Cromwell - "The Stone Fruit Capital of the South", South Island, New Zealand

 A stop in Cromwell to shop and taste 'stone' fruit.

Cromwell is known as the 'stone fruit capital of the south'.

 

 

   This cute little roadside stop was a pleasant surprise!  

 

 

 Everything was displayed so beautifully!

 

 

 ...and beside the store was a gorgeous rose garden!

 

 

Cromwell, South Island, New Zealand

December 1, 2012



The Drive to Arrowtown, South Island, New Zealand

 Beautiful scenery between Queenstown and Arrowtown, South Island, New Zealand.

December 1, 2012, the first day of summer in New Zealand has the chill of early spring!

 

 

 This is part of the grounds of a popular golf course near Arrowtown.

 

 

 We had time to explore the little town but first...our group stops to admire the natural surroundings along a creek.

 

 

 The wild lupine is splendid!

 

 

 Queenstown to Arrowtown, South Island, New Zealand

December 1, 2012

 

Walter Peak High Country Farm - Queenstown, New Zealand

 We spent several hours at the Walter Peak Sheep Station and now it's time to return to Queenstown via the TSS Earnslaw (steamship) on Lake Wakatipu. 

 

The sheep dogs are off duty now and joining the staff to say "good-bye" to another tour group as we board the boat.

 No doubt these dogs are truly loved and well cared for!

 

 

 

 

 Precious Moments!

Walter Peak Sheep Station on the south shore of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, New Zealand

November 30, 2012

 



Waiting Sheep - Walter Peak Sheep Station, Queenstown, New Zealand

 These sheep are waiting to be sheared.

 

 

 I love that sweet face!

 

Walter Peak Sheep Station

on the south shore of Lake Wakatipu

Queenstown, New Zealand

November 30, 2012

 



Walter Peak Sheep Station, Queenstown, New Zealand

 An amazing bird sits on a fence at the Walter Peak Sheep Station on the south shore of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, New Zealand.

We were about to watch a sheep farmer and his dog gather sheep on demand...

 

 

 The dog got his instructions and off he goes!

 

 

 Here comes the first bunch down the hill.

 

 

 They can really run!

 

 

 Amazing!

 

 

These guys thought they would sneak back up the hill, but the dog was on them in a flash.

Walter Peak Sheep Station

Queenstown, New Zealand

November 30, 2012

 



Walter Peak Sheep Station and TSS Earnslaw - Queenstown, New Zealand

This is a view of Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, New Zealand.

The TSS Earnslaw is in the distance.

We had a lovely group dinner at Walter Peak Station, a 25,758 hectare working high country sheep station on the southern shore of Lake Wakatipu.

 



We had the opportunity to see sheep dogs in action and to see how clever they are!

But first we were distracted by the beauty of this steam ship returning to the shore to eventually take us back to Queenstown, about an hour's journey across this beautiful lake.

 



Walter Peak Station

Queenstown, New Zealand

November 30, 2012

 



Cruising Wakatipu Lake - Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand

 We had great expectations for our last evening in Queenstown and we were not disappointed.

First, we made our way through town to be at the boarding area for the TSS Earnslaw lake cruise.

We were on time!

 

 

 The TSS Earnslaw is a steamship and puts out a lot of black smoke...seems like pollution to me?!

Queenstown is back in the distance as we cruised for about an hour to our destination, a lovely dinner at a sheep farm.

 

 

 ...just in case!

 

 details are important!

 

 

 

 same emergency boat but from another level

 

 

 

 this boat is easy to spot on the lake!

Looking Up!

Just in case on the other side, too.

 

 beautiful Lake Wakatipu!

 

 

 Here is the sheep farm and our final destination.

 

 

 A look back towards Queenstown...

 

 

Our vessel shall wait...

 

Lake Wakatipu @ Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand

November 30, 2012