Central Plateau, North Island

Central Plateau, North Island
View from a friend's farm

Friday 2 March 2018

The Otago Photos Continue


There has been a huge gap, I left my laptop at the farm when we went to Arrowtown for a few days.  Son-in-Law to be  commented. “ Did you have Cold Turkey for 4 days?” !!! I guess he knows me fairly well by now!! I will have to catch up on all your posts, photos and news.

We drove from the bottom centre at Lawrence to the almost  top left, Arrowtown, then one day back through Cromwell to Wanaka.

Otago map

The road from Arrowtown to Wanaka, the Crown Range, is extremely  difficult, not recommended for towing a trailer or caravan, , with bends that double back so many times.

Otago, Crown Range road on the GPS

This is a barren part of New Zealand, rocky, hilly, and access to the high country is difficult. A Panorama from one of the few stopping places.

Otago, Crown Range Panorama stitched

The Plaque gives details about this road, the highest sealed road in New  Zealand.

Otago, Crown Range road plaque.

Otago, Crown  Range road altitude

This area is a high priority for tourists, and there were so many buses, rental motor homes, vans and cars.

Here is an Air New Zealand plane flying into Queenstown. Maybe one of the most difficult areas to  negotiate a safe way through the ranges.


Otago, AirNZ plane flying into Queenstown

Lake Wanaka was dull and grey, and the week before, there was a lot more snow.It had been down to the cloud line below the little that remained on the top.

Otago, Lake Wanaka #1Otago, Lake Wanaka #2

Yesterday we travelled  back to Lawrence, stopping along the way. Rocks everywhere, I could easily make an “ Inukshuk” and point out to my friends up North the way to go!!

Otago, rocks everywhere

Otago landscape #1

Otago, rocks everywhere #2

Lake Hayes is a small lake ,  in the Wakatipu Basin and on a fine sunny day the reflections are wonderful. The photos below  are from the internet. We had a cloudy day, so mine is not so startling.

Lake Hayes vista.tif

View from the Northern shore looking towards the Remarkables.

This was the best I could do!!

Otago,Lake Hayes #2

Wedding preparations are well under way, and tomorrow I will get to speak  “ on behalf of Father of the Bride”. Knowing that my talks can be lengthy, we have had a rehearsal, and ,can you believe this.. just over one minute!!! I hope by the time I get to talk, I am word perfect and do not need to look at my notes.

Quotation of the day, from St, Augustine

“ The world is a book

and those who do not travel

read only one page”

Greetings from Jean



13 comments:

Jenny said...

Hope the wedding goes well, Jean, and everyone has a marvelous time. I'm sure your speech will be perfect.

Carol Mattingly said...

Such a beautiful country you live in Jean. I know you will do well at the wedding. Have fun with family and friends and be safe in your travels. Carol

Barb said...

My friend is in Wanaka again Jean. She says it's so busy there this year. Good Luck with your speech. Hope all goes well for the ceremony!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What interesting countryside. That was quite a trip for you.

I'm sure you'll do just fine with your wedding speech.

Love & hugs ~ FlowerLady

KB said...

Ah, thank you for sharing the incredible landscapes of your country. I wish that I'd visited there before such a long flight became impossible due to my spine. I am so happy to read of you and Hugh having such a wonderful trip.

I hope that the wedding is filled with happiness. I know that your speech will be wonderful.

QuiltinLibraryLady said...

Indeed a beautiful part of the world.

Susan Heather said...

Good to see that you are travelling around while you are in the South. I am sure the wedding will be perfect. Enjoy.

Julie Fukuda said...

Amazing scenery. Thanks for taking us along.

Sandra Walker said...

More fantastic photos Jean! When you said March for the wedding 'way' back when, it seemed so far off and now it's here. Yay for a well-timed and knowing you, well-written speech. :-)

Mystic Quilter said...

I've had a great time reading your back posts about your travels down to the South! I hope you're all enjoying a wonderful day today and look forward to seeing more photos and hearing all about the wedding.

Sharon - IN said...

Wedding Bliss to all!

Fundy Blue said...

There is so much that I enjoyed in this post, Jean! Thanks for the map ~ I adore maps! Thanks for the photos of the wild, "barren" scenery. I love wide open, empty spaces, and that high country made my heart soar! Great shot of the AZ plane flying into Queenstown. It really puts things in perspective. I smiled at the summit elevation, because my home in Colorado is at 1828 meters. It's not so much the height as the ruggedness, and your road looked rugged. Loved the quote too.

Jenn Jilks said...

That quote is right, but I don't really like traveling until I get there!!!
Such beautiful photos! Well done!