Apart from the morning we left for Milford Sound, I have been sleeping into at least 7:30. Today I was up at 6:30. I went out on our balcony, albeit a little cool, and caught this amazing view. It’s worth being up and about and opening the curtains!
I dragged Wayne to the bird show this morning. I have been very saddened hearing how introduced species of flora and fauna have wiped out or endangered many of the bird species and native trees in New Zealand. It is ironic that all the beautiful conifers and Autumn coloured trees that Queenstown is known for are introduced.
I also wanted to see a kiwi bird in real life.
The park is right beside the gondola and used to be an unofficial rubbish tip. Locals, Dick and Noelene Wilson, leased it in 1984 and planted native trees and shrubs and built aviaries and pathways.
After I started wandering aimlessly through the park, Wayne took the map and became our guide.
To educate visitors to the park, they also showed some resident rats and a possum and talked about how they are such an environmental threat. The possum they showed was big, brown, and with no predators in New Zealand. A little different to the ones I see walking along our wires.
We did get to see a number of kiwi (once our eyes adjusted) but no photos were allowed. We decided not to wait for the kiwi bird show as Wayne was ‘birdied-out’.
The weather had begun to turn so where do you go when it is cold and rainy?
Wayne had ice cream and I had a hot chocolate. We then caught a bus to Glenorchy. Even though the weather had turned, we still enjoyed the scenery and wandering (quickly) around Glenorchy.
We finished our walk as the rain set in. So we settled in at the local pub. Got there at a quarter to 3, 15 minutes before the lunch menu finished.
We took advantage of our big apartment, bought a few things to snack on, a bottle of Central Ontago Pinot noir and relaxed in front of our fire to watch a movie. Another great day!
Queenstown in Autumn 