We Returned to Queenstown to pick up Mark Mitchell who flew in from Auckland and is coming down from for apricot harvest. What a wonderful man of many talents--geotechnical engineer, designer/builder, orchardist. For all the years we've been friends his faith is inspiring as one who loves and serves the Lord. We soon will be joined by his daughter Susie’s family including Mike, Katie, and James to work the orchard.
Queenstown is the “adventure sport” capital of NZ. The first bungee jumping occurred here at AJ Hackett bungee jumping off the Kawarau river bridge. I suspect it’s origins had something to do with a couple of mates, a few beers, and playing around with a rubber band! Other opportunities include whitewater river boarding, gliding, climbing, skiing, hiking and mountain biking. The gorge road is narrow and a bit treacherous and accidents are magnified by the number of tourists who arrive, rent a car and forget that NZ roads are opposite i.e. drive left and check to your right before crossing. Air NZ even has a driving tutorial as part of their onboard inflight entertainment. Taking time from the drive we enjoyed views of the gorge, vineyards and wineries including the Chard farm (as in Chardonnay). Arrow town is a historic gold mining town with a great museum that chronicles the boom and bust of the time, and how the early miners opened the way for future settlement of the area. Not unlike the California gold rush. After arriving back in Cromwell we caught the last harness race of the day, locally called “the trots”, and then a quick swing through the orchard to check the fruit.
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| Kawarau river gorge and bungy jump |
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| Roaring Meg adventure swim |
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| Chard Farm vineyard and winery along the Kawrau River |
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| Chard Farm wintery |
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| Harness racing, locally known as the trots |
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