Our hotel in Queenstown is beautiful:
on the lake, gorgeous views, free laundry services and fabulously friendly staff!
So good to be here at the Rees even though my honey complained about the half hour walk to the city center!
Dillon was here 5 years ago-ish and said we had to have a burger.
We found the Fergburger restaurant and couldn't wait for our first bite as the aromas drifting on the air about us and the line of patrons patiently waiting their turn only added to the anticipation.
We were not disappointed;
the burgers were huge and scrummy from first bite to last!
Nev was impressed that I ate the whole thing (I did offer him a bite!)... I was too!
Thanks for the tip Dill 😘
Our tummies were happily full when we climbed into bed after a nightcap toasting to a fabulous day and a milestone reached:
we are in Queenstown!!!

We chose the longer route to Queenstown, the scenic route that travels along the coastline of the Tasman sea as it winds up the west coast from Riverton.
Nev reckons it's one of the most beautiful drives he's ever driven...
It truly was an incredible journey through farmland filled with sheep and lambs and cattle and calves and farm raised deer, the backdrop of snow covered mountains adding to the beauty of the drive.
We stopped numerous times to try to capture what we were seeing and simply to breathe it all in.
We traveled a lot of the way in silence;
no music or words could've enhanced the experience.

Tonight the Lands End Boutique Hotel in Bluff is our home.
It's here that the State Highway 1 begins or, in our case, ends, at Signal Hill, the southern tip of South Island.
It's also here that the ferry to and from Stewart Island sets out and returns.
We went for a great walk around the peninsula, all bundled up for the wind and rain that persists.
Saw a ferry coming in on rough seas and again said my thanks for feet on solid ground!!
Our room is cozy
Dinner is booked at the Oyster Restaurant next door.
Bluff is also a destination town for their famous HUGE oysters, quickly grabbed up by locals and fancy restaurants around the world during the season. Unfortunately we just missed the window: March through August.
So far we've done about 1000 miles since our return to NZ.
It's time for us to head over to the west coast and then start working our way back to Nelson as we fly home to the States in a weeks time!
It's gone so fast!

Curio Bay in the Catlins is where we are calling home tonight. It is absolutely gorgeous here and I wish it wasn't so dadgum cold and windy!!!!
The huge waves of the Pacific are crashing onto the rocky ledge below in a spectacular demonstration of their power which makes me so happy to have my feet on solid ground.
Each campsite is surrounded by a hedge of flaxseed for privacy and pretty.
The bay itself is somewhat protected and the white, sandy beach goes on for miles.
At 6pm, after Nev beat me in a game of Hand and Foot, we bundled up warmly and walked over to the rocks behind us in search of the ever elusive and shy yellow eyed penguin, the rarest penguin in the world, with only 300 breeding pairs remaining on mainland NZ.
We were SO lucky to see TWO of them coming out of the water.
They made their way across the rocks to the grass where they make their nests and return each day to feed their babies after a day at sea looking for food!
They were a ways away so no photos on my phone but I think I got some good ones on my big camera - some things are just meant to be clicked to memory!
80% of these fledglings will die during their first year at sea.
Marine predators cause a high rate of injury to the adults too.
Food scarcity can cause starvation. At this protected area the rangers keep a close eye on the population and will rescue and feed them if necessary.
So glad for this rare experience.

The McLean falls are the highest falls in the Catlins and, of course, we wanted to walk there for Rob and Kath!
We were so lucky to see them as we sat in JURNEE waiting for a clearing in the rain which came 10 minutes later.
The walk was lovely through forest and alongside the river on a well maintained path, and the falls were beautiful, flowing fast thanks to all the rain, no doubt.
As we climbed back into JURNEE 40 minutes later the heavens opened up again this time dumping sleet, hail and some snow on our windshield!!
We just made it in the nick of time!

From my journal:
"How is it possible there is any rain left to pour down after the torrential rains and winds that fell down and blew about us last night, I wonder? The perfect excuse to remain tucked up in bed this morning since I feel snotty and not 100%".
That was after our first day n the Catlins, a large scenic reserve on the east coast of the South Island way down south.
We stopped to visit the Nugget Lighthouse at Kaka Point first and enjoyed our walk out to the point and the beautiful view, grateful for a sunny break in the weather.
Next we visited Jacks Bay and the blowhole that is an amazing phenomenon. Nev opted for a nap over the 40 minute walk so I headed out alone, the wind howling and almost convincing me to turn back.
I'm glad I didn't because the walk was challenging and refreshing and the blowhole like none I’ve ever seen before:
it measures 55m deep, 144 m long and 68m wide, and flows through a tunnel from the ocean some 200m inland!
The power of the ocean and nature never fail to amaze me!
When we got to our campground in Papatowai at around 4:30pm we had just enough time to set up JURNEE before the rain returned in full force.
We had fun all the same:
for some uncanny reason I had bought extra supplies for dinner and we ended up inviting our young neighbors (sleeping in the back of their car in the freezing cold!) over to share the lamb curry I'd prepared.
JURNEE was filled to the brim with warmth and yummy smells and happy smiles and chatter of travels and dreams for more...
such fun!