If you recall we were all disappointed when we could not fly back from Milford Sound because of weather two days ago. “M”, our tour guide said she would see if we might be able to get a plane ride this morning before we left for Wanaka, if the weather allowed it.  Well, the weather was superb this morning and we agreed to leave the hotel 1/2 hour earlier so we could squeeze in that airplane ride. We drove to the Queenstown Airport to a private operator and proceeded to be divided into two groups, briefed on the flight plans and loaded onto two Cessana Caravan planes for a one hour flight out to and back from Milford Sound. The OMG moment was that the skies were almost perfectly clear and there was plenty of new fallen snow on the mountains, promising us a spectacular ride.

Our group was too large for one plane so that is why we had to use two, but that meant there was plenty of extra room and everyone had a window seat for maximum viewing opportunities. Our plane was even piloted by a young lady.

The flight was simply stunning, probably the best scenic mountain flight I have been on. We flew about 5,000 feet (high enough to clear any peaks in the area) at a speed of about 150 mph. The airplane windows were big and the views were even bigger! High mountain peaks dusted with the year’s first snowfall, deep green valleys with rivers running through them, even a high mountain lake and waterfalls. Milford Sound seemed more spectacular from the air. We spent 30 minutes flying out to the sound and then returning to the airport. Pictures cannot do justice to what we experienced. If you are ever in the area and the skies are clear, I urge you to spend some of the kids inheritance and take this trip! You will not be sorry.

 

Back in the bus we headed to our next stop, Wanaka, which many people think is even nicer than Queenstown. We first stopped for about 45 minutes in the old gold mining town of Arrowtown, located only 21 km from Queenstown. It was a booming town in the 1860s because of gold; today it is a quaint little town of shops, art galleries, restaurants and memories from the gold mining days.

We also stopped at the Cardrona Hotel for coffee, beer or wine before lunch. This hotel dates back to the 1860’s gold rush and is still used as a hotel (abeit modernized), restaurant and bar.

Wanaka is a small town located on the south shores of Lake Wanaka (4th largest lake in NZ) and is also considered a resort town like Queenstown, but it does not have the hustle and bustle that Queenstown has. It is popular for both summer and winter sports enthusiasts. It is the site for the famous Wanaka warbirds air show which attracts thousands each year in late March.

The homes in Wanaka are quite modern (and expensive) as this area is being discovered and earning a reputation for being an ideal place to live. Many second homes are here and retirees are also moving here because of its amenities..

Besides spending the night in Wanaka we were invited to have a late luncheon with a local family in their home. We have often done these “Be My Guest” lunches or dinners with other tour groups and have eaten in homes in Argentina, Egypt, Croatia, Botswana and Russia. It is an opportunity to meet locals, see how they live, and eat some local home cooking.

It turned out that this visit was quite unique in that it was at a magnificent waterfront home of a retired physician and his wife. They obviously enjoy entertaining and are willing to open their home to absolute strangers several times a year. We drank wine on the lawn overlooking the lake in bright sunlight, then adjourned to a lovely buffet luncheon in the two dining rooms the home has. Phillip hosted one of the tables and his delightful wife (“Tommie”) hosted ours. It was an absolutely lovely afternoon.

Our hotel for the night was a resort on the shore of Lake Wanaka, a lovely setting. I managed to finish yesterday’s blog entry while watching the sun set over the lake. We have been warned that we are headed into an area of the country where the internet is either quite poor or even non-existent, so future entries may be delayed even further.