The Wooing Tree

This morning we set off on the 257 k drive from Te Anau to Queenstown through  absolutely stunning, picture postcard scenery.

For many years, people have been drawn to the beautiful Lake Wakatipu and alpine areas around Queenstown, starting with early Maori who came in search of Pounamu (greenstone). European settlers followed, with sights set on fertile grazing land. They discovered a whole lot more when shining gold lit up the region’s waterways!  A gold rush sprang up overnight in the 1860s, marking the start of an international fascination with the Queenstown region.

We’re VERY happy with our home for the next 3 nights…it is beautifully appointed and here are the views from our living room…

& the view from our bedroom

We had lunch in  a cute café on the waterfront…

don’t you love the recycled glass jar my Pacific Bling 
freshly squeezed juice came in?  

We were amazed to see several paragliders floating down from Bob’s Peak over the town 

and Andrew followed them to an oval where we watched them land.

While mum was at the hairdresser this afternoon dad, 

Andrew and I did a supermarket shop and were very impressed with the selection of wine…

we have been keen to try Wooing Tree Rose & found a bottle! 

Here's mum with the bottle of Wooing Tree...the story goes that the Wooing Tree is a local landmark sitting prominently in the middle of the vineyard. The tree has long been a popular place for locals to woo their lovers…very romantic…I’m hoping to visit and dad is keen too! 

Dinner with a spectacular view…we're all beginning to think we 

should have come & stayed the whole 3 weeks here.