Along Lake Esplanade, Queenstown

One of my favourite places in Queenstown is along this street called Lake Esplanade. Each time I am in Queenstown, without fail, I would spend time strolling along this stretch of road. Lake Esplanade is very central and leads to/from Queenstown CBD near the Steamers’ Wharf where the steamship TSS Earnslaw docks. I guess many tourists/visitors have strolled along this street without knowing its name.

On one side of the road are the hotels and apartments, and on the other side is a park/reserve that fronts Lake Wakatipu and this park/reserve offers a picturesque view of the mountains and lake. Many of my best memories and best photos of New Zealand were along this street.

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The hotels and apartments along Lake Esplanade
Queenstown, Aug 2006

If you are looking for accommodation in Queenstown, especially with views of the mountains and lake, you may wish to consider the hotels and apartments along Lake Esplanade. In above photo, you will find the Rydges Hotel (white building from the left), Outrigger, The Beacon (centre) and Lakefront Apartments (right, with blue signposts).

Opposite these hotels and apartments is the park/reserve where I shot the following photos:

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From the left, The Remarkables, Cecil Peak and Walter Peak on a beautiful winter evening
Queenstown, Aug 2006


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Another beautiful winter scene
On the extreme left, the headlights of a car on Lake Esplanade
Queenstown, Aug 2006


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.... and yet another beautfiul winter scene
The Remarkables run in a North-South direction
and the rays of the setting sun lit up its face "on fire"
Queenstown, Aug 2006

Maori Song "Pokarekare Ana"

It has been two months since I last posted! Thought I had better get back to posting more regularly as some of you have wondered about my absence from the blog.

Today’s posting is not about my vacations in New Zealand. Nevertheless, it concerns New Zealand, a country that I love and is close to my heart. The song Pokarekare Ana is a Maori love song about someone separated from his love and longing for her. The origin of this Maori song traces as far back to 1914 and arose at about the time of World War I.

Below Maori lyrics and English translation are from http://folksong.org.nz/pokarekare/index.html

This beautiful Maori song has been sung by the talented Kiwi gal Hayley Westenra. It is supposed to be a man’s love song to a young lady but Hayley has done a fantastic rendition of it. She sang it so beautifully and made many Kiwis proud of their Maori culture and heritage .... and made them very proud of her too.

I believe you will enjoy it. Here is the beautiful song Pokarekare Ana:


Lyrics:

Pokarekare ana nga wai o Waiapu Whiti atu koe hine marino ana e E hine e hoki mai ra, Ka mate ahau I te aroha e. Tuhituhi taku reta tuku atu taku rïngi, Kia kite to iwi raru raru ana e. Whati whati taku pene ka pau aku pepa, Ko taku aroha mau tonu ana e. E kore te aroha e maroke i te ra, Makuku tonu i aku roimata e.

They are agitated the waters of Waiapu, But when you cross over girl they will be calm. Oh girl return to me, I could die of love for you. I have written my letter I have sent my ring, so that your people can see that I am troubled. My pen is shattered, I have no more paper But my love is still steadfast. My love will never be dried by the sun, It will be forever moistened by my tears.

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.

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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.

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The Remarkables in ash-grey in winter
View from Steamer Wharf
Queenstown, July 2004

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The Remarkables in "brownies" in late spring
View from Lake Esplanade
Queenstown, Nov 2005
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The Remarkables having the "blues" in winter
View from Lake Esplanade
Queenstown, Aug 2006
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The Remarkables in the "pink of health" in winter
View from Lake Esplanade
Queenstown, Aug 2006
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The Remarkables "on fire" in winter
View from Lake Esplanade
Queenstown, Aug 2006