Hi there
I'm back from a week in Queenstown, down the South Island of New Zealand.
It was very warm. I swam in Queenstown's Lake Wakatipu for four of the seven days but had to give up because of the sandflies on the shores. Each day I got more bites on me than the day before. Sigh.
Still, I kayaked on Lake Wanaka, dined at Gibbston Valley Winery, travelled up the gondola to a lovely buffet lunch and a terrific view, walked the Queenstown to Frankton track twice, and paid $129 for a ride on the lake's Hydro-Attack 'shark' ride (more about this in my next blog).
I went to top restaurant Rata. I called in upon the historic village of Arrowtown. While in Arrowtown I walked the beautiful bush-clad 'loop' walk beside the Arrow River.
When I'd been in Queenstown previously, I'd seethed over the commotion and crowding caused by the overseas tour groups, overseas backpackers, and overseas families. They were everywhere, and crashing into me, pushing and shouting their excitement and, maybe, up to 100 strong in front of me in the queues for things. They crammed the footpaths (walking on the wrong side, right instead of left).
The length of time it took to travel into Queenstown along the bumper-to-bumper crowded Frankton Road was horrendous, and the fact that I could never find a park in the Queenstown shopping area drove me almost insane. Backpackers spilled everywhere around the lake foreshore soaking up the sun, playing their drums and flutes and yogi-ing for cash or food. Cafes and restaurants were always full. The price for a one night hotel stay was, maybe $300 (that is if a hotel had rooms left because all those tour groups were taking up space). When I showed a theatre card at the local picture house or hopped in a taxi, I was always exclaimed over because I was a kiwi.
But ... on this holiday last week, everything was reversed. Because our borders are closed, there were no crowds. The area was as dead as a Dodo, I could park practically anywhere I liked, the road from the airport took me about five minutes driving, the restaurants and cafes were empty.
I realise now that it was all that previous commotion, and crowding, and pushing, and shouting, and excitement, and backpackers and tour groups, and whatnot that actually made Queenstown, giving it its life. The overseas tourists give the place a lively vibe, a heart. Talk about me being contrary because I now want all that ado back.
Covid-19, you have broken Queenstown's heart ...
below: part of the the lake view from my rented holiday home Queenstown balcony. Luckily, my insurance company have their own holiday homes throughout NZ, very cheap stays.
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