12: Fun, Festivals & Family

The colours are starting to turn as autumn arrives - our clocks go back next weekend and in the meantime, I am enjoying the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.

A walk alongside the old Arrow Irrigation Pipe reveals a rich tinge to the trees while tourists pan for 'the colour' in the bottom of the river.

Another of the benefits of autumn is the fact that it is harvest festival time. Food and wine are abundant, and there are plentiful celebrations of this fact. We attended one in Gibbston Valley with some friends.

A visit from the Borneo branch of the family involved walks and wineries - starting with our perennial favourite: Lake Hayes.

After all that exercise it's off to Brennan Wines for tastings and a quick game of petanque.

An outing to Glenorchy presented stunning vistas of Lake Wakatipu and then a walk up the Rees Valeey to the Invincible Mine where remants of equipment point to older days.