new zealand vacation, accomodation, travel information, flight, car rental

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

The Remarkable Beauty, Queenstown, New Zealand

The Remarkables at Queenstown creates an impressive backdrop for many photographers and film makers. It was used as the backdrop of a scene in the Lord of The Rings movie too (click for more info).

The mountain range is geographically unique as it runs in a North-South direction. So even without a compass, you can tell where North, South, East and West are, simply by looking at the mountain range.

My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, The Remarkables, Pano140
(click for larger photo)
The left side points North, while the right side points South
View from Deer Park
Queenstown, Aug 2006

There are various stories regarding how The Remarkables got its name. One story cites its unique North-South orientation. Another which I have read attributes it to the different colours of the mountain range as seen during the day and across the seasons. Having seen for myself the colours of The Remarkables over the many vacations spent in Queenstown, I will go for the latter story.

If a picture paints a thousand words, then these photos speak volumes about the remarkable beauty of The Remarkables.

My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, The Remarkables, 2004Pano02a
(click above for larger photo)
The Remarkables in ash-grey in winter
View from Steamer Wharf
Queenstown, July 2004


My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, The Remarkables, Pano71
(click above and below for larger photos)
The Remarkables in "brownies" in late spring
View from Lake Esplanade
Queenstown, Nov 2005
My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, The Remarkables, Pano73
My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, The Remarkables, Pano160-Crop
(click above and below for larger photos)
The Remarkables having the "blues" in winter
View from Lake Esplanade
Queenstown, Aug 2006
My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, The Remarkables, Pano161a
My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, The Remarkables, Pano149b
(click above and below for larger photos)
The Remarkables in the "pink of health" in winter
View from Lake Esplanade
Queenstown, Aug 2006
My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, The Remarkables, Pano153
My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, The Remarkables, Pano156a-Crop
(click for larger photo)
The Remarkables "on fire" in winter
View from Lake Esplanade
Queenstown, Aug 2006

Monday, May 14, 2007

STOP at Queenstown, New Zealand

Surrounding Queenstown, there are 3 easily recognizable mountain ranges. They are The Remarkables with its Double Cone Peak at 2,343m, Cecil Peak at 1,974m and Walter Peak at 1,815m. They are shown in below photos as from left to right.

I have been in Queenstown across all four seasons and every time I have enjoyed its spectacular scenery. The weather, sunlight, clouds, water in the lake and even the trees, they all make this place very beautiful across the seasons. Do you see the red road sign in the middle of below photo? It shows “STOP” and that was what I did to enjoy the view and to capture it!

My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, Pano20a
(click for larger photo)
This view was taken on a rather steep road in early winter
Steamer Wharf, where TSS Earnslaw docks, is behind the brown building on the left
Queenstown, Jun 2005

Queenstown is especially popular with tourists in summer and winter. There is no better season than summer to enjoy the activities that this Adventure Capital offers. If you are tramping into the national parks, kayaking, jetboating, bungee jumping, horse riding …. or joining the numerous tours, the fine weather in summer is best for these outdoor activities.

My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, 2005Pano48
(click for larger photo)
View from the bay in early spring
Steamer Wharf is at the building on the extreme right
Queenstown, Sep 2005

If you visit Queenstown in summer for its spectacular scenery, then you may be a little disappointed as the mountains will be bare of snow as shown in bottom photo. It is still a scenic place but in my opinion, without the snow on the mountains, Queenstown lacks the wow(!) factor.

My favourite seasons to visit are mid-autumn (April), mid-late winter (Jul-Aug) and early-mid spring (Sep-Oct).

My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, Pano49
(click for larger photo)
View from the bay (near Steamer Wharf) in early spring
Queenstown, Sep 2005

Queenstown Gardens is the area of the trees in these photos. In autumn, the smaller trees along the lakefront are golden yellow and make a spectacular sight. I don’t have the digital photos (only in prints) but you can imagine the golden yellow colours against the bigger trees which are still dark green, against blue skies, blue Lake Wakatipu, and against the dark golden brown mountain range of The Remarkables, Cecil Peak and Walter Peak. A beautiful sight and that first trip in autumn made me fall in love with Queenstown!

If you are planning a vacation in New Zealand, do STOP and spend a few days in Queenstown to take in the beautiful scenery. Life just may not be the same again for you!

My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, Pano93
(click for larger photo)
View from Steamer Wharf in early summer
Queenstown, Dec 2005

Monday, May 07, 2007

Heartbeat of a Giant - Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown

According to Maori legend, Lake Wakatipu is the “Hollow of the Giant” (Whakatipua). There was an evil giant in the land and one day while he was asleep, a brave Maori youth set him on fire and killed him. The fire melted the surrounding snow on the mountains to form the water in the lake.

Well, Lake Wakatipu is a giant! With a length of 84 km, it is New Zealand’s longest lake and its 3rd largest lake with an area of 291 km². It has an unsual “Z”-shaped bend, somewhat like the lightning bolt of the Marvel Comics superhero Flash. Some also refer to it as the reversed “N” shape.

My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, Pano143
(click for larger photo)
One end of Lake Wakatipu lies far away in the middle of this photo
Queenstown, Aug 2006
For more info on this photo, click here

One end of the lake is near the Southern Alps where the melt waters become the Dart River that flows into it. At the other end of the lake at Frankton, near Queenstown Airport, the Kawaura River flows out, draining the lake.

My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, Pano138
(click for larger photo)
The Kawaura River flows out of Lake Wakatipu at Frankton
Queenstown, Aug 2006
For more info on this photo, click here

Geologically, the lake was carved out by great glaciers during the ice age. It is very deep, reaching to depths of almost 300m and almost 100m below sea level.

There is also an unusual phenomena at Lake Wakatipu. Every 5 minutes, the water in the lake rise and then fall as much as 12cm. Early Maori noticed this phenomena too and attributed this rhythmic rise and fall to the heartbeat of a giant. There is a scientific explanation for this and putting it simply, it is a natural oscillation that occurs in deep inland lakes.

My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, Pano17a
(click for larger photo)
Queenstown Bay
Queenstown, May 2005

These Maori legends add to the colourful history and beauty of Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown.

Friday, May 04, 2007

Beautiful Queenstown, New Zealand

Of all the many places I have visited (and re-visited) in New Zealand, Queenstown remains my favourite destination. I have been there at least 10 times, nevertheless this place continues to excite me. It is the Adventure Capital of the World but it is not the adrenalin pumping activities that makes me return but the natural beauty of this place.

Being a city dweller, the type of mountains I have known for most part of my life are skyscrapers and highrise buildings. So seeing the majestic mountain ranges of New Zealand and getting on top of one by helicopter, have done wonders for my soul!

I have many photos of the beautiful scenery of Queenstown. Sorting and selecting them to form panoramas have been quite a task! The next couple of postings will feature these scenery and through the photos you will catch a glimpse of the beautiful memories that I have of Queenstown. So here goes:

My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, Pano07a
(click for larger photo)
Early morning in winter
Queenstown, May 2005

Queenstown is located on the shore of Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by majestic mountain ranges. Queenstown Central/CBD (Central Business District) is on the left side in these photos. Across the lake, Cecil Peak is the mountain on the left and Walter Peak is the pyramidal mountain in the centre of these photos.

My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, Pano185a
(click for larger photo)
Early morning in winter
Queenstown, Aug 2006

For a leisurely walk in Queenstown Gardens, head towards the trees on the left side of the lake. On the extreme right, the Skyline Gondola takes you to the top of Bob's Peak (the peak without snow) where you get a bird's eye view of the surrounding region!

My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, Pano152a
(Click for larger photo)
Late morning in winter
Queenstown, Aug 2006

Talking about birds, you will find them along the lakefront. In these photos, you can spot the seagulls and ducks (on the lake). For several years, there was a lone goose that made its home on the Queenstown bay too. Then came another one and they became geese. Last year (2006), I spotted only one of them and I guess the missing one has "flown away to bird heaven".

My New Zealand Vacation, Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu, Pano173a
(click for larger photo)
Dusk in winter
Queenstown, Aug 2006

Along the lakefront, the white vessel is the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw (it looks quite small in these photos). Everyday, the TSS Earnslaw ferries tourists on a leisurely cruise across the lake from Queenstown bay to the Walter Peak High Country Farm. For an adrenaline pumping ride, then the yellow Kawaura jet boats in these photos will provide your water adventure.
Want more info? Search Google!
Google
the web this blog