STEWART ISLAND (TAKE TWO)

We recently made a second trip to Bluff and then onto Stewart Island as we were determined to get to Ulva Island a sanctuary for native birds and plants. We were unable to do this on our first trip because of the weather but finally got there this time and it was well worth making the second effort.

The above is just out of Kingston on our way back to Queenstown which is a complete contrast to what you will see below but it was absolutley magic.

Heading into Kingston on our trip south

Hay all lined up and ready for feeding out

Tracks in the snow

Southern sheep

Bluff camp ground, council operated and runs on an honesty system through the winter.

A great park with good views.

Lunch stop at Athol

Nostalgia shot, the old Creamoata factory, Gore

"Taliskar", what we motored across from Stewart Island to Ulva Island on

Ulva Island

Stewart Island Robin, so tame, so cute.

Peter our Ulva Island guide. Note all the new plant life on a recently fallen tree, one of the definitions of a rain forest.

Contemplating the start of a rather large complimentary breakfast

Kaka flown in for a free feed with compliments of our hostess Jo

View from our room

Stewart Island Lodge, the long low building top centre.

For Those That Are Interested (THE RUBBISH COMPACTOR)

A full load, about one third of the rubbish out of the park goes out in the compactor as general landfill waste, the other two thirds is recycle material with food waste going to the park's worm farm.

The bevelled plate at the front of the trailer is the operated by a battery powered hydraulic ram which forces (compacts) the rubbish towards the rear.

Trooper and trailer ready to go.

Rear view

Dumping

A Special Request From Someone Close to Us (FLAX)

We have over a period of weeks had three large high sided tandem trailer loads of flax (that's a bloody lot of flax) brought in to be trimmed and dried in preparation for thatching the roof of one of the BBQ areas. As you will see from below it is all quite labour intensive. Fortunately the first two lots were done by casual staff but with the last load it was all hands on deck. The raw edge that must be trimmed to square. When harvesting it is easier to cut the flax off on the diagonal.

Trimmed to a square end.

Right hand man Laura (seconded from reception) helping with the stacking on one of the numerous drying racks we have situated around the park and adjoining properties. The flax will stay here and be turned periodically until about the end of the year when it should be ready for thatching.

The thatched flax is quite thick, about 200mm.

Close up of thatched roof.

Internal view, as you can see it is quite dry and waterproof.

The finished product, "B" block BBQ bure. The flax we are presently cutting and drying is for the "C" block BBQ

ARROWTOWN AUTUMN FESTIVAL

We had an afternoon at the Arrowtown Autumn Festival which is on all this week. This is at the evenings country music concert which Raewyn went to with friends from work.

A shot from our cafe table.

The "Buckingham Belles" doing the Can Can at the free lunchtime concert.

"Mini Belles"

Band on old Austin truck

Work colleague Reg, president of the country music club.

Concert crowd

The highlight of our afternoon in Arrowtown was a one hour trip with "Nomad Safari's.

3 golf courses, Arrowtown foreground, Michael Hill centre and Millbrook centre right.

The Arrow River

One of the many times we either travelled across or along the Arrow River.

Pointing out another LOTR (the Ford of Bruinen) site.

A re enactment of Isildur's death on actual location in Gladden Fields.

DEER PARK HEIGHTS

We recently did a half day tour with Deer Park Safari's. The park of 800 hectares is home to 1500 red deer as well as numerous other exotic animals but as you can see above there is room for some kunekune pigs. The park is also used on a regular basis as a location for photo shoots ranging from advertising promos to full length feature films, the most famous being the "Lord of the Rings" series.

Thar, "Please feed me".

The zig zags at the beginning of the Remarkables Skifield road.

Kawarau Bridge across to Frankton with Coronet Peak beyond.

Frankton bounded by the Kawarau and Shotover Rivers.

Lake Wakatipu looking toward Glenorchy. Frankton Arm in the foreground, Queenstown on right.

Alpaca, Red mum, black dad and white offspring!

Some of the 1500 Red Deer on the property.

Big black Bison

If thar could purr, he would.

The Kawarau River and the Remarkables. The paddocks is where the Waipu fireman and his pilot were killed in the recent hang gliding accident.

The park is used as a location for many feature films, the best known being the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. The above is a prop from the 1980's Walt Disney film "The Rescue". The hill behind featured in the "Lord of the Rings".

We were suprised how big the llamas were. And they do spit!

Red Deer coming for food (pellets)

Up close and personal, Red Deer hind

Stag

Highland Cattle beast