ii 9 8 AUSTRALASIA ILLUSTRATED. 



nearly surrounded by mountains, the only open space being half-a-mile on its eastern 

 side, where Surprise Cove marks the exit of the Waiau. From the eminence of Yi<-w 

 Hill, at this point, a delightful prospect is to be obtained. " No more charming scene 

 could be imagined the mountains sweep round in the shape of an amphitheatre, stepping 

 back from the water's edge in tier after tier of beautifully wooded terraces. On the 

 left, - the Hunter Mountains run up- some six thousand feet; on the right, the white 

 towers of the Spire Peaks, seven thousand five hundred and eighty-seven feet, look down 

 over the snowy heads of the Cathedral Peaks and the lower summits of the Kepler 

 Ranges, while far away, between the west and north arms, Leaning Peak and Steep 

 Peak watch the Lake and guard the pass to the west coast sounds. These mountains 

 are covered with timber, and ridged ajl round above with snow, and below them in 

 sylvan beauty, Manapouri wanders in and out in the most promiscuous manner among 

 the jutting heads." 



Te Anau, a few miles farther on, is the largest lake in New Zealand, measuring 

 about thirty-eight miles in length, varying in breadth from one to six miles, and 

 covering an area of one hundred and thirty-two square miles. Excepting twenty-eight 

 miles of a shingly and scrubby flat on its eastern side, Te Anau is encompassed by 

 " densely-wooded mountains, and the green sheen of the forest, crowned with the 

 gleaming snow above, makes up a picture which for extent and loveliness is unsurpassed." 

 Making the best of our way back to " The Elbow," we resume the train, and are soon 

 transported over the remaining thirty-seven miles to Kingston, lying at the southern end 

 of Lake Wakatipu. Here a smart little steamer awaits the arrival of passengers to 

 convey them right on to Queenstown, which, if we compare Lake Wakatipu to the 

 letter " S," occupies the bend half-way between Kingston and the head of the Lake. 

 Wakatipu is fifty-two miles long, from one to three miles broad, and it covers an area 

 of about one hundred and fourteen miles. It lies one thousand and seventy feet above 

 sea-level, and its depth varies from one thousand one hundred and seventy to one thou- 

 sand two hundred and forty feet. The bottom of the Lake, therefore, is below sea-level. 

 The scenery between the two places is very striking. Towering ranges appear to hem 

 one in upon every side on leaving Kingston. To the left lie the foremost peaks of the 

 Eyre Mountains, and opposite Queenstown the Walter and Cecil Peaks thrust their lofty 

 summits right through the clouds floating in the atmosphere. To the right extends the 

 impressive range of the Hector Mountains, starting with "The Devil's Stair-case" and 

 swelling up into the Remarkables, whose highest peak is Double Cone, seven thousand 

 six hundred and eighty-eight feet high. 



Queenstown is a most picturesque little centre, bulwarked at its back and sides by 

 towering and sombre mountains,, and smiled or frowned upon in front by the ample 

 waters of the Lake, just as the prevailing mood happens to be tranquil or stormy. The 

 place contains a town hall, a garrison hall, an athenaeum, a free library, a Dominican 

 convent and school, a State school, churches, banks and other buildings. There is also 

 a public park, while the Esplanade affords a pleasant walk around the margin of the 

 bay. The visitor may likewise walk or ride to the suburb of Frankton, the Shotovcr 

 Gorge, the Hospital, and the Kawarau Falls, or drive to the mining settlement of 



* 



Arrowtown by way of the Shotover and Lake Hayes a lovely sheet of water about a 



