View with surprise and water from above

02.02.20

Today we are heading towards Queenstown. But before that, there is, of course, a lot to see! But the first viewpoint already holds a surprise of a special kind. The parking lot is full, so there must really be something to see. As soon as we have parked, three people wave us hectically over. A car is stuck with its front wheel in a deep shaft! Apparently, the cover gave way when driving over it... our first thought is: luckily, it's not our car! Now, however, energetic help is needed! While we are still discussing what to do, a tour bus approaches and spits out a group of energetic French people. With combined forces, a jack, and a bit of luck, we manage to free the car! The young driver is very happy - but she also does not suspect yet that her car will not start afterwards..... Now it is high time to enjoy the view... as always (!) very beautiful. It starts to rain lightly, so we hurry to the compact lock to continue our journey. The young girl with the once crashed car is still there. Now the car won't start anymore... today is probably not her day. Since we also have no reception right now, we can't help anymore either. Now it's up to the breakdown service.

We continue to Lake Hawea. Even more glacially colored water, but also more gusty wind... and more water from above. At Lake Wanaka and the corresponding town, we take a coffee break. Now it's really raining. Sitting by the lakeshore is therefore out of the question! But a nice café is quickly found. The rain also stops, and we can continue our journey strengthened.

The route to Queenstown is truly spectacular (seriously!). Up and down the mountains, narrow streets and even narrower curves (Nicole would enjoy it again... or something like that...). Sometimes we are above the clouds, sometimes the clouds are above us. In any case, they rain very reliably. When we reach our destination, we settle into the campsite. Chairs out, cool drink on the table. After 3 minutes, it starts raining again. We move inside. Just in time for our city tour, it stops raining. Well then!

A dinner cruise is on the program. An old steamship sails us across Lake Wakatipu. However, the dinner cruise turns out slightly different than we imagined. The dinner is not served on the ship. The ship drops us off in front of a restaurant... But the restaurant is nice and the buffet is very satisfying: shrimp, mussels, salmon, deer, lamb, beef, desserts... we eat almost indecently much! After that, we sail back across the lake (we skipped the sheep shearing demonstration). The wind has subsided, it stayed dry, and so we can sit on deck. The doll sings interesting tunes to me.

Back on land, our energy is only enough for a cognac, but we are quickly chased away from the rain into the inside of the compact lock.