Day 10 Tuesday, March 18

Today we will travel by motor coach from Queenstown to Christchurch, across the fruitlands of Central Otago.  We cross Lindis Pass and the tussock-covered plains of Mackensie Country to Mount Cook National Park.  The park has some of the most spectacular peaks in the Southern Alps.  We will drive along Lake Pukaki to Lake Tekapo, nestled among snowy peaks.  The glacial blue waters of this lake are one of the most photographed sights in New Zealand.

...the netting covering the vineyard fields protects the fruit from the birds.

 We had a brief rest stop at this cool fruit stand which offered everything "kiwi" among other things.

Beautiful flowers in the high country, amid all the tussock grass-covered hills....

 ...a very prickly plant with blooms...

Our driver/guide, Chris, for the first few days of our tour was so good with his friendly, sometimes humorous commentary, it will be difficult for anyone (especially Denis, who is pictured here with our tour director, Jeremy) to measure up! 

Our first view of snow covered Mt. Cook, whose peak rises to 12,316 feet...

 ...members of our tour group admiring the view!

 ...and BooBoo is just blown away with the clear blue waters of Lake Tekapo and Mt. Cook!

...back in the motor coach, BooBoo was up to her usual antics!

 ..then we came upon an even better view of Mt. Cook!

We stop to view the dignified Church of the Good Shepherd,

 ...inside was this beautiful organ,

 ...and with this view out across the crystal clear waters of the lake, it is a favorite place for weddings.

This bronze statue of a sheep dog is erected as a tribute to the important role played by these animals in the development of high country farming.

At our next brief rest stop, we went into this cheese factory (these are large rounds of cheese curing) and Norma purchased herself a block of cheese.

 I had never seen tomato sauce in a plastic bag...

 ...and in another gift shop, Mary found a playmate for BooBoo!

We soon arrive in Christchurch at our hotel for the night and are so happy that finally we have an adjoining door between our rooms!

 ...and Donna, who is high-tech compared to us, is showing Jeanne some things on her smart phone.

 ...and heated towel racks has been common in most of our hotels...nice!

This is Lillian and George, from Copperas Cove, Texas, a very nice couple who we have enjoyed being with on this tour.  Since they booked this trip last year, George's health issues are affecting his mobility so much that they have decided to leave our tour in the morning when we fly to Auckland.  While our tour flies from Auckland to Melbourne, Australia, Lillian and George will fly back to L.A. and then to Austin, Tx. and from there to their home.  We will surely miss them!