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Cottage at Lake Hays

In between Queenstown and Arrowtown in New Zealand is Lake Hayes. This cottage sits right on the lake and can be rented. I was staying at a hotel but I have my eyes on this for the next time. When I go on vacation I like to wake up in places that are spectacular and take me far away from normal life. This is one of those places so it's high on the list. The little hill reminds me of a cottage my grandmother used to have. When I was four or five I used to ride a red wagon down the hill full speed, quite often crashing at the bottom. It was so much fun that I'd get right up and do it again. Isn't that a kick in the pants. ;-)

In between Queenstown and Arrowtown in New Zealand is Lake Hayes. This cottage sits right on the lake and can be rented. I was staying at a hotel but I have my eyes on this for the next time. When I go on vacation I like to wake up in places that are spectacular and take me far away from normal life. This is one of those places so it’s high on the list. The little hill reminds me of a cottage my grandmother used to have. When I was four or five I used to ride a red wagon down the hill full speed, quite often crashing at the bottom. It was so much fun that I’d get right up and do it again. Isn’t that a kick in the pants. 😉

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Sundown Across the Field

This was taken from Bendemeer which is a residential area just outside of Queenstown, New Zealand. I've posted several pictures from here, I was with a group that had a couple of hours to walk around before sundown. New Zealand has no snakes or predators to speak of so for all intents and purposes you could just lay down here in this grass and take a nap. That's such a cool idea, one I'd not try here in Florida unless I was on the beach. But then, that's just part of the magic of this land across the sea.

This was taken from Bendemeer which is a residential area just outside of Queenstown, New Zealand. I’ve posted several pictures from here, I was with a group that had a couple of hours to walk around before sundown. New Zealand has no snakes or predators to speak of so for all intents and purposes you could just lay down here in this grass and take a nap. That’s such a cool idea, one I’d not try here in Florida unless I was on the beach. But then, that’s just part of the magic of  this land across the sea.

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First Morning

On my first morning in New Zealand we were something like eight hours out of sync and so waking up early was pretty easy. I went outside before dawn and was rewarded with this. I've seen a lot of beautiful sunrises and sunsets in Florida and this rated way up there on the awesome scale. Maybe it was just a bit of luck but it felt supernatural. And supernatural magic seemed to follow us each day, it's hard to explain but while we were there it seemed very real. That is one trip you should put on your bucket list. I'm putting on my redo list.

On my first morning in New Zealand we were something like eight hours out of sync and so waking up early was pretty easy. I went outside before dawn and was rewarded with this. I’ve seen a lot of beautiful sunrises and sunsets in Florida and this rated way up there on the awesome scale. Maybe it was just a bit of luck but it felt supernatural. And supernatural magic seemed to follow us each day, it’s hard to explain but while we were there it seemed very real. That is one trip you should put on your bucket list. I’m putting on my redo list.

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Road to Glenorchy

Early one morning on the way to Glenorchy in New Zealand we stopped at a vista to watch the sunrise. As you can see the road has a lot of curves and I managed to capture this commuter on his or her way to work in Queenstown. As a rule I don't like to commute to work, but I think if I lived here I wouldn't mind so much. Kind of like when I get stuck on a drawbridge in Florida, just sit there and watch the dolphins swim by. No dolphins in New Zealand, just beautiful landscape and the occasional black swan. That'll do just fine.

Early one morning on the way to Glenorchy in New Zealand we stopped at a vista to watch the sunrise. As you can see the road has a lot of curves and I managed to capture this commuter on his or her way to work in Queenstown. As a rule I don’t like to commute to work, but I think if I lived here I wouldn’t mind so much. Kind of like when I get stuck on a drawbridge in Florida, just sit there and watch the dolphins swim by. No dolphins in New Zealand, just beautiful landscape and the occasional black swan. That’ll do just fine.

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Skippers Canyon Road

This road is on the backside of a mountain near Arrowtown in New Zealand. Apparently this is one of the most dangerous roads in New Zealand, at least according to the warning sign at the entrance. Adventure companies bring clients by jeep down this road for all types of activities including bungee jumping, white water rafting and extreme mountain biking. I couldn't get over how vertical everything seemed. The mountains around us were thousands of feet up and the ravines a thousand or more feet below. Lets just say I was glad to be walking and not on some adventure bus barreling down this road.

This road is on the backside of a mountain near Arrowtown in New Zealand. Apparently this is one of the most dangerous roads in New Zealand, at least according to the warning sign at the entrance. Adventure companies bring clients by jeep down this road for all types of activities including bungee jumping, white water rafting and extreme mountain biking. I couldn’t get over how vertical everything seemed. The mountains around us were thousands of feet up and the ravines a thousand or more feet below. Lets just say I was glad to be walking and not on some adventure bus barreling down this road.

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Contours in the Field

I took this one afternoon near Queenstown in New Zealand just as the sun accentuated the rows in the field. Even after the sun recedes behind the mountains there is still another hour of light so I walked around looking for other interesting things to photograph. I took quite a few though not all interesting. Every week or so I find some other photo I forgot I had. Maybe with time I'm just able to look at it with fresh perspective. In any case, if this were in Florida (not that we have any mountains) then I'd be careful not to step on a snake, but as I understanding it there are no snakes in New Zealand, so you could just lay down in this field and take a nap. However you might wake up to a sheep grazing next you, but I suppose that's not so bad.

I took this one afternoon near Queenstown in New Zealand just as the sun accentuated the rows in the field. Even after the sun recedes behind the mountains there is still another hour of light so I walked around looking for other interesting things to photograph. I took quite a few though not all interesting. Every week or so I find some other photo I forgot I had. Maybe with time I’m just able to look at it with fresh perspective. In any case, if this were in Florida (not that we have any mountains) then I’d be careful not to step on a snake, but as I understanding it there are no snakes in New Zealand, so you could just lay down in this field and take a nap. However you might wake up to a sheep grazing next you, but I suppose that’s not so bad.

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Idyllic Valley

This is in in a beautiful valley near Queenstown in New Zealand. I took this in New Zealand's fall so all the trees were various shades of the rainbow. The word

This is in in a beautiful valley near Queenstown in New Zealand. I took this in New Zealand’s fall so all the trees were various shades of the rainbow. The word “idyllic” comes to mind when I think back on this spot among the rolling hills surrounded by snow capped peaks and ponds where the black swans live. I know that sounds made up but its real and now that I’m back in my own country I kinda wonder if this was just a dream. Good thing I have a picture.

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Queenstown Lookout

This is taken from a little road above Queenstown in New Zealand. I was amazed at how it seems you can drive just about anywhere in New Zealand. Where I live in Florida most roads are closed to the public, and most property is private. The impression I had is that in New Zealand you're pretty much free to roam and explore, as though it's encouraged. Of course I could be wrong, that was just my impression. But anyway, here we were up on a lookout on a road that was open to the public. And make good use of it we did.

This is taken from a little road above Queenstown in New Zealand. I was amazed at how it seems you can drive just about anywhere in New Zealand. Where I live in Florida most roads are closed to the public, and most property is private. The impression I had is that in New Zealand you’re pretty much free to roam and explore, as though it’s encouraged. Of course I could be wrong, that was just my impression. But anyway, here we were up on a lookout on a road that was open to the public. And make good use of it we did.

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Glenorchy Stillness

This is Glenorchy in the early morning when the water is still and the light is perfect. I never realized that black swans existed before I came to New Zealand, I thought they were just in fairy tales or perhaps a rare genetic oddity. But in New Zealand the black swans are in the lakes and ponds of the southern island in abundance. Perhaps if I grew up here I'd be used to it but as a visitor I was amazed each time I saw one. This morning I saw dozens, too many to count. I suspect Glenorchy is a kind of sanctuary, and give the magical landscape it might as well be a fairy tale.

This is Glenorchy in the early morning when the water is still and the light is perfect. I never realized that black swans existed before I came to New Zealand, I thought they were just in fairy tales or perhaps a rare genetic oddity. But in New Zealand the black swans are in the lakes and ponds of the southern island in abundance. Perhaps if I grew up here I’d be used to it but as a visitor I was amazed each time I saw one. This morning I saw dozens, too many to count. I suspect Glenorchy is a kind of sanctuary, and given the magical landscape it might as well be a fairy tale.

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Lake Unknown

I had to look this up because Google kept telling me this is Lake Unknown. That sounds to me like a software glitch, like what happens when the name is missing. Turns out this is indeed Lake Unknown on the border of Otago in New Zealand. You would have to climb some good size mountains to get here and that's probably how it got it's name. Just after we lifted off we flew through a micro rain shower as I held my camera outside for a clear shot of us flying through the opening at the far end. The high ridge then quickly descended to the Dart River as we headed onto more destinations equally as spectacular, if not unknown.

I had to look this up because Google kept telling me this is Lake Unknown. That sounds to me like a software glitch, like what happens when the name is missing. Turns out this is indeed Lake Unknown on the border of Otago in New Zealand. You would have to climb some good size mountains to get here and that’s probably how it got it’s name. Just after we lifted off we flew through a micro rain shower as I held my camera outside for a clear shot of us flying through the opening at the far end. The high ridge then quickly descended to the Dart River as we headed onto more destinations equally as spectacular, if not unknown.

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