Friends and food

A recent trip back to Arrowtown proved to be not all about business, as I managed to catch up with some good friends and family.

The Welsh Wordsmith

Birthday drinks at Brazz.

Howdy Neighbour

Bad Fairy

The Voice of the People

A brisk walk around Lake Hayes on a Friday morning followed by a coffee at the Walnut Cottage for old times' sake.



 

Mischievous Minx

As part of my payment for writing sketches for the Chinese Village Theatre for Arrowtown's 150th anniversary celebrations, I was accommodated at Millbrook Resort, so my sister and I availed ourselves of the facilities.

The Weevil with champagne

Back home, I made sticky lemon shortbread (with lots of lemons, sugar, icing sugar and butter) and took it to rehearsals to keep up our strength (and calories)!

Sticky lemon nonsense

Lake Hayes Duathlon

Easter weekend in the Wakatipu is very busy with lots of events and celebrations as people enjoy the last of the warm weather before winter slowly creeps in. It helps that the autumn colours are fabulous and set the district alight with a blaze of glory.

The Lake Hayes Easter Triathlon is New Zealand's oldest surviving triathlon. It also has a kayak and a duathlon option for people such as Him Outdoors who can't/ don't swim. As I am still recovering from injury and operation, I went along to support and spectate.



Him Outdoors before the race

First run leg

Coming into transition off the bike

The end of the run

32: Alternative transport

I went for a walk with a couple of friends (The Fudge Princess and the Mischievous Minx plus her dopey dog) around Lake Hayes. It was a beautiful winter's day with blue sky, white mountains and still waters.

The Fudge Princess, Mischievous Minx and her Dopey Dog pose for a photo

What a difference a day makes, indeed! We were snowed in the next day. It was only a foot or so of snow, but impossible to drive on the roads without a 4WD or snow chains. We have since purchased the latter (we haven't got a spare $20,000 for the former).

I almost expect Mr Tumnus to make an appearance...

And so I went skiing, as you do, around the streets of Arrowtown to stock up on essentials such as milk, bread and mulled wine. I skied up and down the hills...

---and 'hid' behind a tree.

28: Wakatipu Winter

Days like these, with clear blue skies and snow on the mountains, make winter worth while in the Wakatipu Basin.

Looking down the Frankton Arm of Lake Wakatipu past Kelvin Heights

The Remarkables, looking... er...



Reflections in Lake Hayes

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.