Turquoise lake surrounded by green hills and snow-capped mountains under cloudy skies

A Day Trip to The Remarkables and Glenorchy

Both Andy and I woke up feeling refreshed, especially after takeaway coffee from the lobby bar, and Fergbaker pastries. We decided on an impromptu photowalk around the Hilton complex. The birdlife was spectacular! We spotted Great Crested Grebe, New Zealand Scaup, Chaffinch, Tui, Coot, and Tern. The highlight was definitely spotting the Tui, a new addition to our birdwatching list. We also noticed quite a few cute little rabbits hopping around, but later learned that these introduced herbivores have become a significant pest throughout New Zealand. There are plenty of birds where we live, but it’s funny how a change in scenery turns the familiar into something worth photographing.⁠ Perspective is powerful—sometimes you have to travel across the world to notice what’s been there all along.⁠

Brown duck with yellow eyes swimming in a lake

Close-up of a red-eyed seagull with a black beak

Great crested grebe with striking head plumage on water

Tui bird perched on a flax plant with vibrant plumage

During our walk, a friendly tradie stopped to chat about what we were photographing and recommended we drive up to the Remarkables for some top-notch views. He was right—the $15 NZD fee was a small price to pay for the stunning panoramas along the way.

Winding gravel road through alpine valley with lake views

Smiling couple with scenic mountain and lake backdrop

Panoramic view of valley, rivers, and surrounding mountains

Scenic aerial of Queenstown, New Zealand, with rivers and hills

With no set plans and encouraged by the gorgeous weather, we spontaneously decided to drive to Glenorchy, about 45 minutes north of Queenstown. The drive was picturesque, dotted with sheep and cows grazing in lush green fields.

Turquoise lake with mountains and trees under cloudy sky

By lunchtime, our morning pastries had worn off, so we stopped at Mr. Glen’s, the only place open, and had an unexpectedly great KFC bao.

Cozy café with stone façade, glass seating, and greenery

After lunch, we took a leisurely walk around the marsh, adding Oystercatchers and Black Swans to our birdwatching tally. We covered about 10 kilometres, snapping photos and enjoying the peaceful scenery.

Red barn labeled "Glenorchy" by a lake with greenery

Pied oystercatcher with red eyes and beak standing on grass

Reflective pond surrounded by grass and mountains

Silvereye bird perched on a spiky branch in sunlight.

Song thrush with speckled plumage standing on gravel

Rugged mountain peaks with patches of snow and golden slopes

Close-up of vibrant blue lupine flowers in a green field

Two black swans with red beaks gracefully swimming in water.

Black swan with a red beak swimming in a lake

Black swan swimming in a lake with lush trees and mountains

Dramatic sky with sunbeams over green hillside and yellow flowers

We made a few stops at viewpoints on the drive back to Queenstown, each offering a fresh perspective of the stunning landscape.

Expansive lake framed by lush vegetation and distant mountains

We also stopped to watch some cows, including this one who was VERY pregnant and gave me a death stare the entire time.

Close-up of a black cow with a pink ear tag in a green pasture

Dinner was at Stacks in the Hilton, where we enjoyed the wood-burning fireplace and the view from the outdoor patio. I ordered the New Zealand pizza—chicken, cranberry, and brie—along with two glasses of wine. After paying at the counter, I headed outside while Andy grabbed us a table. The staff was lovely, even checking on us as we sat outside. At some point, we ordered two more glasses of wine, and to our surprise, they brought them over with a smile and said, “On the house.” About 30 minutes later we figured we had room for one more round—it had been a good day. Andy went inside to order, and yes, in hindsight, we definitely should have just started with a bottle. When the bill came, it was only $25. Andy, not remembering I’d already paid, assumed that included the pizza and our first two glasses of wine, so generously tipped $50 (even though tipping isn’t really customary in NZ). So yeah, that is why I do the finances.

Outdoor café with red chairs and umbrella overlooking a lake

 

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