Te Anau to Queenstown – ‘The mountains are calling and I must go’
After stopping by the Sandfly Café for a delectable meat pie breakfast, we spent the next few hours wandering around Lake Te Anau. The panoramic views were spectacular! Te Anau is known as the gateway to the fiords and was reminiscent of a sleepy lakeside resort, welcoming and relaxed. It offers pristine views of the surrounding mountain ranges as well as access to three separate hiking tracks, a bird sanctuary, and water-sporting activities. I highly recommend staying here as a jumping off point to exploring the surrounding glacier-carved wilderness of the Fiordland.
Our return drive from Te Anau to Queenstown took us from the majestic mountain ranges of the fiords through the lush green rolling hill country to the southern tip of Lake Wakatipu and the Devil’s Staircase. Easily one of the most photogenic spots in Otago, the road snakes around the lake, providing incredible views of the Remarkables which are, in a word, remarkable!
Back in Queenstown, the gorgeous weather and genuine beauty of the area were calling, so we geared up for a short hike along the Sunshine Bay Track towards Glenorchy. With views across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peaks, a rocky beach area perfect for a picnic, and a side-track that leads to a waterfall, this around 3 mile ‘there and back again’ trail is a perfect half-day adventure!
To say our good-byes to Queenstown (and New Zealand), we popped over to Queenstown Skyline for a leisurely gondola ride to the top of Bob’s Peak. We grabbed a drink from the Café and wandered onto the massive patio area to relish the breath-taking views of the surrounding region and Queenstown below. New Zealand, you are simply beautiful!
The complex offers a myriad of adventure activities to choose from, including a luge, bungy-jumping, mountain-biking, and paragliding. There are also several dining options, gifts shops, and art exhibits to peruse; however, we spent our last few hours soaking in the sunset, enjoying each other’s company, and vowing to return to New Zealand! We are quite ready for another adventure!
