Drive to Queenstown

The next morning, we got up extra early to walk downtown to pickup our rental car for the rest of the trip. We arrived at 8am, only to discover that the newbie behind the desk wouldn't allow us to take the car until 10.
So we bummed around the park for a while and got some hot chocolate (which is not sugary enough for my taste) to waste some time.

Waddling around the river, and fighting with seagulls for our crumbs were these Paradise Ducks. They pair off for life, and travel together for the rest of their lives which I thought was cute. I think the dude has the white head.

Here is Jenn eyeing my under sweetened hot chocolate.

Picked up our 2008 Corolllaaaa and were on our way for the long trip ahead of us.
Along the way, we had to pass many of these one way bridges. You have to yield depending on which way the sign tells you, and pass one at a time. (also yes, they do drive on the left there...which is totally confusing and I still look the wrong way when crossing a street now)

Lots more beautiful scenery here too. (and tons of sheep!)

Lots of beautiful pastel coloured scenery.

and even more sheep.

and as you round the corner, there's mountains! This was a glacier lake which turns a fantastic blue (that doesn't really show up too well here). It was quite a fantastic sight.

Not the best picture, but here you can really see the colour of those lakes.
Mount Cook! This is the largest mountain in New Zealand. Did not walk up this one, but we sure felt like we did on the Routeburn track.

Me in front of Mount Cook and another glacier Lake...

The Camera Club got its start out here on the road to Queenstown, as Jim and I would pull over and jump out of the car at least every 20 minutes or so because of some fantastic sight. (something like these)
Watch where you're driving, cause you take one wrong turn in New Zealand, and you can end up in something like this. (you can see the trucks and cars driving in the background)

By this point we were almost in Queenstown and into the most strenuous and exhausting (but definitely most memorable) part of our trip.