Sunrise to sunset

Up early before the moon had set and the sun had totally risen!

Ferry left at 8am and we had very calm crossing even had a coffee on the way.

Drove to Stirling Point end of Route 1 where there are matching chains  to the redish ones on the island rather more visible this time

and signpost to all significant places, a long way from home!

Drove back to Queenstown for lunch although driver told us different things to keep us entertained and ate over looking the water in quiet part not explored before.

Onward to the site of the first bungy jump, by A J Hackett , free to those over 65 but I didn't fancy spending £90 on 30 seconds of 'fun'!

Then past Cromwell where stopped at very good fruit stall so vitamin C quotient will be ok, passing through Mackenzie country where in theory lots of sheep. So far it seems like we have seen nearly as many deer and dairy farms as sheep ones although these are Merino which gives very soft and expensive wool.

Bus playing up again and eventually rescued by another bus to take us to Lake Ohau lodge. Beautiful spot on lake, skiing resort in the winter, weather still rather cloudy but caught a rainbow out of the restaurant window but no fancy sunset which we might otherwise have had over the lake.

Bus repaired by morning and another lovely sunrise

before setting off back to Christchurch via parts of the major hydro electricity complex of lakes and canals,

the Church of the Good Shepherd on lake Tekapo founded by one Rev Davies (who else!!), 'Geraldine' for lunch and the Canterbury plains rather flat after all these mountains.

Arrived in Christchurch just before 4.00pm and visited the museum where there was a very good exhibition on the photo's taken on the Scott and Shakleton expeditions to Antartica, plus walked round the botanical gardens before heading back to hotel. Very pleased to meet up with school friend Tricia's (who I'm visiting in Melbourne later) brother Michael and his wife Lori

for a trip to the beach at Sumner and supper. 

Probably close to 40 years since I last saw them. It was extremely good of them to give up their Monday evening to me as they live outside the city and are both still working so thank-you!

Slightly diminished group now continuing to the north island over the next 11 days, hope the bus holds up.