Returning to hosting a tour group is a special reward after our months of disruption and the cancellation of international travel. I have shown off my Central Otago backyard in the past but, this year I wanted a snippet including special places, visits, and range of gardens over 10 days.
Meeting my tour group of 8 on a blue bird day in Queenstown was a good omen and the 45 minute drive up the calm stunning lake with mountain views reminded me why this gorgeous, spectacular place is where tourists world wide want to visit. Many have traveled with me before and it is so lovely to meet up again.
Our designation is Camp Glenorchy and for two nights my group immersed themselves in a unique, highly sustainable experience. The ingenious rustic aesthetic understates the foresight, creative skills and state-of-the-art technology to help reduce water and energy use and yet provide an unbelievably special visit.
It was a busy first night – starting with a board walk on the wet lands at the end of the village, a sustainability tour through the Camp, pre dinner drinks and platter while watching an introductory movie about fiordland, followed by a delicious meal with local Central Otago wines, in the unique dining room surrounded by stunning local art.
Day 2 was exclusively about exploring the Glenorchy surroundings, taking in the stunning scenery and mountains which hemmed us in on all sides. Crossing the Dart River to the south takes you to many walking tracks including the start of the Routeburn track. Before visiting the visitors centre we drove up the road towards Paradise and stopped at the very electic Paradise Trust which has a a variety of the cutest cottages you have ever seen – all available for rent.
Kinloch lodge produced the perfect platter lunch using vegetables from their garden. Sitting on the verandah overlooking the head of Lake Wakatitpu was absolutely idyllic. Kinloch lodge has a variety of accommodation but getting to see inside the two new eco cabinet’s with large windows facing the uninterrupted view of the lake made me want to come back here in the future. I couldn’t have chosen a better day to become acquainted with this special part of NZ. Debbi Brainard the co owner of camp Genorchy offered an invitation to her native garden, so before our ‘Yin Yoga ” class at the camp we were treated to a walk through her very interesting garden. The camp provided salads and meat to barbecue for dinner under the Shealite shelter ,complete with a large open fire and dining tables.
Day 3 – It was sad to Depart Glenorchy and the wonderful staff at Camp Glenorchy – they certainly made our trip personal and went out of there way to incorporate all my requests. Just a few kilometres down the road towards Queenstown is ‘Little Paradise’ garden – I have driven past this many times and never stopped . The extensive impressive work of house, garden and the many sculptures is all done by the Swiss owner Thomas. He puts being a handyman into a new realm and his artistic endeavours can be seen everywhere. I am not sure I would find the pebble lined bath relaxing – but his hand crafted wooden floors were exquisite. Masses of giant Himalayan lilies were about to flower and their tall spires filled the garden.
Every tour includes quite a few long lunches and today it was Akarua close to Lake Hayes . It is essential to book here well in advance and today the restaurant was packed. Sitting outside in the sun was hot and we needed the shade from Umbrella’s.
Before heading over the Crown range to Wanaka the extensive garden Chatecler visit was not only impressive but obviously a collectors passion for owner Michael Henry. He has turned a hillside into a variety of garden themes including drifts of lavender, more trilliums than I have ever seen on mass, formal borders, banks of rhododendrons and hundreds of maples to name a few.
The abundant views on our drive to Wanaka are always sensational and as we slowly made it up the hairpin bends it gave everyone a moment to look back at Queenstown and Lake Waikitapu in the distance. Its always a beautiful sight to see the Lake and mountains reflect on another perfect visit in this famous place.
After a big lunch I did put on my cooking hat and treated everyone to whitebait and blue cod for dinner
I must apologise – Its very unlike me to take so long to put up a blog and in this case it has been almost 2 months. I think it is the culmination of never being in one place for very long – Dunedin, Tarras, Auckland, Then Marlborough and Nelson – researching a new tour. Plus, a nasty problem with my computer program compiling the blogs which has meant I’ve spent many hours going nowhere. My time creating two gardens has been fun however, all consuming and the hot dry Central Otago weather has been difficult for all our new trees. We now have an irrigation system that can been controlled from my phone. It’s a savour and by the time I wake up in the morning all the watering is done.
I will finish this lovely tour in a followup blog. Plus, I have just confirmed accommodation for a tour to Marlborough /Nelson planned for March next year and will be able to include the details shortly
