2/22 Sunday, Cruise in Queenstown, Jet Boat

 

Betty took a bus today to Arrowtown as she will be headed back to Christchurch on Tuesday when we do this. I enjoyed my balcony with an amazing view of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkable Mountains. At 11:30 I joined the rest of the group to board the 102 year old steam ferry (we watched the coal be dumped on board for the steam engine) the TSS Earnslaw. We slowly steamed across the Lake to the Walter Peak Sheep Station. Jack, who’s lived here for 20 years gave the tour and demonstrated shearing sheep.

 

 

The original settler came here in 1862 and brought 700 sheep, taking 2-3 months to drive them here. 1/2 of them died and they thought it was the grass. Eventually all of them died from Scrappy so they immigrated to Queensland and grew bananas.

Next Gold was discovered near queenstown and James McClain settled and built a stone cottage. He tried supplying the miners and transporting the gold. when the gold rush peaked in 1882, he disappeared.

Hugh McKenzie and his 8 kids then took over 400 acres and grew potatoes. Over 20 years their spread grew to 180,000 acres, over 3 generations. They added sheep. But by the 3rd generation they went broke and left.

Merino wool, the non-itching soft kind, was grown and during the Korean war reached it’s highes price, $l pound for l #. New Zealand introduced sheep to the Chinese and they now have 170 million sheep.

 

 

 

Jack sheared 8 sheep yesterday from 11 a.m. - 11pm. He showed us how he quickly sheared the sheep, holding her between his legs, on her rump so she was relaxed. Until she got back on her feet, she was easy to manage.



We then saw a demonstration of King, his herding dog and how he herded 6 sheep down from the pasture, with just whistle calls and words. It was pretty amazing! No barking!


We then saw some red deer that they raise, for the venison and for the antlers that fall off every year. They are sold to Asia for an aphrodisiac . Now they are more valuable for medicines to treat joint injuries. It’s called velvet antler.


He also has alpaca to defend the sheep against dogs. The family is, from largest to smallest, camel, alpaca, llama and pashmina.

We then walked through the gorgeous flower gardens for afternoon tea on the veranda, while we waited for the ferry to return.

After the ferry, people split up, some to go to the bird sanctuary to see the kiwi (only 300 left) and I went with a group and Betty on a one hour jet boat ride. It was fast, he did many 360 turns where we got sprayed, up two very shallow rivers. It was exciting, cost $86.




Betty was able to pay to come to our dinner at the hotel. We had such a fun table, with Bob and Mary. She says she’s an introvert and doesn’t like to travel, but she’s a hoot!! We kept toasting ridiculous things!! I had a delicious salmon dinner and Betty had lamb shank. Early day tomorrow!