04.03.2020 Thelma & Louise take to the air in Wanaka.....

Wanaka has been a bit of a rest place for us with a beautiful view over the lake and large balcony it was easy just to sit for a while or stroll along the lakeside taking in the views or doing a bit of retail therapy!!

We had some rain but it faired up up later and made for some beautiful clouds over the lake

Weather for the next day was set fair and it was time to make a decision about Milford Sound. After the cyclone about five weeks ago the main road to the sound was open but only to convoys and buses. So we decided to take a flight to Milford, take the boat and then fly back. We had to ring to find if the flight would be going about an hour beforehand and when the receptionist said "just hang on and I'll check with the pilot" we began to wonder what we were letting ourselves into. We got to the small airport and saw our little four seater. We had to be weighed - not good after 8 weeks holiday!!!!.... and our pilot Stuart gave us our safety briefing and life jackets - what no parachutes?? . We took off from a small runway in the valley and were soon soaring above the mountains and glaciers before heading along the coast and into the sound. We started to relax when I asked Stuart how long he had been doing the job and he told us that he was an instructor for the New Zealand Air Force just doing these trips whilst taking a holiday. I really don't have the words to describe what a fantastic day it was especially up in the air - even Maureen, who was worried before we took off was smiling. Although we both did wonder when Stuart started looking at a map!!! Weather in the sound was beautiful and as there had been some rain, the falls were better than we expected.

Well you are probably on overkill mountains and glaciers by now but I have never been so up close and personal with them before and loved every minute

We celebrated our return with a couple of well earned Margaritas!!!

The following morning we left Wanaka and headed over the Crown Range into the ski area of Cordon and through the old mining town of Arrowtown headed for Queenstown where we are staying for two nights. The distance wasn't far but the road twisted and turned through the mountains so we took our time taking in the always beautiful scenery, the old hotel and buildings and of course we had to do a bit more retain therapy - at this rate we might need to take a private plane on the way home too just so we can get our luggage in.

We arrived in Queenstown mid afternoon - this is just sooooo......... different. It is a complete sensory, adrenaline overload you can anything here from bunny jumping, para gliding, white water rafting, mountain biking, riding a luge after ascending an almost vertical gondola and much much more. Lots of people and traffic - not really our kind of place. I think we've come here about forty years too late :):):):):) But I'll at least give the gondola a go tomorrow.