West to East via Arthur's Pass

Today, we crossed over to the eastern coast of South Island, which meant also that our wonderful trip is coming to an end soon.

The sign says it

Driving thru Arthur's Pass was a breeze during the first phase. The eastern side of Arthur's Pass National Park is characterised by wide, shingle-filled riverbeds and vast beech forests.

And then the real challenge presented itself, in the form of Otira Gorge. When Arthur Dobson first encountered the precipitous Otira Gorge in 1864, the pass was almost impassable - he had to leave his horse at the top and lower his dog on a rope.

 Chute to drain the water off the mountain

We made it yahoo...thanks to my darling ...now onwards to Christchurch to spend some relaxing days before we fly home..

Glacier Country - Fox Glacier & Franz Josef

Arrived at Fox Glacier on a cold & wet day was no fun.

Glenorchy - NZ

After the farm excursion, we had nothing to do for the day.. so we drove to the far north of Lake to a small town ..

I respect the OZs for really keeping their history intact (artifacts/notes/photos) for their future generations and also the tourist..

everything is kept as it is ..

and so darn clean too.. 

Testing his 'Hey Kong'  power

And the water moves!!!!

Queenstown -TSS Earnslaw & Walter Peak High Country Farm plus Glenorchy

Our stay today continues with a visit to the beautiful wild country of Walter Peak High Country Farm, located on Lake Wakatipu's south-western shores.

To access to this lovely farm,  RealJourney offers various packages, which include a short cruise on TSS Earnslaw,  Queenstown’s iconic vintage steamship.  The grand old lady would turn a 100 year old on 18 October 2012.  This year she is 99 years old, that's a good number.



Launched by New Zealand Rail in 1912, the TSS Earnslaw is the last surviving and grandest steamship to have ever graced Lake Wakatipu.  Named after Mount Earnslaw (the highest peak in the region), she is 168 feet in length, 24 feet across the beam and weighs 330 tonnes.


Originally built by J McGregor and Co in Dunedin, the TSS Earnslaw was dismantled and transported by rail to Kingston at the lake’s southern tip for reassembly and launching.

refuelling with coal

berthing at Queenstown

The TSS Earnslaw has since served the remote farming communities around Lake Wakatipu, including the original Walter Peak Station.



Walter Peak High Country Farm is the perfect place to spend a relaxing few hours.  

We chose Farm and Barbeque Lunch Exercusions.  As we have joined Real Journey for our Doubtful Soud trip, we got additional 20% discount, so it only was only NZ$76.00/pax=RM200.00.




My first view of the house..I can stay here forever !  It's so immaculately neat and everyone's dream home.

The friendly host was there to greet us. and those that bought lunch exercusions were guided to the lakeside terrace to savour the enticing aromas.  Our tummies were growling from the aromas of BBQ  sizlling food on the grill. Best Ribs and sausages we had!



After being well fed, we proceeded to the holding pens, where we fed the sheep and yes, step on some droppings






See how the farm dogs rounded up sheep from the hill paddocks.

Old Collie and Baa Baa white Sheeps

After that to the shearing shed.



horns of the rams



Wool Spinning



Surrounding landscape

The grand old lady berthing to bring us home to Queenstown at the end of a funfilled trip.

Doubtful Sound & Manapouri Station with Real Journeys

This morning a taxi (paid by Real Journeys), collected us at about 7.00am and dropped us at RJ office for our journey to Doubtful Sound. 

The bus to Te Anau was filled with passengers for both DS and Milford Sound.  The journey took about 2 hours.,
Reaching the pier, we boarded a smaller water taxi to the other side of the island

Wilmot Pass ..










I could look at this scenery  every day





Penquin sunbathing



 



Lunch box provided by RJ

rear view of Manapouri, where the spent water is released

Entrance to Manapouri

Dark and narrow road

Manapouri Power Station



Some technical details

The top of the turbines