Lift a glass to Central Otago

Kia Ora!

We knew we were going to the Queenstown area but couldn't agree on what to do there. I wanted to do the tourist sites like ride the old-timey steam ship, take the gondola to the top of the mountain above Queenstown, and maybe, if I dare, do a bungy jump. Bungy jumping originated in the South Sea Islands where indigenous young males tied jungle vines around their ankles and leaped head first off a platform in the trees. Some survived; some didn't. Commercial bungy jumping started in New Zealand in 1988 near Queenstown, when an enterprising A. J. Hackett created a bungy jump from a bridge over the Kawarau River. I am put off by hanging from my ankles, which can't take any more abuse than they already have.

Main Street Arrowtown

France? No, Chard in NZ

On the other hand, The Kiwi Consort wanted nothing to do with the tourist mecca of Queenstown. He wanted to visit the quaint town of Arrowtown. In the end, I couldn't get two nights lodging in Queenstown, so after one night at a pricey place on the edge of Q-town, we went to Arrowtown. We booked a wine tour of Central Otago vineyards. This area can grow both whites and reds well because of the dry climate and variations in altitude from sea level to high in the foothills. We visited four, mostly outstanding, vineyards and ate lunch at Carrick winery. A favorite was Peregrine Vineyard where the architecture was designed to resemble the wing of the bird, which by the way is an American bird. There are native falcons but no Peregrine falcons in NZ. Chard Winery looked for all the world like it should be set in the French countryside. As the tour leader headed back, she stopped at the bungy jump. We all watched as a young woman, teetered at the edge of the bridge, waiting...waiting...waiting... Then she backed out and didn't jump. I was not tempted to hang by my ankles over the river.

Arrowtown, where we found a lovely little motel, is as quaint as its reputation. Dating from the era of gold mining, we walked through the portion of the town settled by the Chinese miners seeking their fortunes. Nearly all were men who were in the area for one thing only, and that was gold. When European miners left as the alluvial gold appeared to be gone, the Chinese managed to glean more from the rivers and sent their profits home to China, where most returned when the gold was depleted. We walked through the remnants of the Chinese village tucked in the shadow of the mountain. Each stone and tin hut had a fireplace for heating.

Remains of Chinese Village

The Long Drop

In front of the Chinese general store was the doorless "long drop". I wonder if the entire village used just the one?


Cheers,

Kiwi Traveler