Day 29: In a year of Epic hikes through amazing landscape, we might have saved the best for last. Ben Lomond is one of the tallest mountains in Queenstown. The Trek consists of taking a gondola up the mountain to a viewing area THEN climbing 3200 ft over 7 miles to a summit that offer 360 degree views of snowcapped mountains. After 2h 45min of sweat and tear the summit did not disappoint. By the time we made it back down the mountain our legs were like jelly and our bellies ready for ice cream. New Zealand is the first major time zone to celebrate the New Year… which will technically make 2020 the longest year of my life… and if its anything like 2019, I cant wait to live it.
Day 30: Glenorchy. The drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy is one of the most beautiful in New Zealand with lake and mountain views the entire 50 minutes. Unfortunately, the smoke from the Australian bush fires decented on New Zealands South Island so the haze covered the mountains. Unphased we stretched our legs on the Glenorchy Lagoon Walkway and ate lunch at a cute café before heading back to Queenstown.
After the drive back, I had some energy to burn. Our AirBnB was near Lake Hayes, an 8km walk around a lovely lake. I decided to run the track and wow… it was great. The trail ended up being 9 miles through marshland, a trail above the lane, and past field of hundreds of rabbits. I didnt understand the “Australian rabbit problem” until I ran by an open field and dozens of rabbits crossed my path. I feared for my life… from rabbits.