Our condominium is a two-bedroom/two-bathroom/two-level unit, but the second bathroom and bedroom (downstairs) are sealed off as we have rented the accommodation as a one-bedroom unit. There is a huge lounge/dining room with the largest TV we have ever seen. The whole unit is extremely well-equipped and there are superb views over Lake Wakatipu. There is also a garage that is sited very awkwardly and, at the end of the day, requires some tricky reversing to park the car there.

In the centre of Queensland we eat at a cheery Italian place called Avanti where a three-course meal includes seafood chowder, a very meaty lamb shank, and prime rib. We then locate Steamer Wharf, where we will be sailing from tomorrow. The shops seem to mainly cater for Japanese tourists - of which there are many

 

Today, with the benefit of sunny weather, we have two booked excursions: the Walter Peak High Country Farm Excursion (booked several weeks ago via the internet) and a helicopter trip, booked this morning by telephone.

TSS Earnslaw is a beautiful vessel with its burnished brass, polished wood, gleaming white hull, and red-painted funnel. The 51-metre long boat was launched on Lake Wakapitu in 1912 and takes forty minutes to cross over to the sheep station

On the crossing to the Walter Peak Sheep Station, David joins two other passengers on an informative, guided tour of the boat that includes the engine room 

Our visit to the sheep station lasts about 2½-hours. and is absolutely fascinating entertainment as we feed sheep, lambs, deer and highland cattle, and watch demonstrations of dog handling and sheep shearing

 

The excursion includes tea and snacks on the sunny balcony of the homestead's house - an elegant setting where we overlook gardens and lawns that sweep down to the lakeshore. There is plenty of time to explore the lovely gardens and buildings before we embark the  Earnslaw for the return trip to Queenstown