The Remarkables - Saturday

After a late night on Friday, we had a leisurely start to Saturday.

Lee and I walked down to the farmers market and craft fair on the lakeside. We had lots of fun looking at the different crafts, although we didn't actually find the farmer's market! Just as well, as we had plenty of stuff in the apartment, and didn't particularly want to carry produce around with us, or take it back to the apartment.

About 1:00 we got a text from Craig and Stephen that it was "beer 0'clock", so we met them in Queenstown, then went to the Flame Bar and Grill for a beer and lunch. We had a great table on the balcony of this second story restaurant, and enjoyed watching the world go by below us.

After lunch we went back to the apartment for the car, as Craig and Stephen had a destination in mind! We left Queenstown, through Franklin, past the airport, and headed up to the Remarkables Ski area! It was quite a winding road, a series of switchbacks up the mountain, on a gravel road! We were very glad that Stephen was driving! We stopped about half-way up for a photo op, and I thought that we weren't going any further, but no - on we went, to the end of the road! It was totally amazing! You could see forever from the Remarkables ski area, and we did a bit of hiking around as well. We took lots of pictures, and totally enjoyed the wonderful views and cool breezes, as it really was quite warm in town.

Craig drove on the way down, and we again bumped along the switch backs. Some of the switchbacks were so sharp that we ended up in our own dust! But we made it down, and back to paved roads.

Our next stop was the supermarket, where we got lamb, corn and salad fixings for dinner. Then our goal was to head home, as we were well past our G&T time, and our deck was waiting for us.

Dinner was delicious! Craig fixed the lamb, Stephen cooked the corn (cooked in the microwave in the husks - fabulous!) and I made the salad.

We spent the evening on the deck, looking at the totally amazing display of stars - we even saw a satellite going across the sky - another amazing day!!

Half-way up the mountain, with the southern alps in the background. You can see the twisty little road that we were driving on.

The Queenstown airport with lake Wakitipu behind it.

At the top! You can see Lake Hayes and the Kawarau river.

No caption needed! Remarkables!

More Remarkables!

Mountains, clouds and really big rocks! There were lots of little rivulets coming down the mountains, so there must have been snow/ice that we couldn't see.

Craig and Stephen in the tussocks. There's a little creek creeking along behind them.

Craig and Stephen did a good job of setting this shot up - we only had to climb over a few rocks - and you can see the creek!

On the deck with munchies and G&Ts!! Life is good!!