New Zealand 2009 - Tales of the Camera Sherpa - Part 15

Is anybody else having problems with Blogger? I having issues connecting, posting comments on other Blogger sites, getting to other Blogger sites. Is it just because I'm in NZ?

The last couple of days we've been hanging around the Central Otago region. The weather has been fabulous. For those following on Google Maps find Queenstown and Cromwell on the South Island. On Tuesday, we got up late after our busy days on Doubtful Sound, got packed up headed to a small former mining town named Arrowtown. This region of NZ had lots of gold and a similar history to that of California in the 1870's with all kinds of people coming in from all over the world. So there are all kinds of ghost towns and towns that have mining history.

Arrowtown has such a restored historical district. It also caters to the tourist trade as now this region is big in the eco-tourism industry, thrill industry (jet boats on rivers, sky diving, bungee jumping, etc.), skiing, and wine. Yes the area is also an up and coming wine area specializing in Pinot Noir ( it is at the 45th parallel the same parallel as Burgundy and Oregon - also centers of Pinot Noir).

When we got to town it was pretty quiet. We were able to get a parking place right on the main drag. By mid afternoon it was packed. And by 5 everyone was leaving fast. We started out with a late breakfast - I really like the bacon here...a bit meatier with a good flavor - then spent the first couple of hours doing a bunch of shopping. Then we saw a sign for 4.2 kilometer walk along a river. Since because of the weather we haven't had much chance to do any walking or hiking, we thought we jump on the chance to do this. We got about 25% of the way when we saw a sign for a track that went up to a lookout. We're always up for a good look out.

Turns out this was a very steep hike over quite a distance. It was well worth it. The views from the look out were killer. Tons of birds and bird songs while we were hiking and when we got there. There was this one hawk. The track was pretty side and Wife and I were walking side by side. This hawk comes buzzing down the path and flies right between the two of us! On our way down it did the same thing but just over our head.

We were pretty sore when we got down because we hadn't stretched or anything since we weren't really expecting a bigger climb.

It was already late afternoon so we figured we'd just eat (it was around 3:30) and have that be our meal of the day. I had some great mussels with a tomato based sauce that worked because of the stronger flavor of the green lipped mussels here. Wife had some shrimp in creamy garlic sauce with rice.

Then it was picture taking in the town before we headed out to our accommodation near Cromwell. It is called a bed and breakfast but is in fact a standalone cottege -brand new - on a hillside overlooking vineyards with a kick butt view across the valley and lake to mountains on the other side.

Wife did some serious evening hour photography. I ran to a grocery store to pick up our typical picnic and breakfast provisions. And then we called it a day.

Today I had her out of bed early - 6:30 - because the near full moon was setting on a totally clear morning and it was a beautiful clear sunrise. It was also cold as hell. After an hour and half of picture taking (10 minutes of pictures - 10 minutes back inside to warm up - repeat as necessary). We had breakfast and showered. It was again pretty late which was fine since we were going wine tasting. Did two wineries and then finished at a third where we had our big meal again. Like so much that is here, another phenomenal location sitting on the outdoor patio - fortunately with good weather - enjoying the food, wine, view, and ambiance. We were there for a good 2 and half hours.

Then we went out searching for some photo shoots at ghost towns and old cemeteries before heading back and calling it a day.

Tomorrow on to the East Coast of the South Island.