Photography Tour

Gate 1 offered a tour to Skippers Canyon today, but when I tried to sign up for it too late, I was told it was unavailable, which I found out to mean that a private company was giving the tour and all places were already taken. So I signed up for a private photography tour which did take me to Skippers Canyon, which was Martin’s (my photographer guide) choice of the best scenery, but you can request a specific place that you want to go. Martin is both an excellent photographer and a very careful driver through the canyon. He knew exactly where to stop to take the best photos. You can sign up for one of his tours either through viator.com, where I signed up, or directly through https://www.remarkableimagery.co.nz/
Photo taken right before the beginning of the canyon road.

Skippers Canyon Road

The road through Skippers Canyon is considered to be one of the most dangerous roads in the world, because if cars meet going in opposite directions, one has to back up to let the other one pass, sometimes requiring a good distance to do so. Martin had to do this once. The road has no guardrails and has many blind spots. One site rated it as the 7th most dangerous road in the world; others place it 8th and 12th. It usually makes every listing of the world’s most dangerous roads. Actually, I didn’t know anything about this until Martin told me. You can see the road in the photo.

Skippers Canyon Road

In the 1860s, gold was discovered in the Otago region, of which Queenstown is a part of. Veterans of the California and Australia gold rushes flocked here. Skippers Canyon was one of the places gold was discovered. Before a road was constructed between 1883 and 1890, using hand tools and gunpowder, supplies were brought in using pack animals. Now, heavy mining machinery could also be brought in.

Miner’s Caravan

We would stop off for views of the canyon and also to take photos of interesting things along the road, such as this miner’s abandoned caravan.

Fog

We ran into fog as we descended into the canyon. Did we really drive around the bend? Looks scary in the photo.

Shotover River

The Shotover River runs through the canyon.

Skippers Canyon Road

There were some calm, smooth stretches of the road as well.

Skippers Suspension Bridge

Going over the Skippers suspension bridge was a breeze, especially since you didn’t see what the bridge looked like until after you had crossed it.

I have put my photos of Skippers Canyon on two slideshows. Go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/queenstown–skippers–canyon/

http://www.peggysphotos.com/queensland–skippers–canyon–2/

(Slide Shows, Australia/New Zealand, New Zealand, “Queenstown: Skippers Canyon–1 and –2”).

TSS Earnslaw Cruise & Dinner

In the early evening, I went on an optional TSS Earnslaw Cruise & Walter Peak Station Gourmet BB tour on Lake Wakaitpu. The TSS Earnslaw is a 103–year–old vintage steamship.

Lake Wakatipu

Cruising Lake Wakatipu.

Colonel’s Homestyle Restaurant

A beautiful flower garden greeted us at the Colonel’s Homestyle Restaurant at the Walter Peak High Country Farm.

BBQ Dinner

We were treated to an extensive buffet including many barbecued meats and offerings such as all the prawns you could eat.

Sheep Shearing

After dinner, there was a sheepdog exhibition and also a sheep shearing one. Then we got back on the TSS Earnslaw to cruise back to the dock at Queenstown.

I have put my photos of the TSS Earnslaw Cruise & Walter Peak Station Gourmet BBQ on a slideshow. Go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/queenstown–tss–earnslaw–cruise/

(Slide Shows, Australia/New Zealand, New Zealand, “Queenstown: TSS Earnslaw Cruis”).