Te Anau - Rest & Rain

Departing Arrowtown, we headed to Kawarau Bridge with the slight idea of me potentially doing a bungee jump at this AJ Hackett historic location where it all began.  I was ready to take the plunge, but after seeing the $220 price point, I got priced out.  For an experience - cool and crazy as it would be - that is literally not even quite a minute of one’s life, I just wasn’t ready to do it for that.  Even though all the FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) alarms were going off in my body, we watched several jumpers and took in this amazingly beautiful place - bright blue river winding between jagged cliffs - and we then hit the road. 

We stopped back in Queenstown for lunch and supplies, and headed onward to Te Anau.  Grassy pastures with mountains ever in sight, Corey more confident and relaxed at the wheel, the kids and I dozed off during the drive.  

Pulling into town, we were surprised at the strip of shops and restaurants and open beaches along the bay.  The first campground we pulled into was a letdown, out of town and crowded, so we drove on to check out the Top 10 Holiday Park.  Pulling in, it was an automatic YES. Checkered full of families, two playground areas, a giant bouncy pillow, giant chess board, game room, TV lounge, clean communal kitchen & BBQ area, free showers, laundry, hot tubs, sauna, & on the lake.  It was right nextdoor to the town’s gigantic park/payground, plus an easy walk to town!  That all makes for a paradise for the camping types, no wonder it’s rated 5 star. (I didn't snap any pics until we were leaving, so here's a sub-par glimpse of the giant "bouncing pillow" near where we parked below!)

We grabbed dinner-to-go in town, and while we waited we meet some friendly Canadians & folks from Washington, Mel made a "little-while-friend" with their girl. We headed to have dinner in the park, and discovered the most gigantic zip-line we’ve ever seen at a playground! It’s a wild ride, even for adults, swinging ya quite high into the air at the sudden stop at the end.  It’s a hit, and we were happy to settle here for a rest day. 

After an ultra slow morning, we headed to the lake, and plunged in the chilly waters despite whipping winds.  Danforth surprised us by actually jumping in also.  We were revived and headed back to the park for endless runs on the zipline, playing & some drawing.  We spent the afternoon lounging back at the campground, making friends with a Kiwi family with small kids.  After some time, the rains begin and we hunkered down in the kids game room.  

After pizza, kids worked on their journal covers, and then we set them up with a movie while Corey and I rented a hot tub in the rain for a little date. The campground has these metal basins they freshly fill with hot water, each tucked in their own little garden area, with an overlook to the lake.  It was dark and cold and rainy, and a perfect time away.  

It was another restless night of sleep, between the cold damp pattering rain, and the knowledge that we wanted to wake early the next morning for a big day trip to Milford Sound.  Plus it didn’t help that the kids and I all fought for leg space on one half of the tent, while Corey lounged like a king on the other half. (Love you despite all your bad joints babe ;) When the rain finally subsided, I dozed off and Corey let me sleep in for some extra hours, allowing for a later start, knowing that I can very quickly ruin everyone’s day when my mood is grey.  

We packed up soggy and cold, and hit the road towards one of the most talked about places in New Zealand, without much idea what we were in store for!

-M