Day 11

Kingston Flyer & Te Anua drive. Packed up our time in Qtown today, and headed south to Kingston. We'd read about the steamtrain - the Kingston Flyer - which we'd hoped to catch. The first ride was at 1:30pm so we hung around the station so Keith could get some pics of the loco. We killed a bit more time in a local cafe before discovering Zack had, had an accident in his car seat while napping and there was quite a lot to clean up. He's had an upset tummy since the teething started and it's only getting worse. He has welts on his bottom that are now raw and bleeding. We're giving him as much 'air time' as we can but it doesn't seem to be helping a whole lot with the constant nappy action.



While he ran around naked, we sorted out some clean clothes for him, and then headed back to the station where it was time to go. We boarded the train, and as advised by the ticket sales lady (a woman from Newcastle in the UK) we sat in the dining car at first. We then sojourned to a first class cabin so that we could divest ourselves of all our goods - the pram, Keith enormous camera bag, and the Zack-bag. We were then at liberty to move around on the train, which Zack took to mean run along the passageways and leap across the gangplanks joining the moving carriages (yes, there are railings, but not the most sturdy). My nerves! Everything is "jump, jump" these days.
These things are always over too quickly and we soon in Fairlight where we disembarked so that they could turn the loco around. In the interim we browsed the station shop (all very chi-chi) and Zack tried out all their Thomas the Tank Engine toys. Then it was time to go back again. The train itself is a large black loco with lovely brass trims. The carriages were in superb condition with solid wood interiors and chairs, the first class carriage was upholstered in black push-button leather (chesterfield style) with lots of brass detail on handles and hooks. Zack made himself popular with a family who were eating lunch, so got to share their food (mission accomplished).


In Te Anau we had to hunt a bit for our accommodation, as we'd not got any directions and the names sounded similar. The town is on the edge of a lovely lake, with it's own seaplane mooring, a giant Kea model bird, and a stationary store with a life size model Santa, who dances when you press a button. Zack was entranced by the latter and insisted on standing in the doorway and dancing along with Santa for song, after song. He is now getting the hang of Christmas and can point out a Santa or a tree at quite some distance - with a very excited "mikkis" (ie. kriss-miss transposed).
Te Anau is also home to a fabulous little spot called Bailiez where they make a remarkable lamb shank. We were recommended it by Clive and Di, so headed over there when we discovered the supermarket didn't have any lamb in stock for us to BBQ. What a winner ! I had the blue-cod, stacked on a potato and pumpkin creation with the most delicious hollandaise sauce over the top. I'm salivating just thinking back to it. Zack played up horribly in the restaurant tho', intermittently flirting with the kitchen staff who thought he was just the cutest. I'm guessing it was the ongoing teething, but in the end we couldn't wait to get out of there and put him to bed. Aaarrgghhhh!! I left Keith looking thru' his photos and Zack asleep, and did a late night internet cafe session.