Queenstown.... Farewell New Zealand

March 3
Last night as I was going to bed, I noticed a red light flashing on the dash of the car. Oh no, what now!!! Took a good look at it.... it's a symbol of a car with a key symbol in it. Needless to say, I didn't get a very good night's sleep. Tossing and turning, wondering if Chateau Jucy was going to be good to go on Wednesday.

Got up first thing I call Jucy Rentals again.... the lady I spoke to, Cara, was very helpful. She understood that I was travelling alone. So she's made an appointment for me to take Chateau Jucy to the mechanics here in Te Anu tomorrow @ 8:30 am before I leave here (if I leave here???) She said that they are going to compensate me for my time(s) I have spent in the mechanics.

Headed into town to meet my coach (bus). The time on the ticket said 9:00 am at the Kiwi Country Kitchen, so I'm there 1/2 hour early (anyone who knows me knows I like to be early or early). However, I sit and sit and sit.... Finally the bus comes at 9:30 am, the bus driver checked his sheet and said "No, this is not your bus. There is another one that will be here in 9:55 am to get you." Bus arrives at 9:55 am, everyone files out of the bus for a "toilet" (they don't say washroom or bathroom) break, it's another 1/2 before we even head off.

I am so glad I decided not to drive. The coach stopped in key places for us to take pics and provided the group with so much information. At one point, there was a tunnel... a very long and dark tunnel (I am so glad I didn't drive)! Once we got there, we boarded the boat. By this time, the skies started to cloud over (no rain). Milford Sound is absolutely stunning.
Mirror Lake

I've been noticing that there are many types of travellers.... most of the are young and from Germany. There are many seniors that rent motor homes or cars and stay at the Holiday Parks. I've seen a wide array of vehicles.... cars, Chateau Jucys, Wicked Rentals (they have crude things written on the side of the vehicles), and motor homes. But I had to take a second look at this one.....

March 4
Once again, I took Chateau Jucy to the mechanics. They came the the deduction that a new battery was needed in the key fob (which I had already guessed). As for the red blinking car symbol? It blinking because it's supposed to.... tells me that the security system is on! I can't believe that I have been sleeping in that van for a month now and I only noticed it yesterday! Anyways...... I am off again.

Heading into Queenstown with the idea of either going to Glenorchy (where they filmed Lord of the Rings) or to Arrow Town. I spoke to someone at the I Site, they informed me that there wasn't anywhere to stay in Glenorchy, that would mean I'd have to drive back to Queenstown. I decided to stay in Queenstown for the next 2 days, drive out to Glenorchy tomorrow, head out to Arrow Town the following night, and then back to Queenstown for my last night in New Zealand.

Queenstown is a bustling town and is set along Lake Wakaipu. The centre of town is compact and everything is within walking distance, including a wide range of dining options. The streets are alive all day and night with live music and many buskers. Queenstown's claim to fame is it's spine-tingling adventures. Commercial bungy jumping was born here. Other activities include skydiving, white-water rafting, jet boating. Me? I'm content to walk the waterfront, browse around the shops, and run around Queenstown Garden (a little Stanley Park). If I get really daring.... I may go up on the gondola, but with the fear of heights, I don't think I'll really enjoy it.

March 5
Headed out for a run to Queenstown Garden. The day was a tad cold, felt like a Nanaimo morning! I decided to drive out to Glenorchy. The scenery in and around Glenorchy was used in the films Lord of the Rings and Narnia. The drive took me North along Lake Wakaipu, beautiful mountain ranges, beautiful tranquil bays. Here is a picture I took of Wilson Bay (I stopped there yesterday for a quiet lunch).

While in Glenorchy, I stopped in for lunch at a cute cafe. When I came out, I found that someone had hit my left side mirror. I drove back into Queenstown annoyed and really angry that someone would do that and not leave a note. So now the repairs have to come out of my pocket! With the broken side mirror, I've decided to stay in Queenstown until Sunday. It's really not what I wanted to do, but I am enjoying my walks around the lakefront. I also keep looking up at the gondola and thinking maybe.... just maybe......

March 6
It's raining out..... big, wet raindrops! Windy and wet just like home.... Went for an early morning walk around the Gardens and then to get more data for the next few days. While wandering around, I noticed a Jucy Cruise office, so I stopped in and told them about the mirror. She told me to take Chateau Jucy out to the airport (20 minutes away) to fill out a claim and have someone look at it. So I bombed out there and by the time I completed the claim, the mirror was installed.... just like that!

Back in town, I headed out to get a Fergburger. Apparently, it's the place to eat. The line ups are long. A Fergburger is huge.... and I ate the whole thing!

I'm booked here for another night but seeing that my mirror is fixed, I'm going to head out to Arrow Town tomorrow for my last night. I'll spend a quiet night there doing laundry.

March 7
Raining, raining, raining...... ugh!! Up early and on the road to Arrowtown. Pretty little town, I wandered the shops (Main Street), then walked over to a park where an event was going on. It turned out to be mountain bike races and a marathon. Decided but to stay for the night, the lady at the I site said that the Holiday Park is probably full because of the races. So I drove back to Queenstown and checked back into the same camper park.

The sun came out this afternoon. I've just been relaxing and packing for my flight tomorrow. Took a last walk into downtown. Sat by the lake and people watched.

March 8
Sunny but cold today. Did my final packing and said a tearful farewell to Chateau Jucy. She served me well. I am at the airport all checked in waiting for my flight.

It's hard to believe that my time in New Zealand is over. This month flew by, my worries and apprehension I felt before my adventure began is all but a memory. I sit now and wonder what the heck was I so worried about? A friend message me on Facebook today, he said "I just want to say how incredibly proud I am of you for taking this journey. I am pretty sure that everyday you are making discoveries and sometimes digging deep, but it truly helps to define you." This trip has been very good for me. I've learned that I am a strong person and that life will go on for me. I've dug deep, very deep this last month. I've missed my children and grandsons but it's Gerald that I have missed more this month than ever before. This is a trip we should be sharing together, but it's not to be.... So I will do it for both of us.

I loved the scenery on South Island. Every turn, every bay... Milford Sound, Punakaki (Pancake Rocks), all beautiful, amazing places. The weather here is very much like BC. I've found it chilly since I left Punakaki. The North Island has beautiful beaches and the weather is much warmer. If I could live here... I'd live on Norh Island. No matter what, New Zealand is a beautiful country. If you ever get a chance to visit you should.

It will be sad to leave Chateau Jucy behind (not!). We have had a love/hate relationship, but all in all she has been awesome. I have driven 2,314 km in South Island, grand total 5,567 km in New Zealand.

Start: 259,499
North island: 261,752
End: 264,067

Total driven: 5,567 km

I'll see you in Australia....