The Swanson's New Zealand Trip

Queenstown to Christchurch: 21 May

Early to rise (but definitely not "bright") to pack, check out of our Queenstown hotel, and await the InterCity coach. This is the part of the tours that we do not like, the "you gotta be in the lobby at dark o'clock" part.

In a pouring rain (did we mention that it rained most of the time we were in Queenstown—the ski nuts were in heaven!) we boarded the coach, this time driven by Craig. Our destination? Christchurch via Mount Cook. We picked up other passengers at various hotels and, after a stop at the Queenstown bus depot, we were on our way.

We retraced our route as far as Cromwell, where we headed easterly toward Mount Cook. The clouds never did lift, thus we never got to see Mount Cook even though we "lunched" at its base. We did get a glimpse of it during our bus trip down the West Coast to Fox Glacier, and it is impressive. Sorry we couldn't get some good images—but we gotta save something for next time...

After Mount Cook we continued northeast, again crossing the Canterbury Plains and arrived at downtown Christchurch about 6:30 P.M. Transfer transportation from the bus depot to our hotel was part of our package, so the minivan (with its little luggage trailer) was waiting. We almost didn't get on due to a very agressive (and large) [ethnic group deleted] family. Thanks to my grandmother's lethal elbows I "bagged" us a couple of seats. Once we got to the hotel Bob bulldozed his way to the reception desk & we got our room assignment before the others knew what was happening. Not all travel companions are pleasant...

Once checked in we arranged for a rental car, had dinner at Sophie's Cafe [steaks!] (again a short walk from the hotel), and headed to bed. Tomorrow started the second phase of our holiday, the "self-drive" part where we toured the South Island North Coast.

The "thumbnails" following this narrative are a select subset of our Queenstown to Christchurch images. They may be "enlarged" by clicking on them with your mouse pointer. Enjoy!

Bob doesn't "do" mornings...

Lake Pukaki @ foot of Mount Cook

Our "best shot" of Mount Cook

Beautifully restored building in Geraldine

Sixty-six million sheep—they gotta be on the road...

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