Day Three - Shopping Day, Kelvin Heights, Jacks Point, Lake Hayes

Today we decided on a ‘shopping day’.  First stop was the town centre.  We wandered around for an hour and half then stopped at ‘Tatlers’ for a coffee overlooking the lakefront.  We watched the ‘Earnslaw’ arrive back at the wharf.

From here we headed out to check out Kelvin Heights and the golf course which is opposite the main area of Queenstown.  This included a look around the much touted Hilton Queenstown.   Well - it did not appeal at all as it is miles from anywhere and seemed more like a group of apartments on a semi private road way.   It was then out to Jacks Point, again a much touted exclusive subdivision. out towards the Remarkables.   The subdivision has been subject to financial issues over recent years so the amount of building was low and it all looked a bit bare.   Having said that, it is one suburb (if you can call it that as it is again miles from anywhere) that gets sun all day.    After driving around we headed back to the Remarkables Shopping Centre for late lunch.   We had a short wander through a couple of shops but decided we were no longer in the shopping mood.   

We ducked onto the new Lake Hayes suburb to check out the new homes.   At least they are all different, but only a couple had the ‘wow’ factor.  On the way back to the hotel we drove up into the suburb behind the hotel.  These roads are really steep and where the houses were built was extraordinary.  We didn't have the camera so will go back and get some shots as the view is amazing but south facing!

Time for a wee rest back at the hotel!  Today it was about 14 degrees but windy.

As our custom we met at room 462 for pre-dinner drinks.

Dinner – Julie and Dave had been to Speights Ale earlier in the week and they wanted to go back.    We parked in the free car park just across the road and about 50 metres up the hill on the right.    We go there and you guessed it – it was a full house!   So we wandered it to the main town centre ended up at Avanti which was a mix of Italian and European fare.   We skipped starters and entrée as we thought it a dessert night.  I had Lasagna, Pete - Pizza, Dave - Risotto, Julie - Penne.  No way was there room for dessert.  It was terrible windy and cold so we retired to the hotel bar for a nightcap.  I wanted a Brandy Alexander but the girl serving didn't know how to make that, so had to settle for a Baileys on ice. (That’s why I think it may be a ‘training’ hotel, without the training!!)