Queenstown is set in one of the loveliest places on earth and we feel highly privileged to have a view of the mountains surrounding Queenstown from not only our lounge but also our bedroom!

We woke this morning to the wind blowing a gale and the rain lashing down in showers. We were very glad not to be making the crossing back to Invercargill by sea! In fact the flight was a little bumpy but we landed safely if a little late having been buffeted by the wind!

It was also blowing a gale in Invercargill and only 13c! However as we journeyed up to Queenstown the temperature dropped to 9c at one point! This is supposed to be summer! We travelled through showers but it was sunny by the time we arrived in Queenstown and 14c! We met up with our friends Joan and John from Melbourne and had some lunch in the rose gardens near the lake.

John and Joan Cooper

After this we were able to check in at our hotel - though actually what we have is a 2 bedroom apartment - and this is more like a maisonette as it has an upstairs! As I've already said we have wonderful views. Wherever you look there are mountains or lake - stunning!

View from our balcony

We spent what was left of the afternoon ascending Bob's Peak in a gondola and gawping at the views! Mind you it was even chillier up there and I had to resort to wearing my gloves - only intended for waiting at Basildon station on our departure from the UK! We only saw one bungee jumper but spent some time watching the people on the luge, when we weren't looking at the view!

Looking towards The Remarkable from Bob's Peak

Since returning to lake level we have had our evening meal at a very nice restaurant called Fishbone and now back at the apartment we are rather mundanely doing the washing! I do keep checking the view to make sure it is still there though!