Friday 13 March

We had a lazy day today, nowhere to rush off to so we didn't set an alarm. It was 8:30 by the time we rolled out of bed and after 10 before we set off for a walk around Queenstown. It ended up being a shopping day as it started to drizzle and Ian realized how many outdoor clothing shops there were. He's been looking for a raincoat for a while and found one on sale after the second shop. We then walked around the harbour area, how pretty it is, Q'town is on a lake surrounded by The Remarkables (mountains). Next up was Ian fancying a pie (again) so we backtracked to a bakery we'd passed earlier. He tried a venison pie and I had a lamb and mint, must admit they were some of the best pies we'd ever had, we will certainly be in several more bakeries before this trip ends! We've read the NZ's like their pies and can see why.

We then headed out of town to Arrowtown, about half an hour drive away. It started off with two sheep farmers and the gold was discovered and it quickly turned into a gold prospectors town. The Chinese settled here, first as prospectors, then tradesmen or market gardeners. We walked around the old Chinese settlement, which is now a recognized heritage site, then the town, where we succumbed to more shopping, and then The Lakeside Museum for a couple of very interesting hours. It ended up being a lovely sunny 20C. We then headed back to Q'town and stopped at a supermarket for some NZ wine to go with dinner. Then we went to Pedro's Lamb for a takeout lamb shoulder and Rosemary potatoes. We'd seen an ad for them at the hotel, they do takeout only and are an award winning establishment. We were NOT disappointed, the lamb was awesome, especially with the wine, all enjoyed in the lovely kitchenette at our hotel. I wish Pedro's had a branch in Elora!