So, I picked up the car yesterday morning from Avis in Christchurch. Â It happened to be just a few minutes walk from the hotel where we were staying. Â Drove back, loaded up, then headed south. Â We were heading to Queenstown some almost 500km or 300 miles from Christchurch.
We left around 930am, and finally got there around 530pm. Â However, we stopped several times along the way – coffee, shopping, photos, drinks, lunch etc.. Â it was fun to stop, and gave us a good flavour of the countryside.
Driving was ok.  Roads seem pretty good condition, but a 100km speed limit on the open road is sort of limiting.  Lots  of 2 lane roads, lots of narrow bridges, but some stunning landscape.
For the most part, the weather was pretty co-operative for us. Â We enjoyed some decent sunshine. Â Lots of cattle and lots of sheep along the way. Â Gradually after leaving Christchurch, the landscape began to change, and was soon fairly dramatic. Â One of our stops was at Lake Tekapo where the water was a very azure looking colour – not sure if the photos below do it justice.
We spent the night in our lodge – Pencarrow Lodge in the Frankton area of Queenstown (where Grace Jones was in concert – a) I didn’t know she did concerts, and b) I’m surprised anyone cared). The views from our room that had a sort of turret there, Â were amazing, looking down on the lake below. Nice place to stay, albeit just for one night.
Stunning views from our room at Pencarrow.
