We woke at 9am, I tell you!! No alarm set today, as it is the compulsory rest day of the trip. 

(Explanatory note: ever since everyone felt tired after Tasmania in 2012 and I then nearly broke Ross on the USA West Coast in 2013 by making him drive so many kms in 8 days, the family outvoted me and insist on having one day of rest on our trips. There are places to see and things to do, but ok, whatever….)

We strolled down the dockside area to explore Queenstown at 11am, well…it’s a stroll AFTER we leave Lake Street. I’m not sure the photos looking down and up the street do the incline justice…..

We did some souvenir shopping and bought dumplings for lunch. We have walked past the famous Fergburger store every day, but the line is always too long for some of the more patience-challenged family members.  We then drove out to the Kawarau River Bridge to watch (but not participate in!!) some bungy jumping and ziplining. 

From there we returned to the Skyline to take a gondola ride up to the top of the mountain and enjoy some luge rides. The first person we saw in line was Hamish Blake with his son Sonny, and he was very willing to pose with some fellow Aussies. 

Ross and I focused on teaching Sam and Belle how to drive themselves, until some speeding along crashed right into Ross at full force. We convinced the little two to ride with us after that, and gave their extra rides to the older kids as soon as we could convince them to retire from the track. I guess this pic proves they were ok with that?

At the bottom of the Skyline is Queenstown cemetery. We missed the funeral today of a surrogate grandmother, Heather Mullins, so we had our own little ceremony of silence and remembrance there while the service was on back in Sydney. After a group hug and the shedding of many tears in our little family circle, we spent some individual time reflecting and exploring, and regrouped to head off for dinner. 

Ross was desperate for a steak, so we found a table at a franchise steakhouse restaurant called Lone Star. And were waited on by the first true Maori New Zealander we have encountered. Until now we have had an English bus driver, French tour guide, and other nationalities serve us. We then retired to the house for a spa bath and (reasonably) early night, which allowed me to sneak in another two loads of washing. It is a day of rest after all!! 😉