The South Island—Queenstown, March 1 & 2, 2025

Queenstown, March 1 & 2, 2025

March 1st was a long day. We rose at 4:30AM to step out on deck of the Navigator so we could listen to the quiet and eventual morning song of Doubtful Sound. When the cruise was done and we traveled by motor coach over the Wilmot Pass to Lake Manapouri's West Arm Harbor where we boarded another boat to Manapouri, we walked up to Murrell's Grand View B&B and drove our car to Te Anau for the two hour Glowworm Caves excursion, boarding another boat to cross Lake Te Anau to the caves. 

And then we drove two hours north to Queenstown, arriving at Absoloot Hostel at 7:30PM. The hostel is on the lake, but it's also in the middle of shops, restaurants, pubs, and bars. Our lovely suite overlooks the lake, The Remarkables mountain range, and unfortunately, the wharf that takes people on jet boat rides, rents jet skis, and also overlooks the lakeside promenade where buskers competed with one another and nearby bars blast out music. After the peace of Doubtful Sound and solitude of the Glowworm Caves, the throngs of tourists crowding the promenade and shared car/pedestrian/bike outdoor mall just outside our hostel door, was overwhelming. Add to all of this, there wasn't any public parking, and when I finally found paid and secure underground parking....it was frustrating. I'll just put it that way, but there's a story about this.

So today, March 2nd, we felt better, because Sunday was quieter and we walked the park and lake promenade, and enjoyed a good linner.

Skyline Queenstown Gondola dominates the city.

"Hold on, I'm coming."

Lake Wakatipu is NZ's 3rd largest lake and its longest. It is 1,380ft/420m at its deepest point.

The gondola is prominent from everywhere.

Beach along downtown promenade.

The walk around the Queenstown Gardens.

Huge boulder dropped by a glacier a gillion years ago.

 

Close up the boulder.

This is the 12th tee for frisbee golf in the park's forest.

Mountains surrounding Lake Wakipitu are stunning.

 

This range is called The Remarkables. Aptly named.

These are the kinds of activities competing with the lake and mountains.

Marie, of course, is dwarfed by this Sequoia.

Red Rock Cafe on the lake next to Queenstown Gardens.

Red Rock Cafe crown indicates NZ Commonwealth membership.

 Most walk through WWI Memorial Arch on their way to Queenstown Gardens.

Seagulls and pigeons have a way of introducing humility.

Queenstown harbor. Note the water's clarity.

Close up of all the shops and restaurants on the harbor.

There are some lovely shade trees along the lake.

We stopped here for a midday snack and refreshments after making a 3 mile loop around the gardens.

This refrigerator door to toilets is hilarious.

Kiwi sculpture with friend.

What's left of our pork belly snack.

Looking out our suite window. This boat is a bar.

The Remarkables Ski Area is 10 min. from this view from our room.

Today we're off to Lake Tekapo for three nights. It's part of the Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve and it's primarily why we're going there. We checked the weather and the sky should be clear Wednesday night, our last night at Lake Tekapo.