Glaciers, Wine & Sunshine - Finding Our “True South”
There are fewer things as promising to travelers as waking up to brilliant sunshine in a new and foreign land.
It’s a sensation of equal parts mystery and excitement akin to the nervousness one feels speaking to a beautiful woman (or man) for the very first time.
Where will this initial conversation take us? Where will this day take us?
We travel to explore. We travel to talk to the locals. We travel to learn about new cultures. We travel to expand our life experience. We travel to grow and learn.
We travel virtually because books, songs, and movies only whet our appetite like tasty appetizers on the restaurant menu. We travel in real time because we want the main entree followed by a welcome glass of wine.
If we didn’t care about those things above, we would stay at home and save our money. But you can’t take that money with you when you go at the end.
Today, Lauren and I boarded a helicopter to view the morning sun cresting over the Southern Alps and Mount Aspiring National Park.
A rare chance to capture a Birds Eye view of untouched native New Zealand forests, glacial icefalls, snow capped mountains and the Milford Sound from ~ 8000 feet.
Landing on the snowy Tutako Glacier, we (five) Tree Top Flyers (tourists) were treated to a pristine panoramic views of Queenstown (Māori: Tāhuna) which the remaining town population of ~ 17,000 would never experience on this glorious Thursday morning.
“Over there on that peak is where Tom Cruise filmed scenes from the Mission Impossible 6 movie,” our pilot Scotty casually mentioned.
Because the day’s weather was exceptional, our helicopter outfitter company offered us an additional 20 minute flight down to Milford Sound at no additional charge.
Yes please!
Upon landing back at the Heli-pad, Lauren and I could not wipe the smiles from our faces.
Time to celebrate!
We booked a four hour wine tour through the world famous Gibbston Valley Winery region including stops at Gibbston (wine cave tour), Cargo Winery and Brennan Winery enjoying wine flights, cheese and meat boards and endless sunshine.
Drinking wine in a beanbag chair staring aimlessly at the Remarkables is an experience I would strongly recommend if one finds themselves in Queenstown.
Down the road a piece, is the location of the very first bungee jumping platform in the world at 143 meters. Created in the early 80s.
That was a hard pass!
All good South Island, New Zealand things must come to an end.
We concluded our day with a ride aboard the TSS Earnslaw. The steamship has been transporting goods and people to/from the Walter Peak High Country Farm for “locals only” dinner on Lake Wakatipu since 1912.
“That’s the way it happens on the Far Side of the World.” ~ Jimmy Buffett.
Thanks for the priceless memories, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Dad & Daughter
Finding our True South (Island)
January 12, 2023
#thisisus3060 #liveyourdash
There are fewer things as promising to travelers as waking up to brilliant sunshine in a new and foreign land.
It’s a sensation of equal parts mystery and excitement akin to the nervousness one feels speaking to a beautiful woman (or man) for the very first time.
Where will this initial conversation take us? Where will this day take us?
We travel to explore. We travel to talk to the locals. We travel to learn about new cultures. We travel to expand our life experience. We travel to grow and learn.
We travel virtually because books, songs, and movies only whet our appetite like tasty appetizers on the restaurant menu. We travel in real time because we want the main entree followed by a welcome glass of wine.
If we didn’t care about those things above, we would stay at home and save our money. But you can’t take that money with you when you go at the end.
Today, Lauren and I boarded a helicopter to view the morning sun cresting over the Southern Alps and Mount Aspiring National Park.
A rare chance to capture a Birds Eye view of untouched native New Zealand forests, glacial icefalls, snow capped mountains and the Milford Sound from ~ 8000 feet.
Landing on the snowy Tutako Glacier, we (five) Tree Top Flyers (tourists) were treated to a pristine panoramic views of Queenstown (Māori: Tāhuna) which the remaining town population of ~ 17,000 would never experience on this glorious Thursday morning.
“Over there on that peak is where Tom Cruise filmed scenes from the Mission Impossible 6 movie,” our pilot Scotty casually mentioned.
Because the day’s weather was exceptional, our helicopter outfitter company offered us an additional 20 minute flight down to Milford Sound at no additional charge.
Yes please!
Upon landing back at the Heli-pad, Lauren and I could not wipe the smiles from our faces.
Time to celebrate!
We booked a four hour wine tour through the world famous Gibbston Valley Winery region including stops at Gibbston (wine cave tour), Cargo Winery and Brennan Winery enjoying wine flights, cheese and meat boards and endless sunshine.
Drinking wine in a beanbag chair staring aimlessly at the Remarkables is an experience I would strongly recommend if one finds themselves in Queenstown.
Down the road a piece, is the location of the very first bungee jumping platform in the world at 143 meters. Created in the early 80s.
That was a hard pass!
All good South Island, New Zealand things must come to an end.
We concluded our day with a ride aboard the TSS Earnslaw. The steamship has been transporting goods and people to/from the Walter Peak High Country Farm for “locals only” dinner on Lake Wakatipu since 1912.
“That’s the way it happens on the Far Side of the World.” ~ Jimmy Buffett.
Thanks for the priceless memories, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Dad & Daughter
Finding our True South (Island)
January 12, 2023
#thisisus3060 #liveyourdash
© Scott Kern