Cromwell to Queenstown

Leaving Cromwell, you go up the mountain pass, following the river to yet another range of mountains.

Roaring Meg, is a little stream with it's hydro plant on the way . This river was extensively mined for gold in the 1860's.

Queenstown is breathtaking like almost everything else we've seem in South Island. It is a cross between the outdoor activity of somewhere like Park City, with the beauty of the lakes in the Swiss alps.

It is the self proclaimed adventure sports capital of the world. Jump from planes, heli ski, jet boat up a class 4 rapid, you name it, they do it. We took a more leisurely alternative.

We went by 1906 steamer to a high country sheep station for afternoon tea and sheep shearing demonstration.
May not be terribly adventurous, but it was very enjoyable. The boat trip took about an hour.

The sheep station was about 150 miles by road from the nearest town, so boat was the link to civilization for all the people living at the station.






The fleece sells for about $20. Not much when you think about all the labor involved in rounding them up and shearing them. It took him about 10 minutes to clip the sheep. Each sheep gets shewn twice a year. In comparison a lamb sells for $100, so a lot of genetic research is going on to breed sheep that produce twins

The station was about 120 years old and the gardens were magnificent. A great spot for a destination wedding!