This trip was a bit different from normal. Lots of friends and family came from out-of-town, so we rented a large house at Kelvin Heights. It was great. Here is the view from our balcony!

Figure 1. View from our rental house at Oregon Drive

The following pic is taken from the hillside across the lake from the rental house, looking back toward the Kelvin Heights golf course and Lake Wakatipu.

Figure 2. Jennifer at Panorama Tce.

To the right, lake Wakatipu winds northward toward Glenorchy, Kinloch, and Mt Aspiring National Park. To the left, the lake wanders southward to Kingston and the gateway to Southland.

Fernhill is 1-2 miles north of central Queenstown.

Figure 3. Variety of Pics from Fernhill.

Back in the early 1980s, Fernhill was completely undeveloped -- think, trees and weeds. Now it's a little community of two shops, one restaurant, hotel accommodation, and holiday/retirement homes. The bottom right-hand pic is an early morning shot of Fernhill itself, with the mountans of Walter Peak in the background. The top left-hand pic looks toward the Queenstown gardens, Kelvin Heights, Deer Park Hill, and the Remarkable Mtns in the background.

A few Kiwi farmers are now trying to breed ostriches for their meat, leather goods, and chicks.

Figure 4. A little Ostrich get together (Courtesy: Nick Clyma, 2006).

You have to wonder -- what are these guys thinking?

Figure 5. Stoneridge Estate (Courtesy: Nick Clyma, 2006).

More interesting pics coming soon ...