Omarama

After Milford Sound, we stayed at the Speargrass Rise B&B located just northeast of Queenstown near an ex-gold rush town called Arrowtown.   We enjoyed a very nice dinner in Arrowtown in a cozy little restaurant in front of a wood fire.

The view from the back porch of the B&B next morning was outstanding.
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
We drove over to the Shotover Jet boat ride.  The Jet boat ride is a New Zealand invention.   Basically, it's a supersized jetski that can hold 12 people at once.  It goes fast, can turn on a dime, and even do 360 degree turns.
   
A jet boat coming around the bend.
   

The jetboat maneuverability allows them to navigate the narrow Shot River.

The Royals -- William and Kate -- were coming here later in the day and security was already visible all over the place.

I wanted to do the ride but we didn't have enough time.
   
We drove a couple of hours northeast to Omarama which is home to a world-class soaring center.  I had made reservations for a two-hour adventure ride where I would go up in a state-of-the-art Duo Discuss glider and instructor and go fly over the Southern Alps.  Alas, it was not to be.  The weather gods decided on a 1,000 foot overcast this day.  In fact, it had been overcast here for the last ten days.  Oh well.
   
A self-launching glider on the long, wide grass runway.   The low ceiling is evident in this picture.
   
So we checked out the local attractions.  First was the nearby "Clay Cliffs".
   
Which involved a short hike up this dirt road.
   
There they are:  the Clay Cliffs.
   
 
   
Overlooking the Omarama valley.
   
 
   
 
   
We checked in at our B&B, the Omarama Station Farmstay.  Although it was right by the town, we missed it and drove accidently into the ranch.  We passed by some of their sheep who were all staring at us for some reason.
   
Here is the B&B which is also the house.
   
 
 
   
Looking down at our car from the house.
   
Unusual decoration for the couch.
 
We enjoyed cocktails with the host family and some of their crew.  This farm -- ranch? -- is the real deal.  They run over 10,000 sheep as well as cattle.
   
Another Omarama attraction is this outside Hot Tub complex.
   
There are ten hot tubs, each with their own private dressing room.  The water is heated by a wood fire.  If you want your water hotter, you just grab a few logs and drop them into the stove.
   
 
It's not a good idea to lean against the stove wall when in the hot tub.  Ask me how I know.
   
The next day, on the way back to Queenstown, we stopped by this Bungee-Jumping place on the river.
   
No thanks, not for me!
   
 
   
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