Queenstown
At last the day came for our NZ trip after a long mental preparation and wait.
It was hard to pack our hiking gears and travel necessities altogether.
I thought it would be easier without our tents and mattresses which was true
but still there were so many craps we needed unfortunately.
It's spring time in NZ like us but there were heavy snow falls both in Milford track and Routeburn one
a couple weeks before we went.
We had to be prepared for cold and wet weather with proper gears.
Even I heard we had to pay for helicopter rides to pass blocked areas for both tracks but just before we left
the Milford one was cleared (Thank God!)which meant saving around 300 dollars for 3 of us.
We were offered we could have cancelled our hikes 3 days prior to them but I wanted to do even if we had to
pay for unexpected heli rides.
Rather I thought it would be an experience.
Anyhow we off went to the airport and arrived at Queenstown without any glitch.
This was our second visit to NZ and so I felt I knew what I could expect from there.
Our first visit to NZ was almost the same time as this around Suze's birthday which was
3 years ago in 2014.
I expected it windy and chilly even though it could be very warm there at the same time too.
So I wore a winter jumper over a t-shirt.
We had breakfast home but for some reason we were famished after all the processes through.
There was a sushi train at the Sydney Airport where we had some sushi and ramen.
Even we enjoyed light meals supplied by Quantas on board.
Queenstown Airport was situated in a wide field surrounded with huge tall mountains far away.
I felt free and happy with this simple fact.
That's why you travel...to be freed from busy and crowded environment for a while I was reminded.
Like a usual small country airport we walked on the tarmac after getting off from the airplane
to the carousel and they searched all of our bags meticulously due to our hiking gears and food
items we carried.
I remembered we used shared shuttle bus to the hotels several times last time so we didn't hesitate to
do so this time.
The lady who drove us to our hotel along with other passengers was very friendly and the fare was quite reasonable.
Once we checked in at the hotel I urged them to go to Doc( Department of Conservation) to pick up our tickets
for Routeburn track before they closed.
We had to pay for the helicopter ride for Harris Pass in Routeburn Track.
It was sunshiny and hot in Queenstown.
My winter jumper was very unsuitable in fact.
We strolled around the town and to the lake where everyone was gathered half naked enjoying
the warm and bright afternoon.
I was impressed again with the crystal clear and clean lake which sparkled under the blessed sun with the most exotic
and beautiful emerald blue and turquoise colours.
We walked the dirt track along the lake towards Frankton way and had some photo shots for prettily arranged
city scenery combined with the lake and cosy housing on the small hills surrounding city centre.
City was buzzing with tourists as before.
We had simple dinner at a small Japanese pub style restaurant before we headed for the hotel.
Time there was 2 hours ahead of us and warm sun was long lasting until before 9 pm there.
We packed our 3 big backpacks for the next 3 day's hike in Routeburn and 4 days in Milford.
In between after Routeburn we would stay one night in Te Anou where we would wash our hiking
clothes and restock our meals for Milford Track.
