Today's blog is all about adrenaline and excitement, as well as quirky campgrounds and beautiful flowers.
Gardens seem to be the big thing around here, and today we'll look at how they incorporate them in a practical manner into their daily lives and businesses.
We scoot off to the picturesque settlement of Arrowtown, and sample some of their ice cream treats while watching the fly fisherman and skate boarders within 100 yards of each other.
Today we also get to see if Jay and Cailin can fly. Queenstown is the place, and heart-pumping adventure fits this community's pace. Stay tuned below, and you'll see what I mean.
The gardener and his vehicle. This gentleman is typical of the Kiwi, in that he'd talk the leg off a Jay, if you'd let him. He was very friendly and kind and hospitable, and made us feel welcome in the campground.
One of the gardeners at Creekside
Queenstown, NZ
Just one example of the gardener's responsibilities.
Going back to the place we were the night before, we finally got this shot now that the sun was not shining directly into the lens. I rather like the way all the various shapes-including the windy road--come together to make an interesting tableau. Behind that volcanic hill on the right, is an airport where jets can land with their passengers headed to Queenstown.
Crown Range Road, near Arrow Junction, NZ
And, speaking of the Kawarau River, what have we here?
East of Queenstown, NZ
Below, we see Jay trying the same thing, only from behind. It seems that blue bungy's not much of a safeguard between him and the water, considering...
"Dat's a long way down Momma! A-a-a-a-gh!!"
Kawarau Bridge, NZ
Cailin gracefully reaches for the water on her second trip down.
Below we see the reason Jay opted for the Photo package over the video. He didn't quite look like that in the video!
Kawarau Bridge, NZ
Having recovered from temporary insanity, we continued on to the quiet, picturesque village of Arrowtown, where we took the photos below.
For such a small town, the skateboard park was truly awesome!
Arrowtown, NZ
Leaving the parking lot, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to snap a shot of this amazing mural below.
After the stress of bungy-jumping and ice-cream-eating, we all needed a rest, so we returned to our luxury accommodations at the Top Ten. While Colleen threw together some haystacks for supper, I decided to run around this ex-plumber's campground and take some photo of his unique gardening style. Below, you see a hut reminiscent of the Caribbean huts, but with the added twist of a unique plumbing motif.
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
Taking a closer look inside, we see some rustic plumbing fixtures, and some fixtures we'll just take it on faith that they actually have something to do with plumbing.
Interior of the main barbecue station at Creekside
Queenstown, NZ
Below, you see just one of the many varieties of flowers growing all about the campgrounds, and tended to diligently by the staff.
Creekside Top Ten Campgrounds,
Queenstown, NZ
You would never be able to tell that we were in the middle of a tourist town, the way the owner had planted fast-growing trees around the perimeter of the property, while using existing features, such as this creek running down the east side of the property, to good effect.
The Creek at Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
One of the really cool features of this park is that the plumbing fixtures, far from being an afterthought, actually form the foundations for the central architectural theme. The main office/kitchen/Laundry/Motel Units, is built around the boiler you see sticking out of the very center of the structure below. This is the hub of the building, and everything branches out from it.
The "piece de resistance" of the owner's plumbing masterpiece.
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
Below, you can see what I mean, as the photo looks up from the ground floor just outside the central hallway connecting the laundry, office, and main bathrooms.
Main building hub,
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
On the opposite side of the wall from which the photo above was taken, there is a quaint wood stove in the common room for those occasional "cold" evenings during the winter time.
Common Room,
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
I found this contraption 'hiding' under an apple tree. I don't know what plumbing function it fulfills, but it looks neat, nonetheless.
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
I think we'll chalk this one up, below, to too much late night ice cream while studying Salvador Dali.
A little whimsy and avant-garde in the campground,
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
I bet they would never have guessed the ultimate destination for these specimens back in the factories when they were made, in the 1930's!
Recycling gone wild,
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
"Maybe it's up there to keep the cat with the big striped hat out of it, dear."
Playful Plumbing,
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
Back to the conventional, below you can see a plain-jane version of the barbecue, but no less inviting than the more elaborate.
Barbecue hut,
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
Turning around from the barbecue hut, though, we see in the distance more of the uniqueness of this campground that gives it such an air of welcome friendliness. It's obvious that the owner put a lot of thought into the works that he knew were sure to please his audience and customers.
RV station in front of a knew structure just being completed/renovated,
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
Every morning that the guest at Creekside leaves the park, they're reminded how peaceful things are within, when they see this vista while exiting the grounds.
Gardening Brilliance,
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
What Alice-in-Wonderland-type park would ever be complete without a wishing well?
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
The view outside our Motel Unit was warm and friendly
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
Once again, we've come to the end of a long day full of activities and adventures, and so we bid you good night and adieu, from Queenstown!
The campground begins to slumber,
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
Queenstown, NZ
Taking a closer look inside, we see some rustic plumbing fixtures, and some fixtures we'll just take it on faith that they actually have something to do with plumbing.
Queenstown, NZ
Below, you see just one of the many varieties of flowers growing all about the campgrounds, and tended to diligently by the staff.
Queenstown, NZ
You would never be able to tell that we were in the middle of a tourist town, the way the owner had planted fast-growing trees around the perimeter of the property, while using existing features, such as this creek running down the east side of the property, to good effect.
Queenstown, NZ
One of the really cool features of this park is that the plumbing fixtures, far from being an afterthought, actually form the foundations for the central architectural theme. The main office/kitchen/Laundry/Motel Units, is built around the boiler you see sticking out of the very center of the structure below. This is the hub of the building, and everything branches out from it.
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
Below, you can see what I mean, as the photo looks up from the ground floor just outside the central hallway connecting the laundry, office, and main bathrooms.
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
On the opposite side of the wall from which the photo above was taken, there is a quaint wood stove in the common room for those occasional "cold" evenings during the winter time.
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
I found this contraption 'hiding' under an apple tree. I don't know what plumbing function it fulfills, but it looks neat, nonetheless.
Queenstown, NZ
I think we'll chalk this one up, below, to too much late night ice cream while studying Salvador Dali.
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
I bet they would never have guessed the ultimate destination for these specimens back in the factories when they were made, in the 1930's!
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
"Maybe it's up there to keep the cat with the big striped hat out of it, dear."
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
Back to the conventional, below you can see a plain-jane version of the barbecue, but no less inviting than the more elaborate.
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
Turning around from the barbecue hut, though, we see in the distance more of the uniqueness of this campground that gives it such an air of welcome friendliness. It's obvious that the owner put a lot of thought into the works that he knew were sure to please his audience and customers.
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
Every morning that the guest at Creekside leaves the park, they're reminded how peaceful things are within, when they see this vista while exiting the grounds.
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
What Alice-in-Wonderland-type park would ever be complete without a wishing well?
Queenstown, NZ
The view outside our Motel Unit was warm and friendly
Queenstown, NZ
Once again, we've come to the end of a long day full of activities and adventures, and so we bid you good night and adieu, from Queenstown!
Creekside Top Ten Holiday Park,
Queenstown, NZ
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