Day 11

All the Pinot and chocolate the day before, combined with a lot of action movies on a long flight, made me have some scary dreams about sharing a house with a terrorist. Enough! We rose at the crack of 0800 and had a fine breakfast whilst chatting to our hosts. There is obviously a bit of rivalry between Queenstown and Wanaka as they asked why we were bothering to spend so much time there. As Rae fussed over us it soon became clear that Winston's sole contribution to the business was clearing the breakfast table.

We left their division of labour dispute behind and headed over the Cardrona pass to Wanaka. Stunning views over the Arrow basin. By this time we had overcome the forgotten driving license issue (paper copy would do) and Annelise was driving. The height and hairpins were a bit too advanced for her so she handed over the wheel at the summit viewing spot. As I got out of the car there was a worrying smell of burning rubber. Considering this and the knocking noises I prayed the old heap would get us to Auckland. At this point a helicopter appeared over the horizon with something large dangling below it. A marine on a training exercise? A daring mountain rescue? Transferring livestock? No, it was a cement hopper delivering to some workers in the car park.

We headed down hill to Wanaka. I had mischievously spent the previous few days training Annelise to pronounce it as if an extra "k" was inserted into the middle of the name. Fearing an embarrassing situation I hastily re-trained her to say good old "Wanaka"

Checked into Beaconpoint B&B: another stunning location. Hosts Carly and Michael made us a cuppa and gave us a few travel hints. First up was a jet boat trip along the Clutha river - turned out we had the boat to ourselves. Pelted across the lake and up the river, negotiating a few rapids.Sped round one corner and some random chap with a big lens takesfew pictures of us. Not here as well! Trip was awesome, water gin clear and 70 kph in only a few inches of water.

Annelise by now is getting into the swing of being a Samsonite-paka and hired bikes for getting back from the pub. We were warned that we could be done on a charge of DUI cycling. Had dinner at Botswana Butchery- tender venison and fillet, accompanied by a 2005 La Strada Marlborough Pinot Noir. I am beginning to wonder if any other type of grape is grown in NZ. Cycled back in the dark, no lights on the pavement. Rebels eh?