22nd Aug. 4th Day Skiing New Zealand. Treble Cone.

A long early morning drive from Queenstown  and beyond Wanaka to Treble Cone ski area.

Fabulous view of Lake Wanaka.

After a full day's skiing, to the pub in Cardrona...

Then in the eveing to 'Brazz' in Queenstown for venison and to watch the first round of the Bledisloe  cup - rugby union. NZ beat the Wallabies!

21st Aug. 3rd Day Skiing New Zealand. Cardrona.

Up to the Cardrona ski area between Queenstown and Wanaka.

Beautiful day's skiing. Plenty of good runs and off piste.

Mick, Susie & me.

A coiuple of pints in 'the Tap', Arrowtown.

Then the beef & Guinness pie at Pog Mahone's in Queenstown.

20th Aug. 2nd Day Skiing New Zealand. Coronet Peak

Half hour drive up to Coronet Peak. A great sunny day. 

Some great piste runs but not much off piste snow

  A real ice-bar opened up near the summit - lunchtime mulled wine!

In the evening to the Ice Bar in Queenstown...

Followed by the Bambi Burger at 'Fergburger's' in Queenstown.

19th Aug. 1st Day skiing New Zealand

To 'The Remarkables' ski area. Bit cloudy but snow not bad.

Skiing with ald friends Mick & Susie, daughter Sally and her boyfriend Kenan.

Curry in Queenstown in the evening

Thu. 28th July. Skiing at Coronet Peak.

Picked up the gear and got the bus up to Coronet Peak.

Brady had never been on skis before and he did incredibly well;

Then, sadly, on the Friday we left NZ.

Wed. 27th July. To Queenstown

In the evening - to the opening night of the 'Below Zero Ice Bar' - and I was the first customer.

Everything was ice - even the glasses we drank the cocktails out of.

After an hour there it was off to Pog Mahone's Irish bar for a pint and a Steak & Guinness pie.

Tue. 24th July. Back to Wanaka.

The weather was closing in so a morning flight back to Wanaka.

Lunch by the Lake.
Then an evening curry with Kingfisher beers.

Mon. 25th July. 3rd day's climbing.

A snowy & windy day - selftimer shot.

The waterfalls were beautiful and challenging.
We managed to get a few bits of video, but the fingers went numb doing it.

Then the long walk back up to the Hut - but a fabulous sunset.

Sun. 24th July. Brady's 25th Birthday.

Another great day's climbing - some signs of improvement from everyone.

As it was Brady's birthday we had the Moet out of plastic mugs back in the hut.
It looks cosy but was well below zero.
He even got birthday candles stuck in his dessert.

Sat.23rd July. Flew up to Black Peak.

From Queenstown to Wanaka the previous day then a morning flight up to Black Peak Hut.

The other members of the party - Nicolette, Brady and our Instructor, Tim.
Climbing began right away and it was very cold but hugely exhiliarating.
First, just choose some frozen waterfalls.

ICE CLIMBING

Off to Queenstown in New Zealand first thing in the morning then on to Wanaka.

Going with Brady, Nicola's boyfriend. We are staying in a hut at Black Peak and doing a 4 day course learning how to climb frozen waterfalls.

We then have a couple of days back in Queenstown so hope to get in a full day's skiing at Coronet Peak.

Photos to follow. Toodle-pip!

Urbanclimbing Brisbane.

Jake and myself have been doing some indoor climbing over the last few weeks - we are definitely getting better.

It's all preparation for the Ice-climbing course in New Zealand in less than 3 weeks.

I've also been out most days walking with weights or the early morning 5 km. jog.