Millbrook

My last weekend in New Zealand was spent at Millbrook, a gorgeous golf resort just a wee way away from Queenstown. It was Liam's auntie's 50th birthday so the whole family [plus me, after some convincing] went there to celebrate for the weekend. Each family had a villa to themselves, all in a strip of villas reserved for the entire crew. Liam's parents had their own room with a king size bed, and Liam and I shared a room with two single beds. Both rooms had an en suite bathroom, filled with amazing shower, large bathtub, and bathrobes. We were living like kings. Downstairs was a fully stocked kitchen, and a great livingroom/lounge area with a big TV, comfortable couches, and basically anything anyone would ever want.

We arrived there Friday evening after having a poached egg lunch at Liam's and watching across the universe in the car. Food stops on the way led to purchases of kinder eggs, and getting weird madagscar toys. I also tried my luck at a crane game to pick up stuffed animals, and with the first dollar picked it up fully, brought it all the way to the dumping area, and then it hit the side, and bounced back in. bullshit.

When we got there we moved in slightly, and then beers started going down. We walked up the block a tiny bit to where Suze was staying [birthday girl] and I began my train of meeting everyone as we snacked on smoked salmon, cheese, hummus, vegetables and crackers. Liam and I left for a bit to explore Millbrook, which meant wandering around the lush grasses, and laying down to watch the ducks and talk about their potential discriminatory behaviour. Once we got back to the villa, dinner was served.

An epic bbq was before us, with lamb, steak, chicken, baked potatoes, stuffed potatoes, salads, asparagus, orzo, sausages, and breads [potentially forgot stuff, but unimportant with this quantity]. Everything was delicious and everyone brought different pieces to the meal. Dessert included cheesecake [yum], icecream, and pavlova [my first pavlova in New Zealand, and I have to say [sorry aus] that it was pretty reasonable].

Night time meant more wandering, which meant getting hilariously lost on our adventure to and from the swimming pool. Though it was closed, we contemplated crashing various functions and stumbled our way back home.

Saturday morning started with croissants with jam, and took us to Queenstown, in search of togs. [note: togs is a swimsuit] Stupid me forgot to bring togs, even though I regularly bring them on weekends away where they're far from necessary, so I had to purchase some in order to enjoy the great pool and spa baths. After success was had [Liam left me in the store, of course, and I only ended up trying on black and white bathingsuits, of course] we ventured around the area for a bit and headed back to Millbrook. There, we made our way to the pool and enjoyed the completely secluded and empty outdoor spa baths and indoor pool. When Liam was done trying to drown me, we started our venture home, but not before awkwardly standing around the golf cart area trying to convince the other one to muster up the balls to ask to use one. After deciding we were both too pussy, we were walking away, and I blurted out that we wanted to know how getting one worked. The nice man with the snack filled golf cart gave us keys and told us to have fun for a half hour, so naturally we spent the next two hours touring.

I drove a bit, but was pretty well forced out of my drivers position as we went all around Millbrook, searching for the best picture.

Once we were done we went back, showered up, and made ourselves look presentable for the fabulous evening to come.

The plan was to meet at Suze's for pre dinner drinks and snack, and then take a shuttle to arrowtown for dinner [yeah. that means everyone should be drunk enough to not be able to drive] Fancy snacks were aplenty and chat was great, and then we were into arrowtown. For dinner we were split into a kids table [proper under 14], a almost-adult-but-not-quite table [14-21], and an adult table [30+]. Side note: this split, as in ending at 21 and restarting again at 30 [or a little over 30] was a really funny bit of our stay in Millbrook. The whole time I felt like the oldest child there, in the complete wrong age bracket for being at this resort. Anyway, beers and beers were ordered, and delicious food consumed. Ribs and bread as appetizers for our table, and then a duck entree. Fruit cake made for the birthday, and before we knew it we were on our way back.

Many hung out at Suze's afterwards [cue introduction of timtams] and then we were off again for our final sleep in Millbrook.

Sunday was a lazy morning with mroe croissant and strangely sad goodbye hugs. It was nice feeling so welcomed so quickly with such a new family. We trekked home [stopping in arrowtown where I finally got a greenstone necklance that wouldn't carry the curse of Maui [you can't buy one for yourself apparently] [thanks Liam :)]] and before we knew it the pampering and cleanliness were gone with our entrance into our flat.