Category Archives: New Zealand

Walter Peak

By | New Zealand | No Comments

Walter Peak (1)TSS Earnslaw About Walter Peak (2) Walter Peak (3)  Walter Peak Farm – At its peak, the station was one of New Zealand’s most famous with 170,000 acres, 40,000 sheep and up to 50 fulltime employees. The original homestead block of Walter Peak Station is now known as Walter Peak High Country Farm. Over time various permanent homes were established and these included the Colonel’s Homestead with its beautiful lakeside gardens. ( http://www.guestnewzealand.com)Walter Peak (19) Walter Peak (21) Walter Peak (20)  There are 28 breeds of sheep in New Zealand. Perendale sheep at Walter Peak Farm. This is a Meat breed and used for carpet and textiles. It’s a lower kind than Merino which is the highest quality used for clothing. Merino costs 5 times that of the Perendale. In the farm each shearer can shear 350 sheep a day in an 8 hour work day. This is the first time this sheep is sheared and will be sheared again after 6 monthsWalter Peak (4) Walter Peak (5) Walter Peak (6) Walter Peak (7) Walter Peak (11) Walter Peak (12) Walter Peak (8) Walter Peak (9) Walter Peak (13)Those antlers were so heavy I couldn’t carry themWalter Peak (10) Walter Peak (14) Walter Peak (15) Walter Peak (16) Walter Peak (18) Walter Peak (17)

Click below to go to their website

Real Journeys NZ Enjoy Queenstown's stunning scenic beauty on a lake cruise aboard the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw with Real Journeys.

Real Journeys NZ Enjoy Queenstown’s stunning scenic beauty on a lake cruise aboard the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw with Real Journeys.

Botswana Butchery Queenstown

By | New Zealand | No Comments

When in New Zealand, Lamb all you want 🙂  So we came here
Botswana Butchery Queenstown (1) Botswana Butchery Queenstown (2) Butcher’s knife door handle 🙂Botswana Butchery Queenstown (3) Botswana Butchery Queenstown (4) Botswana Butchery Queenstown (5) Botswana Butchery Queenstown (9) Botswana Butchery Queenstown (12) Botswana Butchery Queenstown (10) Botswana Butchery Queenstown (11) Botswana Butchery Queenstown (14) Botswana Butchery Queenstown (6) Botswana Butchery Queenstown (13) Spanish Style WhitebaitBotswana Butchery Queenstown (15) Botswana Butchery Queenstown (7) Botswana Butchery Queenstown (8) Slow Roast Lamb shoulder – we came here for this 🙂  Very good 🙂Botswana Butchery Queenstown (16) Lamb RackBotswana Butchery Queenstown (17) Botswana Butchery Queenstown (18) Botswana Butchery Queenstown (19) Duck fat roasted potatoes – the best selling side dishBotswana Butchery Queenstown (20)  Side dish – Sweet Corn brûlée – YUM!Botswana Butchery Queenstown (21) Botswana Butchery Queenstown (22) Black Doris Plum Nest – Pavlova all you want in New Zealand!  I found out that Pavlova is a New Zealand dessert 🙂Botswana Butchery Queenstown (23) Blueberry Bombe AlaskaBotswana Butchery Queenstown (24)Click below to go to their website

botswana butchery website

Cookie Time Queenstown

By | New Zealand | No Comments

For the cookie lovers out there – there is Cookie Time in Queenstown 🙂
Cookie Time Queenstown (12) Cookie Time Queenstown (13) Cookie Time Queenstown (11) Cookie Time Queenstown (10) Cookie Time Queenstown (14) Cookie Time Queenstown (15) Cookie Time Queenstown (4) Cookie Time Queenstown (5) Cookie Time Queenstown (6) Cookie Time Queenstown (16) Cookie Time Queenstown (17) Cookie Time Queenstown (18) Cookie Time Queenstown (19) Cookie Time Queenstown (20) Cookie Time Queenstown (1) Cookie Time Queenstown (2)They have ice cream too 🙂
IMG_9980Cookie Time Queenstown (7) Cookie Time Queenstown (8) Cookie Time Queenstown (3) Cookie Time Queenstown (9)

Click below to go to their website

Cookie Time Limited is a successful, iconic New Zealand company which has been a category leader for coming up to 30 years. Established in 1983, it launched the first individually wrapped cookie into the New Zealand market. Today it makes more than 30 cookie skus. It also makes bars – Bumper Bars, and the world-first One Square Meal replacement bar.

Cookie Time Limited is a successful, iconic New Zealand company which has been a category leader for coming up to 30 years. Established in 1983, it launched the first individually wrapped cookie into the New Zealand market. Today it makes more than 30 cookie skus. It also makes bars – Bumper Bars, and the world-first One Square Meal replacement bar.

Dart River Boat Ride

By | New Zealand | No Comments

Breathtaking jet boat ride through the Dart River

Wilderness Safari journey from Glenorchy at the head of the lake deep into the World Heritage area of Mt Aspiring National Park. A unique combination of breath taking scenery and exciting jet boating on braided, glacier fed rivers. (http://www.queenstownnz.co.nz) #mtaspiringnationalpark #dartriver #jetboat #worldheritagesite #glenorchy #newzealand #H2HNewZealand2016Dart River Boat Ride (1)
Dart River Boat Ride (2) I eventually moved beside Mom and Dad moved in front Dart River Boat Ride (3) Beautiful scenery all the way throughout the rideDart River Boat Ride (4) We would stop once in awhile Dart River Boat Ride (5)to appreciate more scenery 🙂Dart River Boat Ride (6)  The water is so clean – you can drink it.  I drank it! 🙂Dart River Boat Ride (7) Dart River Boat Ride (9) Dart River Boat Ride (11) Dart River Boat Ride (12) Dart River Boat Ride (13)  Close up of “Paradise” ( where many films are shot ) inside Dart River. Dart River Boat Ride (14)  There is a shape of a sleeping giant on the mountain that’s supposedly guarding the mountain ( Look for it 🙂 )Dart River Boat Ride (15) There 🙂Dart River Boat Ride (18) Dart River Boat Ride (17) Dart River Boat Ride (16)

Click below to go to their website

Jet boating NZ & Funyak tours of Mt Aspiring National Park on the Dart River. Queenstown to Glenorchy and Paradise daily. Hobbit & Lord Of The Rings tour. Book online today.

Jet boating NZ & Funyak tours of Mt Aspiring National Park on the Dart River. Queenstown to Glenorchy and Paradise daily. Hobbit & Lord Of The Rings tour. Book online today.

Beech Forest in Glenorchy

By | New Zealand | No Comments

We went to a beech forest and walked around 30 minutes
Beech Forest (1)Amazing!! An ancient forest unchanged for 80 million years
Beech Forest Beech Forest (3) We stood here to take a photo and the guide told us not to because the moss grows on the tree trunksBeech Forest (4) Beech Forest (5) Beech Forest (6) Beech Forest (7) Beech Forest (8) Beech Forest (9) Beech Forest (10) Beech Forest (11) Beech Forest (12) Beech Forest (13)  Lord of the Rings chair 🙂Beech Forest (14) Beech Forest (15)

Glenorchy

By | New Zealand | No Comments

We went to Glenorchy as part of our tour and had lunch before taking offGlenorchy (1) Glenorchy (2) Glenorchy (3) Glenorchy (4) Glenorchy (5) Glenorchy We really just wanted to have Fish and Chips 🙂Glenorchy (22) Glenorchy (23) When in the UK, Australia and New Zealand – Fish and Chips all you want!  Mom even brought her Malt vinegar in her luggage to make sure she has it with her Fish and Chips.   Codfish and chips at The Lodge Glenorchy . Funny thing was she ordered Ginger Ale and she made a mistake twice of pouring the Ginger Ale instead of the Malt Vinegar!!!  hahamalt vinegar for fish and chips Just 45 minutes from Queenstown, Glenorchy is nestled on the northern shores of Lake Wakatipu & is the gateway to hiking trails and Middle-earth magic.
This rustic town is a true outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Set against a background of native beech forest and towering mountain ranges, Glenorchy’s surrounds are nothing short of awe-inspiring. Lake Wakatipu and the Dart River offer opportunities for jet boating and kayaking, and some of New Zealand’s best hiking trails can be accessed from here. Horse trekking in the area is also highly recommended.

Glenorchy (9)  Braided Streams in Glenorchy and a view from the helicopter tour
When glacial ice melts, the water moves away from the glacial snout in fast flowing streams and rivers. The water transports vast quantities of sediment and larger debris. If the sediment load is very large in relation to the velocity of the stream, the more coarse material may start to block the stream, choking it and forcing it to constantly change it’s course. The stream starts to diverge, splitting into numerous segments which split and join repeatedly. The small islands formed within the stream are called eyots.

Braided streams are typically shallow and wide, surrounded by poorly sorted rock debris. ( http://www.geography-site.co.uk)

Glenorchy (10) Glenorchy (11) Glenorchy (12) Glenorchy (13) Glenorchy (14) I love sheep sceneries – I was trying so hard to take them even when the bus was moving – very hard! :-O  Glenorchy (15) Glenorchy (16)  Glenorchy’s spectacular landscapes have become a prime location for film scouts, depicting many scenes from The Lord of the Rings trilogy as well as featuring in the Narnia movies. Twenty kilometres away from Glenorchy, as bucolic farmland gives way to beech forests, lies Paradise. Some say it was christened for its natural charms, others for the paradise ducks that live in the area. Nobody can say for sure how it got its name, but the one thing people agree on is its breathtaking beauty. “This is the Middle-earth I had always pictured,” Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf) said of Paradise. ( http://www.newzealand.com)Glenorchy (17) Glenorchy (18)  Taylor Swift was just in Glenorchy a few months ago to shoot. Lord of the Rings was also filmed in Glenorchy and many others including commercials of Swiss chocolates Glenorchy (19) Glenorchy (20) Glenorchy (21) Glenorchy (24)

Queenstown New Zealand

By | New Zealand | No Comments

Arrived at our next destination and super love it!  From the helicopter, we saw it 🙂  It’s nice to stay 5 days to a week here and just relax and do all the activities.  We only stayed 3 days.  In June, it is winter time and the activities change to winter activities which include skiing 🙂Queenstown New Zealand (19)I could just stand here and just stare!
Queenstown New Zealand (14) Beautiful Queenstown!Queenstown New Zealand (15) Queenstown New Zealand (16) Queenstown New Zealand (17) Queenstown New Zealand (5) Queenstown New Zealand (6)A very quaint town – with shops and restaurants
Queenstown New Zealand (10) Queenstown New Zealand (11) Small streetsQueenstown New Zealand (12) Queenstown New Zealand (13) Our driver said that this is the best bank to exchange your moneyQueenstown New Zealand (9) Queenstown New Zealand (8) There is a Fear Factory 🙂Queenstown New Zealand (7)A catholic church by the mountains

catholic church queenstown

A nice art gallery by the lakeQueenstown New Zealand (18) Plenty restaurantsQueenstown New Zealand (24) Queenstown New Zealand (27) Queenstown New Zealand (26) Queenstown New Zealand (25) Smiggle 🙂Queenstown New Zealand (28) Queenstown New Zealand (3) Queenstown New Zealand (4) Queenstown New Zealand (2) Starbucks!Queenstown New Zealand (1) And plenty of activities!!!Queenstown New Zealand (20)  Lake Wakatipu

15,000 years ago during the last ice age, a huge glacier moving from the north west carved out what is now Lake Wakatipu. The lake is relatively thin, but the mountains run straight into the lake, forming a deep canyon, 399m at its deepest point.
Lake Wakatipu is the second largest lake in the Southern Lakes District, covering 290 square km. At its widest point Lake Wakatipu is five kilometers wide, and the total length is 84km ( http://www.queenstown.nz.com) #lakewakatipu #newzealand #queenstown #queenstownnzQueenstown New Zealand (21) Queenstown New Zealand (22) Queenstown New Zealand (23)

Sasso Queenstown

By | New Zealand | No Comments

Our first meal in Queenstown was Italian which was recommended by the conciergeSasso Queenstown (6) Sasso Queenstown (8) Sasso Queenstown (9) Sasso Queenstown (10)Sasso Queenstown (11) Sasso Queenstown (12) Sasso Queenstown (7)Mushroom and Italian sausage Pizza
Sasso Queenstown (13) Steamed Littleneck clams with bacon, parsley, garlic butter and sourdough crostiniSasso Queenstown (14) Prime NZ beef tartare with Aioli anchovy, capers, shallots and crispy potatoSasso Queenstown (15) Pan seared duck breast and confit leg with cauliflower, lentils and raisins, natural au jusSasso Queenstown (16) Three cheese ravioliSasso Queenstown (1) Chargrilled Angus rib eye with slow cooked beef shin and red cabbage, crispy polenta and jusSasso Queenstown (2) Sasso Queenstown (3) Sasso Queenstown (4) Super yum Tiramisu!Sasso Queenstown (5)

Click below to go to their website

Italian Dining in Queenstown

Italian Dining in Queenstown

Sofitel Queenstown

By | New Zealand | No Comments

 Sofitel Queenstown Hotel & Spa @sofitelqueenstown

Our home in Queenstown for 3 nights #sofitelqueenstownhotelandspa #queenstown #queenstownnz #newzealand #H2HNewZealand2016Sofitel Queenstown (25)Sofitel Queenstown about Sofitel Queenstown (6) Sofitel Queenstown (7)  French antique chic sits aside sophisticated design @sofitelqueenstown – black and yellow at the lobbySofitel Queenstown (13) Sofitel Queenstown (9) Sofitel Queenstown (10) Buffet Breakfast by the lobby cafe which is included with the roomSofitel Queenstown (8) Sofitel Queenstown (1) Sofitel Queenstown (19) Sofitel Queenstown (21) Sofitel Queenstown (18) Sofitel Queenstown (15) Sofitel Queenstown (14) Sofitel Queenstown (17) Sofitel Queenstown (4) Sofitel Queenstown (16) Sofitel Queenstown (5) Sofitel Queenstown (20) Sofitel Queenstown (22) Sofitel Queenstown (3) Sofitel Queenstown (23) Sofitel Queenstown (2) Sofitel Queenstown (24) The location is very central so it is perfect!Sofitel Queenstown (12) On the side is the staircase towards the gondola

Sofitel Queenstown (11)

Click below to go to their website

Located in the heart of Queenstown, Sofitel Queenstown is a unique luxury experience. Book direct for the best rates.es.

Located in the heart of Queenstown, Sofitel Queenstown is a unique luxury experience. Book direct for the best rates.es.

FILTER