Day 13 - Queenstown and Manapouri

I was in need of a slower-paced day by this point so we got up and had breakfast and then spent some time walking around Queenstown.  It was Saturday so they had a market right along Lake Wakitipu which was right across the street from our hostel.  I picked up coffee at this cute place called Patagonia which also sold yummy chocolates.  Queenstown is known for adventure sports so we saw jet boats, people parasailing, and paragliding.  It is supposedly the birthplace of bungee jumping. Anyway, we did none of that but we did enjoy a nice walk around the lake.  Next time we visit NZ, I would like to spend more time here.  After our leisurely morning, we headed to Manapouri.  One of the things that our schedule change had allowed was time to spend in the fiord lands.  The road to Milford Sound (the most well known sound) was closed due to mudslides so we scheduled a cruise for the following day to Doubtful Sound.

This was the Bumbles BP in Queenstown.

This is the view from Bumbles.  Nice, right?

There was a great path around the lake and a frisbee golf course.  Next time I am totally going for a run around the Lake. 

We had no place booked for the next few days but found this place in Lonely Planet.  Cute rustic cabins that had gas cook tops, wood stove for heat and solar powered bathrooms down at the bottom of the hill.

View from Freestone BP of Lake Manapouri.

After we checked in, we did a short hike on the Kepler Track.    

Sign showing the names of the peaks.

Shallow Bay.  There wasn't another person on this beach.

 After our hike, we got some groceries and headed back to our cabin to make dinner.  In town I ran into someone from Oregon (I was wearing a Hood to Coast tshirt that they recognized and asked where I was from).  As we made dinner we were reminded that New Zealanders don't believe in screens for windows.  We kept our windows open past dark and a bunch of mosquitos got in.  Matt ended the lives of at least 30 before he could feel sure that we would not be eaten alive in our sleep.