Well here I am in Lauder, central Otago where they grow a lot of the grapes that make delicious Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir. It’s a happy accident to be here and although I’m arriving late after a delayed flight and delays on the road due to rock slides I think this is going to be a nice couple of days. Even with the rainy weather on the way here, I can see that there is amazing scenery all around. Unfortunately I’ve missed the tranz alpine train journey and the glaciers but I’m going to make the most of what Lauder has to offer. First and foremost the Airbnb…. it’s a beautiful old house that used to be the doctors house and surgery, my room is the big room at the front and it’s gorgeous:
Having dropped my bags I’m ready for some dinner and a wee drink so I walk to the local hotel/pub which is only about 500 meters from the B&B. It’s very much a rural pub in the sticks and there’s a few locals propping up the bar who are very eager to find out who I am and what I’m doing here. First things first though a glass of wine…. no matter where you are on this island you get good wine – this one is from just around the corner:
I have a lovely dinner of local lamb and a couple of glasses of the red (they are large pours) and have a great chat with the locals who are very interested to know if I get propositioned often on my travels… ahem….. and one has a cousin who’ll be in the pub tomorrow night and apparently will be dying to meet me… sounds like I’m in for a treat! There’s a few offers to drop me home when they hear I walked to the pub but I laugh as it’s so close sure why wouldn’t I walk. When I finally say my goodbyes and go outside it’s pitch black and there are no lights on the road… now I get it! I get dropped to the door by a “local” who, would you believe it, is a Donegal man!!!!
I’ve started watching Top of The Lake, which is set around the Queenstown area, and next morning when I go for a 5km run I feel like Elizabeth Moss running in this stunning area. I pass this picturesque scenery:
Wanda, the Airbnb host serves up a lovely brekkie and loans me a bike and helmet so I can go for a cycle along the Central Otago Rail Trail. It’s a 150km trail on an old railway line that goes right past the house so I jump on and cycle to the next big town about 23km away called Oreturua. It’s so peaceful, the sun is shining and I feel like I have the whole trail to myself. I’m cycling toward the snow capped mountains. I take my time and soak up the views, stopping regularly for some photo ops.
The town of Oretura has the coolest general store:
Old school or what:
On the cycle route the scenery is stunning, I pass a number of bridges, gorges and go through two really dark tunnels
The bridges are really bumpy to go over and this one made quite a few scary creeks as I went over the boards.
When I finish the cycle and return to Lauder it’s still quite early so I decide to do part of it again so I can capture it on the go-pro. I see a couple of people I’ve already passed on the trail and they must think I’m lost but off I go to capture the footage. By the time I return for the second time I’ve clocked up 60km so I’m happy with that.
Back at the doctors house it’s time to feed the animals – they have alpacas – love their facial expressions:
After a shower it’s time to head to the pub again… well it is the only place around. I arrive to a chorus of hellos and feel like a local. I sit in the same spot at the bar and order a steak and beer. When the cousin arrives he makes a beeline for me and sure enough we’re chatting all night… he’s a lovely man, could be my Da but the craic is ninety and we even end up playing darts – Ireland vs New Zealand. I start well, hitting 20’s but quickly I lose my few fluke shots and I’m basically rubbish! None of us can make a finish and both teams end up needing double 1 – mortified!! Where’s Michael O’Doherty when I need him! Great craic though… It’s such a great little spot. It’s late enough getting out of there and I know I’m gonna pay for those beers tomorrow.
Next morning (after a couple of panadol!) I set off early for Queenstown and decide to stop off at all the scenic spots en route. It’s a sunny day and the countryside is amazing.. it’s hard to resist taking photos as I’m driving along. I stop at Clyde to see the dam:
and some various other points along the way including Dunstan Lake, Roaring Meg and Cromwell.
odohertyelaine 