2020 - South Island, NZ (Part 4 - Queenstown II & Oamaru)
A cruise along the lake and a visit to one of NZ's more interesting small towns.
Friday 24 July 2020 - Sunday 26 July 2020
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2020 South Island NZ
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Friday 24 July
We had booked the afternoon cruise on the TSS Earnslaw along the lake to Walter's Peak Farm. The TSS Earnslaw was built in 1912 and is the last coal fired ships still operating commercially in the Southern Hemisphere.
Central Queenstown.
Lake Wakatipu.
The TSS Earnslaw.
The TSS Earnslaw.
The weather was beautiful but very cold. Standing outside admiring the view was only possible for a few minutes at a time.
The Remarkables.
Full steam ahead.
The ship's boat.
Lake Wakatipu.
About an hour or so later we arrived at the farm. This is a working high country farm that also caters to tourists. They gave a demonstration of sheep dog mustering and we were able to wander around feeding the large array of animals they have.
Walter Peak Farm.
Mind fingers.
A hairy inhabitant of the farm.
The TSS Earnslaw tied up at the farm.
Back mid afternoon and a different place for dinner ans the normal place was full.
Saturday 25 July
After breakfast we left Queenstown and drove via Central Otago to Oamaru. This was a very scenic drive, especially if you turn left in Alexandra and use SH85 through the Maniototo.
Oamaru is an interesting town. It is a town that time seems to have forgotten and there has been very little development in the town centre, meaning that the old Victorian and Edwardian buildings were never torn down and replaced by modern monstrosities. The old port area contain many fine examples of warehouses etc that have been turned into galleries, artists' workshops, shops and so on.
One of the many old buildings in Oamaru.
Artwork in Oamaru.
Oamaru.
The Steam Punk museum in Oamaru.
The Waitaki District Council Building.
Part of the historical quarter of Oamaru.
We asked the motelier for a dinner recommendation and when we answered that we wanted steak and beer, he immediately suggested Fat Sally's. It was indeed a fine recommendation and is housed in one of the restored historical buildings. The food was very good, the Central Otago pinot noir was full bodied and chewy and the locals interesting. There was a group on a nearby table all dressed up to the nines (maybe had been to a wedding, not sure). Then some farm boys entered, rugby jerseys, gumboots and mullets and everyone knew everyone (not surprising when there are only 13000 people in the town).
Sunday 26 July
Morning walk around the port area, drive to Christchurch via Timaru and then fly home.
In all, a very good winter road trip.
Posted by nzhamsta 12:00 Archived in New Zealand
