Our Trip to Winter

Last weekend Rob and I headed down to the South Island for a weekend in Queenstown, which is a ski resort town nestled in the mountains on a lake. More so than anywhere else we've been, it's filled with tourists from all over the world.  And with good reason - not only is it a jumping off point for many of the South Island's best adventures, it's also one of the more beautiful places we've seen in New Zealand - and that's saying a lot!

A friend from Southern California once explained to me that to him, winter had always been a destination, not a season. This year, I finally understand what he meant by that. It flurried our last day in Queenstown, and unless it snows in the States in October, that's likely to be the only snow we see all year! A bit different from life in Chicago - even without the Polar Vortex. We're planning to spend Christmas 2014 in Queenstown with Rob's parents and brother, and we can't wait to go back in summer.

On our second day there, Rob did some skiing while I slept in, went to the spa, and spent some quality time knitting while drinking tea and wine.  Be on the look out for Rob's post about his ski day on Coronet Peak!

Left: Welcome to Queenstown! Right: Views from our hotel room at dawn and dusk.

Queenstown also has a luge! The tracks aren't as good as those in Rotorua, but the views are stunning - I may have even talked myself into trying paragliding at Christmas!

At the biggest ice bar in New Zealand - complete with ice sculptures and an ice hockey table. For those of you keeping score, I beat Rob 1-0! He promises he didn't let me win.

Top left: Rob has finally found a backpack big enough for all my tramping 'necessities.'  Bottom right: warming up at the Winery after the Ice Bar by wearing all my knit things - I made that hat, cowl and sweater!