Queens Birthday Weekend

What a fabulous weekend it was, a bit of rain on Saturday but brilliant sunshine and warmth on Sunday and Monday! Unfortunately I was stuck in bed with a bout of the bot and did not venture out for 3 whole days.......so can only tell what has happened from others.

The bestest biggest news of the weekend is that our very own Irene Barnes from Manapouri received a Queens Service Medal, what a well deserved honour this is for Irene. She has worked tirelessly in the Manapouri and Te Anau community for nearly 50 years!!

Several events happened this weekend to tantalise the locals and visitors with the first being our annual Friends of the Library book sale, this gets bigger and better every year.

An ACDC tribute band played at the club and from what I hear, once they eventually got on stage, they were brilliant.

And last but definitely not least was the Te Anau School Polar Plunge. This was the Year 6's big chance to make big bucks for their camp at the end of the year but this didn't come easily with all students (and teachers ..............AND PRINCIPALS!) jumping in the lake. To be fair, the day was warm and the water was at least 1 degree warmer than normal so it did bring out a few extras that wouldn't have normally taken the plunge! One notable resident - Mr Willett strapped a hot water bottle to his best bits in the hope that he would be a little warmer than everyone else - I don't THINK so RAY!! Jealous I wasn't there to join in the fun - NOT!!

We are waiting for winter to happen but so far so good, my rhubarb has decided to sprout again and still have strawberries ripening in the garden - who knows, it may not happen!

Spring is Here in Te Anau!

I woke up a couple of mornings ago and thought "Is this going to be the day?" The fog was drifting over Mt Luxmoor and the lake with a few glimpses of blue hovering down the south fiord and half way up the Murchisons....by the afternoon it just may happen.......and it did.......the photos give it away but my bright yellow daffodils have opened. The jonquils have been around for over a month now but this is really exciting.

There are a few exciting things going on in Te Anau at the moment.

1. Our new medical centre is built and now fast on track for its opening next month.

2. The 2010 StabiCraft Yamaha Te Anau Manapouri Fishing Classic committee is busy working hard on this year's event at Labour Weekend...so anyone thinking of coming, book now, it looks to be an even bigger event than last year with some amazing prizes including...a StabiCraft boat! http://www.teanauevents.co.nz/ for further information.

3. Anchorage Motel has been nominated for this year's NZ Tourism Awards - congrats to them for being nominated - this is HUGE!

4. The Te Anau harness racing will be held this year on Saturday 15 January so keep this date in mind also....further info at http://www.teanauevents.co.nz/

This is only a token of what is happening in Te Anau. Check out my About Te Anau facebook page for a list of events or go to the Fiordland Advocate http://www.fiordlandadvocate.co.nz/

Cruise Te Anau

Last summer I took a 3 hour cruise on Lake Te Anau with Peter Kirker on the 'Carousel.' On board were four others including 2 children whom were spending a couple of days in Te Anau, taking time out after the fast pace of Queenstown.

It was a warm summer afternoon and we cruised slowly up the lake to the dome islands at the head of the South Fiord, where we took a short easy walk into the Hidden Lakes. Peter guided us on the walk explaining all the different plants and birdlife (amongst other things) that we found on the way. Once arriving at the lake we saw trout jumping making rings in the still, calm waters.

Back at the boat we enjoyed a cuppa and a muffin whilst watching the kids jump into the lake before heading home. I loved this trip, not only a fabulous afternoon in the sun but I learnt a lot and met some incredible people.

This trip is priced at only $80 per adult and only $20 per child!

Other excursions are overnight cruises, weddings, private charters, flight options and the Milford and Kepler track connections.

Contact Peter at http://www.cruiseteanau.co.nz/

The town of Te Anau is situated on the south east shore of Lake Te Anau and is 210 metres above sea level. The 2006 census recorded the population of Te Anau at 1899, however this increases dramatically in size during the summer months with over 3,000 accommodation beds at this time.

Tourism and farming are the predominant economic activities in this area.

Bordering the Fiordland National Park it is the gateway to a wilderness area famed for tramping and spectacular scenery. Many species of bird life are also found locally, notably the endangered Takahe which was rediscovered in 1948 by Dr Orbell. Today, you can see these famous birds at our wildlife park on the Te Anau - Manapouri highway.

Lake Te Anau was originally named by the Maori Te Ana-au which means 'the cave of swirling water.'

The lake covers 344km in area (65km long) which gives it the status of the largest lake in the South Island and the second largest in New Zealand. Since its maximum depth is 417m and the lake sits at 210 metres above sea level, this means that much of its bed lies beneath sea level.