heads and force them down…to all their deaths.  At 9.30 that morning a series of explosions ripped through the mine, 95 men and boys were killed. 

The road is reminiscent of the Californian Pacific Coast Highway….only heaps more beautiful, the bushy cliffs hovering over the beautiful bays are really picturesque, and that was on a grey, misty day!  I think it would be beautiful in any season and in any light.