Queenstown and Glenorchy (Isengard in Lord Of the Rings.)

Another sunny day and another early start. Heading for Queenstown today a steady 80kms away. Lovely run down through the valley of Cardrona. After a brief stop at the Queenstown end of the valley for some pix we drove up to the bridge on the Kawarua river we did our bungys’ 6 years ago. Still the same, all ages shapes and sizes hurling themselves from the bridge and most entertaining. We had a quick shall we do a double and jump together but it didn’t last long.
We then drove onto our digs in Pinewood lodge backpackers which just happened to be where we stayed last time we were here – pure coincidence. Sadly the room we had was not as good as the last time as we were in the old part of the complex and not the new which was better. Anyway, it’s just a place to eat & sleep so off we went for a walk into town. Queenstown for those of you who don’t know is the outdoor capital of the world never mind NZ. Every adrenaline rush you can imagine is catered for here. We had a wander, a drink and went back to eat, that was the day really.

The following day we decided to do a Mrs D (George) activity as we were in Queenstown so we went horse riding in Glenorchy. A wise choice we thought. Well the drive up Glenorchy is one of if not the most spectacular we have ever done. We came up here last time and just loved it and here we are again on our way to High Country Horses for a 2 hour streams and forest trek.
We were geared up with hard hats and allocated our trusty steeds. Mine was called Elmo and Georges was called George funnily enough! A five minute introduction to horses and horse riding was undertaken and off we went with our two leaders who obviously ate, drank and slept all things horsey. My nag was a steady soul who moved on when you pulled him up for stopping to eat but Georges nag was a bit feisty and would not be pulled up from sly grub intakes and when he’d finished he started running (no no I mean cantering in horsey spiel) to catch up with us all. Well you can imagine Georges face (Mrs D) when the beast set off she was most un-nerved. In fact George was quite uneasy the whole way round as four legged George kept stopping to eat and nipping at others when they nicked his spot in the line. The ride passed without accident or incident even though we waded across 2 rivers along the way!!

After the ride we had to go for a beer as Mrs D’s nerves were shot. We were setting off back to Queenstown and Mrs D saw some small cabins and said shall we stop here tonight as it was so good. We went and asked and decided to stay the following night and head back to Queenstown for a last night. Back in town we had dinner and went up the gondola overlooking Queenstown and retired early.

Next day we were chatting with a couple who were out here for 6 months and the guy was going for an interview as a vet to extend their trip and funds!! They didn’t intend to be working but cash was getting low so they went to Mrs D’s fave the Warehouse to get some bargain interview clothes!!

We checked out and went up to Arrowtown an old gold mining town not far away via the shotover jet to have a look at the jetboats hurtling up and down the river. We then headed for Glenorchy and our cabin in Glen Orchy which was used in Lord of the Rings as the setting for Isengard. If you take out Peter Jacksons CGI’s you will be left with Glenorchy a wonderful setting. A walk in the glen and dinner was enjoyed in the sun. What a place to wake up to though, it was cracking. It was yet another moving on day and it was off to Invercargill and the Catlins in Southland today.

Pix from top are George in front of giant sequioa, SS Earnslaw on Lake Wakitipu, the lake from the gondola top, Glenorchy, a few horsey pix and the shotover jet boat.