Gingerbread house building

Editor's note: We are taking a break from the New Zealand trip to provide up to date coverage of the Christmas holiday, but we will return with the rest of the photographs from NZ after a few days.

KT bought a gingerbread house kit that her and SV were going to build. When SV saw the project she got very excited and then became very focused on using the 'glue' to affix all of the goodies to the house. TV and even Richie joined in to lend a helping hand.The finished product is at the end, including a skilful application of sugar snow.

Bartender and the new dress

We went out to a pub to try some of the local beers when SV decided she should bar tend. She did a good job and as a reward she got to wear her new red rockabilly dress. Naturally she had to check it out in the mirror, and then struck a few poses just for good measure.

Glenorchy

A short drive from Queenstown is a small town called Glenorchy which is situated right at the end of the azure Lake Wakatipu and surrounded by massive snow covered mountains. It is the area where several of the majestic scenes from Lord of the Rings was filmed. It is a spectacular location and one that SV was very ready to tramp through. We took a gentle trail that went near the lake and led us along some boardwalks over a few of the marshes. We had some great views and saw some wildlife along the way.

Hot tub with a view

KT enjoys a good soak in a hot tub, so it's no wonder that she couldn't pass up an opportunity to take a dip in a cedar tub with a spectacular view of the Shotover River. Naturally we all wanted to join in. SV wasn't so sure at first, but then she got used to the idea and really enjoyed it. She was a bit sad to have to get out.

Characters

While we were in Queenstown SV ran across some characters that she wanted to deal with. Sometimes she was doing the chasing, and other times she was the one being chased. But ultimately the cookies muncher and his car proved to be too alluring and lured her into their clutches.

Queenstown gondola and luge

Queenstown is the capitol of adventure activities with many attractions such as bungy jumping, paragliding and skydiving. We decided to be slightly less adventurous on our first day and took a gondola to the top of the mountain to take in the view and then have some fun riding the luge. We weren't sure how SV was going to like the luge, but of course we shouldn't have worried. She had a great time telling TV to go fast, and afterwards saying that she had fun. She was only a bit sad because she only got to go once. She did find KT and Richie as they were going up the chairlift.

Arrowtown

Arrowtown is a small town outside of Queenstown and it used to be a gold mining town. It is preserved in a similar state as some of the gold mining towns in California, which is to say as mostly tourist traps with kitschy stores. Although Arrowtown did have a great bakery for pies. We managed to take in the kitsch and make the most of it. Although the nicest attraction were probably the wildflowers along the creek. SV liked them but was tired so she got a piggyback ride from TV. Although she started being a bit cheeky and tickling his ear.