The last 5 days in Arrowtown

On Wednesday the 24th we walked the 5 miles round Lake Hayes which is near our cottage. In the afternoon Rob, Roger and I played 18 holes at Arrowtown Golf course which was just beautiful. I hired a random set of clubs but the whole experience was memorable (if the golf wasn't). The views and the course were a joy. Meanwhile the girls walked a small section of the Frankton to Queenstown trail ending with coffee at the Bathhouse overlooking Lake Wakapitu. The picture below is taken from Tobin's track (a walk we did later in the week) showing the lake in the background and golf course in the foreground:

On Thursday we travelled to Wanaka which meant driving over unsealed roads and through the towns of both Cardrona and Cromwell. In the former we passed a famous fence covered in various bras donated by visitors in support of research into breast cancer. We left a donation but sadly no bra!

At Wanaka we again completed a stunning five mile walk with a beautiful return trip, ending the evening at a local quirky cinema called Dorothy Brown's where you can order cheese and wine to take in with you. How civilised is that?

Over the next 3 days we went to the Cookies and Contractors Race Meeting at Omakau. Cookies are farmers apparently. It was a great little venue mainly for local farmers and their families. Needless to say I couldn't find a winner, but people watching was excellent and even Rob and Mo entertained us by ordering hot dogs that arrived battered and so disgusting that pictures have been banned (for now).

A wonderful 7 mile walk to Sawpit Gully followed the day after which took us high into the hills around Arrowtown with a meal out in the evening (Tapas) in the town itself.

On our last full day in Arrowtown we walked Tobin's Track (all uphill!) and after walking Lake Hayes again, we drove to the Remarkables Ski Resort above the town. The views were breathtaking as seen below and completed a great nine days. In the evening Jane and Roger (our hosts) cooked lamb shanks for us which finished things beautifully. They are a great couple, so generous and welcoming, a bit like most NZ folk.

So it's off to Te Anau today and Doubtful Sound tomorrow. We leave Arrowtown with great memories, new friends and feeling lucky to have seen such a staggeringly wonderful part of the world.