Catching up with Ineke Woodward

On Wednesday Feb 27th (three weeks into our trip) we left Wellington, (after a one night stopover) to drive to Taupo. We had a break at Otaki Beach to catch up with our friend of many many years Ineke Woodward.
Ineke has a cottage just off the beach at Otaki. It is a serene environment where Ineke can put a lot of time into creating art, both painting and sculpture. An early work of Ineke's. We have several of her pieces in our home.

After a too short hour with Ineke we continued that awful drive to Taupo. We hope we catch up with Ineke again soon, hopefully in Auckland.

NELSON

After a long drive from Clearwater in Christchurch we arrived in Nelson to The Waterside Apartments overlooking The Port. An excellent venue, not far from the City (3 minutes) and with four top waterfront restaurants within a 200 metre radius.

Below the view from The Waterside Apartments

THE WATERSIDE APARTMENTS

THE BOAT SHED RESTAURANT

In the evening we had a magnificent fish dinner at The Boat Shed, just a two minute walk from our apartment. This restaurant we highly recommend. Next morning we had a round of golf at Nelson Golf Club, where we both struggled with the links course and the near gale force winds. We then visited John Duncan (Dee's brother) at The Founders Brewery and caught up with Judy, (Dee's sister) too. It was wonderful see them again after a ten year gap. John and his wife Carol own and operate the Brewery and Cafe.
That evening we had another excellent dinner at The Boat Shed.

Next morning we were off to Wellington. A power packed short Nelson stopover.

CLEARWATER GOLF RESORT

After a tiring drive from Queenstown we arrived at Clearwater Golf Resort in Christchurch. The accommodation in Villas is excellent and the golf course is surrounded by a high standard of homes. A good example of a first class golf/living environment.
JT on 18; she had a great day whilst I struggled along enjoying the walk and the views, especially the fine homes.One of the easier par 3's. This is a long course from the blue tees and I struggled to get 33 stableford. There is always tomorrow!

One of my favourites of the homes overlooking the course.

The Lakeside Villas. We stayed in one of these and were most impressed. A good deck with views over the lake and golf course; downstairs open plan living, dining, kitchen plus toilet. Upstairs, bedroom with Super King bed and ensuite plus another good sized deck.

MT COOK

On the way to Christchurch we caught Mt. Cook at its best.

THE WONDERFUL QUEENSTOWN GOLF CLUB

Of all the terrific golf courses we have played; this has to be the most scenic and a great test of golf as well. If in Queenstown you must play here.

JT finishes off on one of the many scenic settings.

A par 4, dog leg right. A short hole but requiring a sharp approach shot.

A par 3 with water in front, the Lake behind and the tee shot from up a hill. Fantastic.

TAYMACS BIG DAY OUT

Our BIG DAY OUT started with golf at Millbrook; yet another Queenstown course where the views are just breathtaking.

JT on the 9th tee.

JT putts on 1 and in the background more magic scenery.

After golf and a light lunch overlooking the 18th green it was up the GONDOLA and more of Queenstown's big views. The peninsula here is actually the Queenstown Golf Course, which we play the next day.

John with the Queenstown Golf Club course in the background.

We decided to make the climb (and it is a real trek) up to watch the tandem paraglider launch. Here is JT at the start of the climb.

At the launch site we saw several people, mainly brave (stupid) tourists taking and making successful glides off the cliff and into the unknown; it looked fun and easy and made one want to participate. But then....a German speaking lady was set up to launch off the other, more dangerous and steeper side of the cliff.

After waiting for the right wind (15 minutes or more), her instructor said "Run, Run, Run". She ran; she chickened and she stumbled into a heap at the edge of the sheer drop, almost taking both her and her leader over and OUT

You can see here how frightening this looks.

Her instructor, a very determined (thick headed) chap, was not deterred. So; off to to more gentle side of the cliff to try again.

After what seemed a very long wait to us, and a lifetime to the now petrified German speaking lady, they tried again. "RUN, RUN, RUN" he shouted and again she stumbled and chickened out. The instructor just kept moving forward and pushed her into the void. Screams and shouts; first of fear, then of relief and excitement as they got airborne. This is a day the German speaking lady will remember forever and for us, any desire to do this has been totally voided!

Off they go; to our and their relief.

Our BIG DAY OUT was wonderful, as is this town.

ARROWTOWN GOLF CLUB; SUNDAY FEB 17 2008

RICK, JOHN AND JT ON ONE OF ARROWTOWN'S SPECTACULAR TEES

We had heard that ARROWTOWN was an interesting golf course and we found it so. A most unusual and spectacular course with short par 4's and 5's but difficult because of the terrain. We were joined by Rick, an American eye surgeon here for a conference at Millbrook. Rick played off a 5 and was great company.

John, off the 18th. A poor shot but followed by a good recovery.

Above, JT does some mountaineering, and immediately above a good chip to the green. After seven matches so far on our tour the match-play deadlock was broken with John winning today 5 and 4. Tomorrow we play Millbrook.

WANAKA TO QUEENSTOWN: OUR EASY DAY

THE VIEW FROM OUR ROOM AT WANAKA (EARLY EVENING) This was our easiest day yet; a gentle rambling drive via Cadronna to Arrowtown, then Queenstown: our base for the next 5 days. Our motel at Wanaka was OK, with a Lake view and reasonable facilities. It even had Sky so JT could watch the One Day cricket. Our apartment in Queenstown does not have Sky, so it better be OK in other respects. It is. It has a wonderful view and is a very modern, well fitted apartment at a very good (low) rate. We had a late breakfast (1pm) in the town centre, unpacked and then settled in to the apartment. Our food supply was low so it was time to visit New World at The Remarkables Shopping Village. With food shopping done we then read or just relaxed overlooking the magnificent view from our deck or watched TV.

VIEW OF THE TRIP SO FAR

THE SOUTHERN ALPS AT 7am FROM TERRACE DOWNS GOLF RESORT

TERRACE DOWNS TO WANAKA

On our last evening at Terrace Downs it rained; oh how it rained. When we left at 9am in the morning it was 5.5 degrees. However, our trip was smooth and apart from a petrol stop at Geraldine and a loo & view stop at Lake Pukaki we went straight through to Wanaka in about 4 hours 45 minutes.

The views at Lake Pukaki were mighty impressive and at about 8 degrees in the height of summer bloody cold!

Wanaka was 12 degrees when we arrived and we had a hot lunch to stop the shivering. Then check into the motel and off for 9 holes at The Wanaka Golf Club.

What a background this golf club has; it fair put me off my game! Above Jt at the 3rd tee with Laka Wanaka in the background.

JT has a long put to halve the 3rd; it was just short.

The Voltaren kicks in as John marks his ball on the 2nd green. Below JT with that wonderful view from The Wanaka Golf Club in the background.