Mums with prams

 
November 15th

By Sunday lunchtime, Jean was calling and it was time to burn off a few more calories. We headed out of town via Arrowtown and the Shotover River, the centre of the shortlived 19th century gold rush. Arrowtown is smaller than Queenstown, and its quaint buildings reflect its history - Victorian England meets the wild west. The road took us over the Cardrona Pass, with a great viewpoint, and towards the skifields of Coronet Peak and then onto Wanuka, where we stopped to hike/walk./stroll up to another viewpoint overlooking Iron Mountain.

In order to decide if we need to get our hiking boots on, the group has taken to asking our guides what type of walk we are about to encounter. Their answers have to be taken with a large pinch of salt. We have already learned that “I’ve done it in flip-flops” means it’s really steep but there aren’t too many rocks to scramble over. Today’s code, “mums with prams run up here”, actually meant it’s dry, dusty, windy and really steep, but it’s mostly gravel, with just the odd rough bit. And for the record, I didn’t see a single baby buggy on the track. We did, however, have a fantastic view of completely different scenery, with green fields and poplar trees in foreground surrounding an impossibly blue lake, with mountains behind. School field trips here would clearly show how glacial valleys are formed.

Our final destination today was Makarora – population 65 – staying at the Wilderness Resort, code for a few draughty A-frame chalets, and a pub that closed on Sundays. They are advertising for investors – but not sure if this one would make it through the Dragon’s Den.