Day 6: Queenstown to Wanaka

We woke in Queenstown to several crazy text messages from our neighbor and property manager letting us know that the hot water heater back at our house in AZ was broken! It was quite the morning getting everything settled from the other side of the world!!! But GOD is so good. It was amazing that the water heater didn't flood at a different time, like when were in NZ completely out of cell phone range or even at a different time when we wouldn't have responded for hours. Matt was able to get in quick contact with everyone necessary. Praise God we purchases the correct home owners insurance especially for having renters. And praise God that the hot water heater was under warranty. We did have to pay for the plumber and our deductible, but the insurance is going to pursue the hot water heater company for the cost of mitigation and dry wall repair. Praise God that the renters were cool too!!! All in all, we are grateful for the protection of our house while we are away and that we hired a property manager too. She definitely earned her commission on this one. While all this craziness was happening, the kids played at the park and jumped on the trampoline. Thank goodness they were happily occupied!

For a while they built towers with the rocks and took pictures with my phone 

to occupy themselves until they went to the playground.

Derek in focus

rocks in focus

 Matt on the phone!!

 After we got the hot water heater sorted out, we drove the 1 hour back to Wanaka. Since we had done so much driving on the previous day we thought that it would be a good idea to take the kids to the National Transportation and Toy Museum in Wanaka. Plus Matt and I wanted to go back to Wanaka. It was our favorite town!!

One of my favorite things at the museum were the peal cars. I was laughing so hard as the 3 of us were driving these cars. Derek and Rylie each took turns driving them. 

Our legs were sure sore after all the pedaling.

The kids loved play pretending with the guns. They could move the barell up and 

down and the whole base rotated 360 degrees.

While the kids and I toured the museum, Matt had a tour and sampling of Wanaka Beerworks.

After the museum we set up our campervan at our site.

Then we walked into town to find #ThatWanakaTree and go out to dinner. 

This lone willow tree is one of the most photographed spots in the south island of 

New Zealand. It truly is beautiful.

Possible Christmas card picture??

skipping rocks into the Lake

We had dinner at a local restaurant right on the lake. 

After dinner we had some gelato. We were told to try "hokey pokey" gelato, 

a true New Zealand flavor. It was really yummy.