We spent a night in Haast saying farewell to the West Coast and the Southern Alps. The highway then snaked along the Haast River and over the 563m Haast Pass. We had lunch by the river.
It was a beautiful drive through part of the Fjordland.
Queenstown is surrounded by the indigo heights of the Remarkables and framed by Lake Wakatipu.
A Little History
The town had a Whistler village feel to it, and was full of restaurants, bars and outdoor gear shops. In 1863 it became a mining town with streets and permanent building and it was declared 'fit for a queen' by the NZ government, thus the name. It is the playground for all kinds of adventure sports, so the streets and bars are full of young people. Very lively.
Ben Lomond Summit
The trail started very close to the campground and at the foot of the Skyride. As we started to climb we felt like we were doing the Grind, and the climbing continued for hours up above the tree line,
towards the Ben Lomond Summit at 1,763m covered in the clouds.
It started drizzling as we hit the Saddle, but the view was beautiful anyhow.
As the Summit was clouded in Dorte didn't expect the view to better than half way up from the Saddle, and to save her knee for another hike, she waited for Andy enjoying the view of Queenstown. Andy made it to the Summit, of course!
The hike took us about six hours in total, and we had a well-deserved beer afterwards.
Every time we passed the Fergburger there was a lineup out the door, so we had to try their burger, and it was yummy.
This sequoia tree was planted in 1874, and is 31m high - impressive.
