Queenstown

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QUEENSTOWN On August 3, 1962, 14 Tongue and crowds of maddening tourists cluttering Meats sailed away on the Maori to up the queues and snowfields. The tows Christchurch on the annual skiing trip are quite terrifying at first but with a to Queenstown. The send-off from the bit of practice they are soon mastered. wharf was terrific and far-calls could The snow conditions are perfect from still be heard as the ferry passed through 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and under these conthe Heads, and we were sure the rest of ditions any beginner, after having two Wellington could hear the reply. The weeks skiing here, could easily master voyage was very smooth and only marred snow ploughs, stem turns and is pracby one accident when Tony did a tically on the verge of doing parallels. spectacular head-first dive down one of the vertical ladders-no mental effects At 4.30 p.m. all tows and ski schols so far! stop and bus loads of tired skiers return to Queenstown, perhaps stopping off at The 10-hour trip on the bus from Arthur's Point for a hot toddy, only to Christchurch to Queenstown was really rush home to the flats to cook and gulp picturesque. The lakes, the snow fields down a meal and rush off to Rum Gully and the snow-clad Southern Alps, and ice-skating. On the particular night we farther south the noticeable "Scottish were there, there was a reporter from atmosphere which the earlier settlers the "Christchurch Star" who took pichad created and the remains of the tures of us skating (we made sure the deserted derelict stone cottages of the W.T. & M.C. was well publicised) in congold prospectors are most intriguing. nection with the Queenstown Centennial celebrations. One of our not so expert We arrived in Queenstown at 5.45 p.m. skaters (who wishes to remain anony- -just in time! We were welcomed at mous) accidently knocked her head on the Wakatipu Courts by Miss Braith- the ice and practically ruined the rink waite who showed us around the luxur- for the season. Unfortunately, mental ious flats. We then rushed down to the effects have set in. Mountaineer Hotel and had our first meal in state. An early night was had We found the social activities in and by all as the long bus trip had been around Queenstown very good and the exhausting. people most friendly. There is sO much to do and see in Queenstown and was just It lovely to wake up on Sunday no time to do everything in. Four memfinding yourself in Queenstown and to bers went on the day trip on S.S. think that you had two weeks skiing "Earnslaw" up Lake Wakatipu as far as ahead of you. Being the first morning Kinloch, where a bus takes you to the we were up with the larks-14 of us, all picturesque Routeburn Valley. Nicky tearing around trying to get organised. and John went on the scenic flight to What a sight we must have looked to Milford Sound and the Sutherland Falls the Queenstown residents-14 of us fly- and were most impressed with the unique ing down the hill to catch the 8.30 a.m. flying and scenery. Worth every bus-some of us still eating breakfast, of the £7. A terrifying bus trip over penny the others still dressing, fezzes flying madly, Crown Range (one of the highest skis and poles just everywhere. It was in New Zealand) was well worth passes while. a perfect day and the Remarkables and There is plenty of tramping and mounthe surrounding mountains looked taineering. and for the not so active, superb. The journey to Coronet Peak hikes and' fishing on the lake. takes approximately an hour. With chains on, the little old bus grinds up the We skied from Sunday to Thursday precipitous narrow road, on some under perfect conditions, most of us corners having to back once or twice having instruction which improved our before we could get around. It is amaz- skiing no end. We were most fortunate ing to think that Coronet Peak being the to be there whilst the South Island and skiing resort in New Zealand consists Varsity Championships were on. On of a few tin huts and two or three ski Thursday the weather broke sO we dehuts. Whether the reason is because the cided to walk to Arthur's Point to company has no available money, or not, look at the wonderful view of the Shot- I don't know, but the idea of having no over Ridge and Bridge. We were offered chairlifts is a great asset, as it avoids a lift half-way there and so as to waste no time at Arthur's Point we accepted. graphical mistake on the tickets, fortun- On Friday the snow conditions and ately.) After some considerable fuss the weather were still bad at the Peak much Captain let them aboard. to the disappointment of the five girls On Sunday morning the depressed who wére leaving for Wellington next party lined the rails as the "Maori" enday. tered the wharf, but were soon cheered up when they saw the smiling faces of After the girls left at 8.00 a.m. the their companions of the first week. next morning, everyone went up to the Peak in hopes of skiing. Nicky and Queenstown is one of the most beauti- Robin, who were the only two to brave ful spots in the world I have seen, and the mist-shrouded slopes. returned that if you ever have the opportunity, have evening rather the worse for wear, owing no hesitation in going there. to shocking visability, etc., From Sundav onwards the remaining nine Tongue and Those on the trip were: John Arm- Meats had perfect weather and snow con- strong, Norma Bowater, Tony Chapman. ditions and by the end of the week were Doreen Daley, Kevin Griffiths, Val Ireson, Gary Lund, Shirley McGregor, absolute wrecks. The bus trip home was Robin McGreivy, Nicky Parkinson, uneventful, but when they arrived at Dick Simmons (Trip Leader), plus two Lyttelton wharf found that they were a Australian friends, Fae and Shelia, and week too late for the ferry. (Typo- yours truly, Penny Rickard.