tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11966848611396014432024-02-18T20:52:18.961-08:00Up above to down underAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-46840717247139125802013-03-30T06:21:00.000-07:002018-10-15T22:43:35.206-07:00Lupins, lupins everywhere. <i>This is my second attempt at writing this post which possibly took me close to 20 hours to perfect and has now been lost in the ether of the internet ("<b>damn you Google and your shoddy blog service</b>"), so apologies if it's not as good as the original but as you can imagine I was quite distressed at the time but here goes...</i><br />
<br />
Having already been to <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/lake-tekapo.html" target="_blank">Lake Tekapo</a> during winter we had heard and read that the lakeside is covered in a beautiful carpet of Russell lupins (<i>Lupinus polyphyllus</i>) during the spring each year from mid-November to December. You don't necessarily need to go Lake Tekapo to go see them as there's blankets of them in and around Queenstown and it wouldn't surprise me if it was the same at Wanaka as well but where's the fun in that?<br />
<br />
As pretty as Russell Lupins are, they are actually considered an aggressive weed as they have invaded the braided riverbeds in Canterbury, which is having a major impact these ecosystems. Russell lupins change these unstable braided river environments, which home to unique native bird and native plant species, by forming dense stands on bare gravel areas.<br />
<br />
Russell Lupins were thought to be introduced by Connie Scott of the nearby high country Godley Peaks Station, when she scattered thousands of seeds along the bare highway from Burkes Pass to Tekapo. Lupins in the Arthurs Pass area had spread from the home gardens of railway workers. These tall spikes of colour now grow in abundance along many roadsides, open areas around the Lake Tekapo, and throughout the scenic Mackenzie country. It is rumoured that tour coach drivers were also responsible for spreading lupins around the countryside to improve the areas that tourists thought were drab - who were these people? As if the natural beauty of New Zealand needs improving!<br />
<br />
So as part of another weekend road trip from Queenstown, we wanted to see these spectacular Mackenzie Country blooms as well as providing us with another excuse to check out the rest of what <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/cloud-piercer.html" target="_blank">Aoraki/ Mt Cook National Park</a> has to offer. Driving past Cromwell and the man-made Lake Dunstan, through the 45<sup>th</sup> Parallel (or the circle of lattitude 45 degrees south of the equator - half way between the equator and the South Pole) we picked up State Highway 8, which is the start of the Lindis Pass. This makes the 45<sup>th</sup> Parallel the most southerly producing wine region in the world!<br />
<br />
The Lindis Pass is the highest point on the South Island's state highway network, and the second highest point on the New Zealand State Highway network, after the Desert Road (SH 1) on the North Island in Tongariro National Park. The actual pass crosses a saddle between the valleys of the Lindis and Ahuriri Rivers at an altitude of 971m above sea level. The stunning scenery driving through the Lindis Pass and was a little reminiscent of the landscapes from Lord of the Rings!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvTDeHjgCxqjvmIwC1hw7-As9noiIZjt3A4q50K7z8N85wfipE6_sxPjlAdKXcxzIp6RZLgkwMl_WC7sHUiOgs_f9OCVSNytevq1lsFwOjV1hLuocCa_VNnBvYngGENHg9Nkr4kSuuQ7h/s1600/_DSC7035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvTDeHjgCxqjvmIwC1hw7-As9noiIZjt3A4q50K7z8N85wfipE6_sxPjlAdKXcxzIp6RZLgkwMl_WC7sHUiOgs_f9OCVSNytevq1lsFwOjV1hLuocCa_VNnBvYngGENHg9Nkr4kSuuQ7h/s400/_DSC7035.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The sweeping mountains of the Lindis Valley</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdWZR4D8yRJDOEIOOJgMvYdxYQVQz0oOof5XOim7ZBB23ojYqpv-CgLGrB0JHOUxVu8hSzaKzxjqoLlIPebsnIozSYBPuC-VF9wMYzJS0HEFSsLze_UjB4Hl9UMQciGxrSQPa6UctLJEJ/s1600/_DSC7038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdWZR4D8yRJDOEIOOJgMvYdxYQVQz0oOof5XOim7ZBB23ojYqpv-CgLGrB0JHOUxVu8hSzaKzxjqoLlIPebsnIozSYBPuC-VF9wMYzJS0HEFSsLze_UjB4Hl9UMQciGxrSQPa6UctLJEJ/s400/_DSC7038.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blooms of lupins can be found throughout the Lindis Pass</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It was really nice as we drove along the Ahuriri River with the lupins on the banks of the river and the Southern Alps starting to appear on the horizon. We then passed through Omarama, a small township in the centre of the South Island, at the other end of the Lindis Pass but there wasn't much to see! Crossing the boundary between Otago and Canterbury we passed through Twizel before reaching the corner of Lake Pukaki for the turning off to Aoraki/ Mt Cook National Park. It was here that we stopped for a break as we had been driving for approx two and half hours from Queenstown. We got a magnificent view of Aoraki/ Mt Cook across the stunning turquoise lake unlike last time where there was too much low lying cloud.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70AXrzrhLV237uWEQyXp6XOSH8HpV4wfBa71JWpqBSG-oV9Thsz6e72fjOqE_HlhyC_vDYEwkOC64aHI8PZ_o3xeP_2MsrW0cNaS54ikET2PYlzYsyTgcxBEuksESGASpWf6QjPfoAfeT/s1600/_DSC7045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70AXrzrhLV237uWEQyXp6XOSH8HpV4wfBa71JWpqBSG-oV9Thsz6e72fjOqE_HlhyC_vDYEwkOC64aHI8PZ_o3xeP_2MsrW0cNaS54ikET2PYlzYsyTgcxBEuksESGASpWf6QjPfoAfeT/s320/_DSC7045.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ben Ohau range on the left and the Mt Cook Range</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3sTELcqKs4o/UBOAPikIKkI/AAAAAAAACg4/TuIhH0MK6-s/s1600/_DSC2375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3sTELcqKs4o/UBOAPikIKkI/AAAAAAAACg4/TuIhH0MK6-s/s200/_DSC2375.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The same view from our last visit</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1KE4_x2BiqQyq8Y9guo0BBlEvdA9UknvWZnYIiWwFgH3bmAqB_UHlbj7CJ0U9YkuVRrBlCUIARmWshsemVVV7bX7gUKvgIVkhRwLjj577n4s6kQBQQRFlwNgCkyDs5aSRuTOTWidBjBr/s1600/_DSC7064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1KE4_x2BiqQyq8Y9guo0BBlEvdA9UknvWZnYIiWwFgH3bmAqB_UHlbj7CJ0U9YkuVRrBlCUIARmWshsemVVV7bX7gUKvgIVkhRwLjj577n4s6kQBQQRFlwNgCkyDs5aSRuTOTWidBjBr/s400/_DSC7064.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Aoraki/ Mt Cook 70km away from across Lake Pukaki</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Aoraki/ Mt Cook (3,764m) looked really imposing and we were able to see it pretty almost all the way to Lake Tekapo before we eventually lost sight of it on the horizon. Once we arrived at Lake Tekapo, we quickly checked into our hostel and headed straight down to the lakeside to see the Church of the Good Shepherd as we were cutting it fine for sunset.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieusO7EM8NyABeBYZwB5OXvNLLEsZLzG7Uen-5LynzU7RA3J9imIsMtjPdqmyDirQoVg8aBuNUhONHMljVbZJm_ULjjvYdUDm6mmn_H_K0gK6C-bjx6Ou1T5B5cFOUwVzqDCixkUDRYfpk/s1600/_DSC7075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieusO7EM8NyABeBYZwB5OXvNLLEsZLzG7Uen-5LynzU7RA3J9imIsMtjPdqmyDirQoVg8aBuNUhONHMljVbZJm_ULjjvYdUDm6mmn_H_K0gK6C-bjx6Ou1T5B5cFOUwVzqDCixkUDRYfpk/s400/_DSC7075.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Church of the Good Shepherd just before sunset</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5L7W-yH6Z3nqCZfZwj_3jqYeIv7s6jLDnI4awgp5w-JTk27iD1HUWPGVvvoSzMHKjPYPDs9Sr2_TJEQC8eHyPhu72lPDKFVvv8VAXXwKEHhZY9s8W6xqVCZWwH1kYfVRKmjoNV9Zk_SLC/s1600/Lake+Tekapo+Sunset_Panorama1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5L7W-yH6Z3nqCZfZwj_3jqYeIv7s6jLDnI4awgp5w-JTk27iD1HUWPGVvvoSzMHKjPYPDs9Sr2_TJEQC8eHyPhu72lPDKFVvv8VAXXwKEHhZY9s8W6xqVCZWwH1kYfVRKmjoNV9Zk_SLC/s640/Lake+Tekapo+Sunset_Panorama1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Panoramic view of Mt John (1,031m) and Lake Tekapo shoreline at sunset </span><span style="font-size: small;">- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9355404949/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgik2kZoeY1BZsT4W4youHotIQLJJ43VjnohRCkLTEmuOU-y75x4wyA51Mn-uWwNigOmYbZqjD4RjKX9NxIRtLOl21ggirE4qJhl7EzLigCIdABgolC8TIw1hUUzFhVVxH6gOx35Nw22a1h/s1600/_DSC7080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgik2kZoeY1BZsT4W4youHotIQLJJ43VjnohRCkLTEmuOU-y75x4wyA51Mn-uWwNigOmYbZqjD4RjKX9NxIRtLOl21ggirE4qJhl7EzLigCIdABgolC8TIw1hUUzFhVVxH6gOx35Nw22a1h/s400/_DSC7080.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Someone is trying to hide in the lupins!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlP2y6Umm74lsegP0Cj3KuHk634ZimwqQCWOrzlvIeNTm0AInfRpkvLUvtFegdxFRh43SeCamqAfazGlCaNJpviDquitabbUydW8EWvhxVWWDjXH50-9nT98dQqG6nI4qBndMt-qrH0z3x/s1600/_DSC7081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlP2y6Umm74lsegP0Cj3KuHk634ZimwqQCWOrzlvIeNTm0AInfRpkvLUvtFegdxFRh43SeCamqAfazGlCaNJpviDquitabbUydW8EWvhxVWWDjXH50-9nT98dQqG6nI4qBndMt-qrH0z3x/s400/_DSC7081.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie among sitting pretty amongst the lupins</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeFf1enCcIjHt3jpeZmlj5pmIXR3mYVs_N4apFgSJPFNck3G8bMi_kmvjCgKivFF_Gwd6xcDZkRMyESrGEPRGWtybh3qNDTcOnj5C3xjTw5mmcO5XX2FiVvck0gDbDORurVT9KwRZBzIp/s1600/_DSC7092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizeFf1enCcIjHt3jpeZmlj5pmIXR3mYVs_N4apFgSJPFNck3G8bMi_kmvjCgKivFF_Gwd6xcDZkRMyESrGEPRGWtybh3qNDTcOnj5C3xjTw5mmcO5XX2FiVvck0gDbDORurVT9KwRZBzIp/s400/_DSC7092.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfISM0Y8P2hqq6yl_ea6iWG9vY-68ZnjRK8vpDWoNAB41cUKq7DuR3sPaFlY47eFMyrIzRoEWwuy93KEV4HuQdVRzDxaNIEWvr_gJcSGxvSv6U0-JHCEQtMoCiEWKBHv5oDCj4UsZPpmH9/s1600/_DSC7094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfISM0Y8P2hqq6yl_ea6iWG9vY-68ZnjRK8vpDWoNAB41cUKq7DuR3sPaFlY47eFMyrIzRoEWwuy93KEV4HuQdVRzDxaNIEWvr_gJcSGxvSv6U0-JHCEQtMoCiEWKBHv5oDCj4UsZPpmH9/s400/_DSC7094.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Godley Valley at the head of Lake Tekapo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqHGf_TMYGrao4htPPYhOuoKu80epG3V-J0nd5LX03788ZXCvKKpV8Vn4KXalZsIik-2uPGvzl0dh-Z1h9uOj5Yl-phmAANWkXVPSnH_lEj_aqIKsZu4Y3KnSslTimuOf7Ko_sVvu4vZz/s1600/Lake+Tekapo+Sunset_Panorama3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqHGf_TMYGrao4htPPYhOuoKu80epG3V-J0nd5LX03788ZXCvKKpV8Vn4KXalZsIik-2uPGvzl0dh-Z1h9uOj5Yl-phmAANWkXVPSnH_lEj_aqIKsZu4Y3KnSslTimuOf7Ko_sVvu4vZz/s640/Lake+Tekapo+Sunset_Panorama3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Panorama of Lake Tekapo at sunset </span><span style="font-size: small;">- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9358167850/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
When we got down to the lake there was a wonderful smell of lupins in the air but also a small army of photographers spoiling the ambiance. Maybe someone should at least write some sort of photographer's "Code of Conduct" so you don't cross into anyone else's shots when you can see someone is taking a picture! I guess it's naïve of me to think that such a remarkable and sparsely populated area would be tranquil and serene but I guess it is a photographer's dream (partly why we went there in the first place) and it's this easily accessible natural beauty which draws a lot of tourists to the area. It just shatters the illusion when you see these beautiful photographs in the guidebooks...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/a5doqXN_700b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/a5doqXN_700b.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A slightly exaggerated example of the ugly truth behind beautiful pictures!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The following day we managed to drag ourselves out of bed at 5.20am for sunrise - a major achievement in itself! But it was worth it for the uninterrupted views of the mountains and lupins by the Church of the Good Shepherd.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqvyl5HNhCU9ixGLTzYRgPeGxyusX46vjs5oxDnzlDtLKevzQdzsBIbaAUSguno2SUfsefveuhbp_qq2zsnouVm2AvoQQdTMbDsx6tgXXXwWrMjnZtSDiuS5wQCgnvhgamVFQHDR8y29f/s1600/_DSC7114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqvyl5HNhCU9ixGLTzYRgPeGxyusX46vjs5oxDnzlDtLKevzQdzsBIbaAUSguno2SUfsefveuhbp_qq2zsnouVm2AvoQQdTMbDsx6tgXXXwWrMjnZtSDiuS5wQCgnvhgamVFQHDR8y29f/s400/_DSC7114.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We really couldn't have asked for a better start to the day</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCXODr0ucpNbhg1vNA960EwlZXLWAeyiUaaWu5xSwYPSMpWEl_ibr3eYp2vpyisDGL6C7MPllrIKxYZbW-rKL4UrkmkzLiad34NlZXMFZVhazWyDTng90IRPzZ5f5434n-hnCiqp2jjxy/s1600/_DSC7126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCXODr0ucpNbhg1vNA960EwlZXLWAeyiUaaWu5xSwYPSMpWEl_ibr3eYp2vpyisDGL6C7MPllrIKxYZbW-rKL4UrkmkzLiad34NlZXMFZVhazWyDTng90IRPzZ5f5434n-hnCiqp2jjxy/s400/_DSC7126.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The sunrise was truly stunning over Mt Hay (1,174m)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWVX07FMmzpZ_VimklfAww5g9V6PdTn7PcI9qiNbGfvBTsMXdNvtcDQX_zscdbXV-gzlvdFihqpxiWIy8PG2nCcQY_GL3weGRZbHJACP6XEcCFrwFi_4v3mxat7L8COcAfy8C0dTYxkk1/s1600/Lake+Tekapo+Sunrise_Panorama-HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWVX07FMmzpZ_VimklfAww5g9V6PdTn7PcI9qiNbGfvBTsMXdNvtcDQX_zscdbXV-gzlvdFihqpxiWIy8PG2nCcQY_GL3weGRZbHJACP6XEcCFrwFi_4v3mxat7L8COcAfy8C0dTYxkk1/s640/Lake+Tekapo+Sunrise_Panorama-HDR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A panoramic HDR view of Lake Tekapo at sunrise</span><span style="font-size: small;">- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9355500171/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4Q1oOrohv8V6_I5yXvhMtdCCnVN1RQAuCfUclOit0pM3xNwgcv_5tWumCaoosqypaTeJ6v9XzrsW0pGWOzxyxSuH54JliuzA5PYmaHl6JhBw0UmkOePV7IXlXTRh_r-smuC5WOWlJOxn/s1600/_DSC7149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4Q1oOrohv8V6_I5yXvhMtdCCnVN1RQAuCfUclOit0pM3xNwgcv_5tWumCaoosqypaTeJ6v9XzrsW0pGWOzxyxSuH54JliuzA5PYmaHl6JhBw0UmkOePV7IXlXTRh_r-smuC5WOWlJOxn/s400/_DSC7149.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The peaks of Gammack Range towards Mt Cook National Park</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VuMMB3L5Sz5mGjTqcN_wXkqSCK-oH0TG_K_dQW5rX3EHrHhHtFkYrYooAOtHTfdzoJHKHM42GHeySRwqDcDaYBX8vUEKM6E2CvzkWcpf78wuvH6BD-2mpojYGQyI-9JnfTfJYknCaxdT/s1600/_DSC7150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VuMMB3L5Sz5mGjTqcN_wXkqSCK-oH0TG_K_dQW5rX3EHrHhHtFkYrYooAOtHTfdzoJHKHM42GHeySRwqDcDaYBX8vUEKM6E2CvzkWcpf78wuvH6BD-2mpojYGQyI-9JnfTfJYknCaxdT/s400/_DSC7150.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mt Erebus (2,309m) is a prominent peak in the Sibbald Range</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpycSMIRvGKQVTsfdYtoFtIYAT9KOUa8G7YXbtz4Vlyes5jBthxPSOkHQcR0CXrE6EpCPXGND8oHRjMkDLE40FmJj3KpIEfMk7MWCnrxACUiswi7MhXtWjc2-JwF_Ws_vuGK1pjkc3zrR/s1600/_DSC7151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpycSMIRvGKQVTsfdYtoFtIYAT9KOUa8G7YXbtz4Vlyes5jBthxPSOkHQcR0CXrE6EpCPXGND8oHRjMkDLE40FmJj3KpIEfMk7MWCnrxACUiswi7MhXtWjc2-JwF_Ws_vuGK1pjkc3zrR/s400/_DSC7151.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mistake Peak (1,921m) with the Sibbald Range on the right</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7wbJQECK533GIneMdQQKCobdkTXmi0o2PeX6KLO_aNPvWfOyxhtrldYfXucCZDjBijvHIuFdC2jlQmwJPZHR1ZZ1IKNuPX1fApwYLk_G2KJ0aU4_UrqBYaWjgiMbO8YMTEk1RLZXXpmB/s1600/_DSC7158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7wbJQECK533GIneMdQQKCobdkTXmi0o2PeX6KLO_aNPvWfOyxhtrldYfXucCZDjBijvHIuFdC2jlQmwJPZHR1ZZ1IKNuPX1fApwYLk_G2KJ0aU4_UrqBYaWjgiMbO8YMTEk1RLZXXpmB/s400/_DSC7158.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A couple of sleepy tourists posing by the Church of the Good Shepherd</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWGy0NyhtfowmJ8gXFC109697Tckk4llP7iGaf_Cf_ETqsrVw27Y49eBtcZhA_jA9kcSyUbjnmkil0tCjQac2akupEZrasHEsHb4UZhaDWR-t3c_Rh-7EGtkW3tqMMS5fAhMaESYuQK3H/s1600/Lake+Tekapo+Sunrise_Panorama2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWGy0NyhtfowmJ8gXFC109697Tckk4llP7iGaf_Cf_ETqsrVw27Y49eBtcZhA_jA9kcSyUbjnmkil0tCjQac2akupEZrasHEsHb4UZhaDWR-t3c_Rh-7EGtkW3tqMMS5fAhMaESYuQK3H/s640/Lake+Tekapo+Sunrise_Panorama2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Panoramic view of Lake Tekapo and the Godley Valley at sunrise </span><span style="font-size: small;">- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9355448133/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtU3iwKr5wElgxfwCyGK-ukj93C2sji4VthsCEsO05KcJE-ke2MaowV3ds_3tGUYmpCrHXpi73sR3osaXWP9ya-qC8A9Og5y6bVwn5PqCopwSctjIDHNxri2bcFV-sIiM47mnISeSLUpWh/s1600/_DSC7173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtU3iwKr5wElgxfwCyGK-ukj93C2sji4VthsCEsO05KcJE-ke2MaowV3ds_3tGUYmpCrHXpi73sR3osaXWP9ya-qC8A9Og5y6bVwn5PqCopwSctjIDHNxri2bcFV-sIiM47mnISeSLUpWh/s400/_DSC7173.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The sheepdog memorial overlooking Mt John</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Driving round to the hot springs there was a huge carpet of lupins by the edge of the shore by the base of Mt John along Lakeside Drive. If you took a moment to listen you could hear the hum of hundreds of bees busy collecting pollen. The lupin flowers come in a variety of colours including blue, purple, yellow, pink and white or a mixture of two colours.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FdQYRzDRZcorWmjMPv2GBy8OQKANJcjgHBnD_V2jP6TlzD5GsaxR_VUYhbmTc8qlKu-1Gu81DVsEqSBNRmlfjKrcavxFebMbviuNnDoRYMyYp8pNkUcFj-wNveA5KFNX89_enO6KQYhv/s1600/Lake+Tekapo+lupins_Panorama1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FdQYRzDRZcorWmjMPv2GBy8OQKANJcjgHBnD_V2jP6TlzD5GsaxR_VUYhbmTc8qlKu-1Gu81DVsEqSBNRmlfjKrcavxFebMbviuNnDoRYMyYp8pNkUcFj-wNveA5KFNX89_enO6KQYhv/s640/Lake+Tekapo+lupins_Panorama1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A panoramic view of the Lake Tekapo lupins from the base of Mt John </span><span style="font-size: small;">- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9355468533/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGk4n46Dfddt3j9F3tG4AH8dVGZN8yhhiWXoIf6UnqGCHXugydMLmhT8VG3j-AC8tOJc8cQVxxOKFOP3rWsg0ACrBG-rtTSaK9aoHt6274fC_UnRchTQlqwIFJkgL1K5fZyEbGOeVDWUp/s1600/_DSC7179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGk4n46Dfddt3j9F3tG4AH8dVGZN8yhhiWXoIf6UnqGCHXugydMLmhT8VG3j-AC8tOJc8cQVxxOKFOP3rWsg0ACrBG-rtTSaK9aoHt6274fC_UnRchTQlqwIFJkgL1K5fZyEbGOeVDWUp/s320/_DSC7179.JPG" width="211" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi47WdMUhA8OtmXYIdMQXDCGPzSOIoKiarn63R3le77wZD_s27vgYAZ8-dRYHeJn6mHHAWXWEWNTwz-EREgGMSu2YN1AGG3j-4EgpbIng4dFVf-A8QEh3symm3xtD9Lnun9ozAZUjozOfW/s1600/_DSC7211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi47WdMUhA8OtmXYIdMQXDCGPzSOIoKiarn63R3le77wZD_s27vgYAZ8-dRYHeJn6mHHAWXWEWNTwz-EREgGMSu2YN1AGG3j-4EgpbIng4dFVf-A8QEh3symm3xtD9Lnun9ozAZUjozOfW/s320/_DSC7211.JPG" width="211" /></a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmQTNu7ESAEiUd0Iys5d54SVlui1nJ2UuyOaWM7YdBhu_L6VGwcKVKuipRiIgqLPYuwHcWH7avNOClJSMP8ixDgqY2a1K4RvcshlDQH5yh1xNVATdzYHdgb_vACMGOEOtklgo0vAOyUuo/s1600/_DSC7209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmQTNu7ESAEiUd0Iys5d54SVlui1nJ2UuyOaWM7YdBhu_L6VGwcKVKuipRiIgqLPYuwHcWH7avNOClJSMP8ixDgqY2a1K4RvcshlDQH5yh1xNVATdzYHdgb_vACMGOEOtklgo0vAOyUuo/s640/_DSC7209.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A honey bee (<i>Apis Mellifera</i>) loaded with pollen on it's legs</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TUzNGHeziSQuN6EASnUVH9sEpj2Slu0wA68ro6ypiwxWjDwwAYo0gvP4FCoEZ-EZ36ignKFRx2Z6V77Yvk5Y4osTdU24Y1KdPo_sA8NOgW9ND8F4rrvT2uCJg0_wdA1z27AAe9TNAocF/s1600/_DSC7299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TUzNGHeziSQuN6EASnUVH9sEpj2Slu0wA68ro6ypiwxWjDwwAYo0gvP4FCoEZ-EZ36ignKFRx2Z6V77Yvk5Y4osTdU24Y1KdPo_sA8NOgW9ND8F4rrvT2uCJg0_wdA1z27AAe9TNAocF/s400/_DSC7299.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Russell Lupins towering over California Poppies</span><span style="font-size: small;"> which are also considered invasive</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The main reason why we came to Mt John was to rewalk the<b> Summit Circuit Track</b> to see what it would like without all the snow. It was certainly a lot quicker to reach the top of this roche moutonée than last time as it wasn't as slippery with all the snow and ice, however, it was a bit of an overcast/ humid day so not as nice before. One thing that I forgot was how calm and serene it was at the summit of Mt John.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQsiLtzHHvrBH9U3Bwo7cG2W0yYSA9b5wPCID_XP6IkYwYUpuvLjjwK05uxAN5UX__vK-bBx5TepIdrbN3xdAfdrsD3ABC9sLj-jRbQhImpnF6VUjontxMtnleeaICDH47CBnVBWyi3NN/s1600/P1040458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQsiLtzHHvrBH9U3Bwo7cG2W0yYSA9b5wPCID_XP6IkYwYUpuvLjjwK05uxAN5UX__vK-bBx5TepIdrbN3xdAfdrsD3ABC9sLj-jRbQhImpnF6VUjontxMtnleeaICDH47CBnVBWyi3NN/s320/P1040458.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Before...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTsn1qw85KHxunLIDP65PuwCh9PvZ4wgO9bRpJBNTAw8TJ32YGAnV7tBIju6Ty5GVrx7HK5jpGmDydc5SqFFKFONChOg0X_TkdOGV6d92MkXVO0FFy6aGXRGQYD76gep_N-wfk2GdII-8/s1600/_DSC7212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTsn1qw85KHxunLIDP65PuwCh9PvZ4wgO9bRpJBNTAw8TJ32YGAnV7tBIju6Ty5GVrx7HK5jpGmDydc5SqFFKFONChOg0X_TkdOGV6d92MkXVO0FFy6aGXRGQYD76gep_N-wfk2GdII-8/s320/_DSC7212.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">...after</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e-lI8wCgrTY/UBN9LU1MqdI/AAAAAAAACg4/JmrMUhM_WvM/s1600/P1040465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e-lI8wCgrTY/UBN9LU1MqdI/AAAAAAAACg4/JmrMUhM_WvM/s320/P1040465.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Winter...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMxS3r5fa8kePV7NcrVx_ylgCN_YDcHd97Whr8oSB4x40CwSrE20MYpf_Vrj7y0IQaq1r9USQlrp_yvPlQtqBQopvoHXhEgDVUd8EDkqIJo-3EgyCC7QnhfZDXTzDyK-K8MWPm_Qyy_q8/s1600/_DSC7213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMxS3r5fa8kePV7NcrVx_ylgCN_YDcHd97Whr8oSB4x40CwSrE20MYpf_Vrj7y0IQaq1r9USQlrp_yvPlQtqBQopvoHXhEgDVUd8EDkqIJo-3EgyCC7QnhfZDXTzDyK-K8MWPm_Qyy_q8/s320/_DSC7213.JPG" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">...spring</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdI3rcFvCz4jCTQzTp8LqsyD5aC_QwIjv52zsvq4XrsYLFnm1E6UrdIaBjEVga_qsZkfnwmxYb0EV31YzSQjlODQMviwKDtgR8UV2XGSGm2EYFEylvuvoI1QRNTFm6yckn-Ht5jV_spd9/s1600/_CSC7295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdI3rcFvCz4jCTQzTp8LqsyD5aC_QwIjv52zsvq4XrsYLFnm1E6UrdIaBjEVga_qsZkfnwmxYb0EV31YzSQjlODQMviwKDtgR8UV2XGSGm2EYFEylvuvoI1QRNTFm6yckn-Ht5jV_spd9/s400/_CSC7295.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The blanket of lupins down where we started off at Lakeside Drive</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwznECYA9Rr0EKYw4VyNO201AGJgjZkgQDgIHr1kWC-xDEQn0Ld4xH_P0t95scAZvkggVCstRS263fAbP-6JTKnsjYSE5iTYh0d_ied8lHu7_63NFqY4bS7Dq2TB0_6kLZUEIQ8OdFfl8/s1600/_DSC2253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwznECYA9Rr0EKYw4VyNO201AGJgjZkgQDgIHr1kWC-xDEQn0Ld4xH_P0t95scAZvkggVCstRS263fAbP-6JTKnsjYSE5iTYh0d_ied8lHu7_63NFqY4bS7Dq2TB0_6kLZUEIQ8OdFfl8/s320/_DSC2253.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An observation point above the larches in winter</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfyDU7_bbr-0sIIjh4ja4U5Ei-Oz08Z3IGkSDD03cv1uMgNtof2_U4pSiiAxRcAEGLgbcuOKpVW7AQOfxUcKe2NfNmFb6sNhBD8Bxdc-ytmLaklrtiCu-jRe00lI4ikg9w06965WxTxSPr/s1600/_DSC7214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfyDU7_bbr-0sIIjh4ja4U5Ei-Oz08Z3IGkSDD03cv1uMgNtof2_U4pSiiAxRcAEGLgbcuOKpVW7AQOfxUcKe2NfNmFb6sNhBD8Bxdc-ytmLaklrtiCu-jRe00lI4ikg9w06965WxTxSPr/s200/_DSC7214.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The same view in spring</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYKumWNN1OMNtav5uOLNw0DMWoU09ChVvl16jWy91d4y8mu4ttXIP7XB6HVmn_MQPYzPVgcAjWCfWd0A-yvT7hge2tGadTslJ9BF1WVqMCnL40wNdtr3wbKABt1h0LIjhwh54yMRpioKi/s1600/_DSC7223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYKumWNN1OMNtav5uOLNw0DMWoU09ChVvl16jWy91d4y8mu4ttXIP7XB6HVmn_MQPYzPVgcAjWCfWd0A-yvT7hge2tGadTslJ9BF1WVqMCnL40wNdtr3wbKABt1h0LIjhwh54yMRpioKi/s400/_DSC7223.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the summit of Mt John</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhB7hicQqg1_JSZD1OA_K12xlI7FaCU7dUEsx2904d9fdhkCkyWqiznfMoEjI043RIpXPZuIRtkf9rV5zGir1cwRKf6lzLXBXQaJ-RW-Dr6ES7ZlW5q23J3dhIh7AUAzKGFKiKnJKaheJ_/s1600/_DSC7219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhB7hicQqg1_JSZD1OA_K12xlI7FaCU7dUEsx2904d9fdhkCkyWqiznfMoEjI043RIpXPZuIRtkf9rV5zGir1cwRKf6lzLXBXQaJ-RW-Dr6ES7ZlW5q23J3dhIh7AUAzKGFKiKnJKaheJ_/s400/_DSC7219.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking back down on the village across the Mackenzie Basin</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After taking a short break at the summit, we waited to see if the skies would blow over but instead we were just getting blow around so decided to go back down after a cheeky hot chocolate at the Astro Café before heading back down the way we came.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoIWj0kNEmYPBC6dJBcg_188A6a4sO_4T_ySjLoGXHfkKWj8-c4b__Q2auQwGXhj01a0oZKfenZphmgkYTpj_rlYMoUoRiMJAcwdxWdsna5JVCitZAlZFMCw0GNQ7X-oUt67jbV2kpauO/s1600/_DSC7291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoIWj0kNEmYPBC6dJBcg_188A6a4sO_4T_ySjLoGXHfkKWj8-c4b__Q2auQwGXhj01a0oZKfenZphmgkYTpj_rlYMoUoRiMJAcwdxWdsna5JVCitZAlZFMCw0GNQ7X-oUt67jbV2kpauO/s400/_DSC7291.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The telescopes at Mt John University Observatory</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLu9SQmRZdyglZG6HFYvqcNnaQgBux6p_IjNxiiBTdpCYahU7x4LzSDi7_JXU9kaXLf5rw6AiaM5zJauCgM2n0Kn7eDqQaD-Lhdqce0rQ5sx4DOZu72LdaksAleje_NcZj6BAlyPXpxRtn/s1600/_DSC7290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLu9SQmRZdyglZG6HFYvqcNnaQgBux6p_IjNxiiBTdpCYahU7x4LzSDi7_JXU9kaXLf5rw6AiaM5zJauCgM2n0Kn7eDqQaD-Lhdqce0rQ5sx4DOZu72LdaksAleje_NcZj6BAlyPXpxRtn/s400/_DSC7290.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Comparing and contrasting the two occasions that we've been to Lake Tekapo, we felt that Tekapo on a crisp winter's day just edges the lupins during the spring but we would highly recommend checking out this fantastic on either occasion as part of a day-trip. <br />
<br />
Moving on from the Mackenzie Basin we drove back to Lake Pukaki to the southwest corner, where you pickup the Mt Cook Road (also known as State Highway 80) for our return visit to the mountain known as "<b>Cloud Piercer</b>". Driving along the 47km length of Lake Pukaki, the lake was a vibrant shade of turquoise despite the weather being quite grey and cloudy. As we passed through Glentanner, there were some seriously strong cross winds blowing the car all over the place as the storm clouds we descending over Aoraki/ Mt Cook National Park!<br />
<br />
Bad weather put an end to our day just as we arrived at Mt Cook Village so we checked out the fantastic Department of Conservation Visitor Centre for more information in preparation for the following day and to check the weather report to if it would be possible do the Sealy Tarns track. In a bit of anticlimax to the day, we retreated to our modest accommodation, the very dated Mt Cook Backpacker Lodge. This former hotel is one of only a few accommodation options in Mt Cook Village and was on the steep end of our budget but at least we got a room with a balcony facing the Hooker Valley.<br />
<br />
In a last minute bid to rescue the day, we noticed that the Tasman Valley was looking clearer than the Hooker Valley where we couldn't even see Aoraki/ Mt Cook, so just before sunset we drove down Tasman Valley Road, an 8km stretched of unsealed road (2km of which you're not supposed to stop on due to rockfall!), which has a bridge crossing over the Hooker River. For a fleeting moment there were blue skies over the eastern side of the Mt Cook Range. The hope was that we would be able to see the longest (at 27km) and largest glacier in New Zealand - the Tasman Glacier. <br />
<br />
When we arrived at the car park the blue skies had gone but we just had to make the most of the weather we had. Walking up to the Tasmin Glacier lookout it was a 15 minute uphill walk. En route we passed the Blue Lakes which were more like green puddles - it's safe to say they weren't that impressive.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc6AGQrqzUrwDDnyWLosM_VoW8HcvI5hVNKREwZC_-0TnvUeHvYZmtQ3M73Is05GREQyJBmQtUBXpfHuy2mqoS-70AybD1PXgHguJ-Up4K9oRuaEROODMlfYMpFVh-SL8adtBNz74atrz/s1600/View+down+the+Tasman+Valley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc6AGQrqzUrwDDnyWLosM_VoW8HcvI5hVNKREwZC_-0TnvUeHvYZmtQ3M73Is05GREQyJBmQtUBXpfHuy2mqoS-70AybD1PXgHguJ-Up4K9oRuaEROODMlfYMpFVh-SL8adtBNz74atrz/s640/View+down+the+Tasman+Valley.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View down the Tasman Valley looking back towards Lake Pukaki </span><span style="font-size: small;">- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9355316911/in/set-72157626997092316/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVZth5TN3uxOOKVZb54JwHXXXq3h-h5Yr4iwe4oYIJMUaMyUBe5gbd4DDQRp7M4fotDD0SN1xubaCnztBc13Vy55LoVVEPY9bN1YhyphenhyphenCk67BwVpZk3joQDSLpe-mDHo-L7_fy7IQMyAXaS/s1600/_DSC7318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVZth5TN3uxOOKVZb54JwHXXXq3h-h5Yr4iwe4oYIJMUaMyUBe5gbd4DDQRp7M4fotDD0SN1xubaCnztBc13Vy55LoVVEPY9bN1YhyphenhyphenCk67BwVpZk3joQDSLpe-mDHo-L7_fy7IQMyAXaS/s400/_DSC7318.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Blue Lakes with Mt Wakefield (2,058m) and Mt Kinsey (2,083m)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Once we reached the lookout, after climbing some scree the clouds were descending from the Tasman Valley. It was difficult to tell what was the glacier as the ice was so dirty - it just looked like part of the morraine. At present, the glacier is retreating at a rate of 180m/ year so given 20 years the Tasman Glacier will have completely disappeared and we might already be past the point of no return to reverse this, which is a depressing thought.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFku1KMbDYtKtdftOtrUPPE_6wcuXrnJ8cZRQgdVPFpJ9Zwm8OhaGdRiURS2LOG8Dm-8NupgpJKxGefH4RWaDiChxDbHFdvgMR8mgvFwj0Kq9OLZFfnpV7wPD09yEsfWM_sTKCxrt8sQ-/s1600/_DSC7324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFku1KMbDYtKtdftOtrUPPE_6wcuXrnJ8cZRQgdVPFpJ9Zwm8OhaGdRiURS2LOG8Dm-8NupgpJKxGefH4RWaDiChxDbHFdvgMR8mgvFwj0Kq9OLZFfnpV7wPD09yEsfWM_sTKCxrt8sQ-/s400/_DSC7324.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Standing with the terminal face of the glacier and Novara Peak (2,298m)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0CQfjnlEoM8dqW45OsHs2UH8og3l81I9othuzQ95GpzQSmhjK0zklYSSpoYRLra9Lkbv4KpYH5C4l_pODCUJtNsNReqx76R6on54RCLyA1_oMjg65QxfuA4srbkTEf5nJNFj_Ish2bLW/s1600/Tasman+Glacier+and+lake_PanoramaBW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0CQfjnlEoM8dqW45OsHs2UH8og3l81I9othuzQ95GpzQSmhjK0zklYSSpoYRLra9Lkbv4KpYH5C4l_pODCUJtNsNReqx76R6on54RCLyA1_oMjg65QxfuA4srbkTEf5nJNFj_Ish2bLW/s640/Tasman+Glacier+and+lake_PanoramaBW.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Panoramic view of the Tasman Glacier and lake with The Armchair (2,072m) </span><span style="font-size: small;">- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9355327063/in/set-72157626997092316" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Before long the rain finally arrived and it was time for us to head back to the hostel and hope tomorrow would be a better day...<br />
<br />
Waking up at 5am in the vague hope of a sunrise there were some really winds blowing down the Hooker Valley with still quite a lot of clouds covering the mountains. At around 9am it was looking a lot better, although there a lot of cloud cover the top of Mt Sefton (3,151m) so we decided to head over to the Department of Conservation to find out more about the Sealy Tarns and <a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/canterbury/Aoraki/mueller-hut-route.pdf" target="_blank">Mueller Hut</a> trails.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrXajmO2SLEJwKOuYuXeHPTpVZWrUXwcRaP4aQyPEZmxDRI5t-4kvrR5LJmnb0whUKjmjl2obG_bgDIYCSboAm3CKHhcH7GG-jimtk5nCHApytJBToG4zkKHjwt6XQp0ibzp3M5LgzmOM/s1600/_DSC7343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrXajmO2SLEJwKOuYuXeHPTpVZWrUXwcRaP4aQyPEZmxDRI5t-4kvrR5LJmnb0whUKjmjl2obG_bgDIYCSboAm3CKHhcH7GG-jimtk5nCHApytJBToG4zkKHjwt6XQp0ibzp3M5LgzmOM/s400/_DSC7343.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A promising view from our balcony with blue sky over the Sealy Range!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gH4pPvYXA7f3T9TP3iuhof4imqa2N8wvtYknLFWBsUTM89MN46v8hHxFruEW1gdxKqnBtt9eWy5pzU23-JC3Dg0SpqPgYSlXq8iAHhX9TIRWBb3yXW-XjvoVqpKbyJ6wJX4qpq2Ux_ew/s1600/_DSC7349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2gH4pPvYXA7f3T9TP3iuhof4imqa2N8wvtYknLFWBsUTM89MN46v8hHxFruEW1gdxKqnBtt9eWy5pzU23-JC3Dg0SpqPgYSlXq8iAHhX9TIRWBb3yXW-XjvoVqpKbyJ6wJX4qpq2Ux_ew/s400/_DSC7349.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The ridge of Mt Wakefield </span><span style="font-size: small;">(2,058m)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The staff member we spoke to said to us that the Sealy Tarns Track was fine to walk despite it being windy, and that it is possible to get to the Mueller Hut but we would reach the snow line on the mountain, which was 2-3m deep in places and there were snow drifts of about 6m at the hut! With this information in mind we drove to to the White Horse campsite to start our walk as this cuts off 30 mins if you started at the village.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VURf0b7HQ-wN8W-R9SdyRGgj4CyA1W69FaCryFAg9oZlis1HzA2fLIxN5UHkDgn9J7sCyDpiMq_Ux6A9asb_AKlQJZuME54PpVGSFlRR-S-lp7BGYtS3WOG96PDqWW1oNX5lPjREGI4Y/s1600/_DSC7352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VURf0b7HQ-wN8W-R9SdyRGgj4CyA1W69FaCryFAg9oZlis1HzA2fLIxN5UHkDgn9J7sCyDpiMq_Ux6A9asb_AKlQJZuME54PpVGSFlRR-S-lp7BGYtS3WOG96PDqWW1oNX5lPjREGI4Y/s640/_DSC7352.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie pointing at the hidden peaks of Mt Sefton and The Footstall (2,764m)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8bt4Df3fF-B84c-B-_mindvDgwFGmfWSoDHxeH3whZ7j_-b5aTVr5vmKWubHR-apCu0CfMwMvrmH7DTJQkpnNSF2HECeOyWd63MQ0wuQrWEJEpHPLXrjqnARFOUyb5z2P_GYKEks2r1T/s1600/_DSC7355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8bt4Df3fF-B84c-B-_mindvDgwFGmfWSoDHxeH3whZ7j_-b5aTVr5vmKWubHR-apCu0CfMwMvrmH7DTJQkpnNSF2HECeOyWd63MQ0wuQrWEJEpHPLXrjqnARFOUyb5z2P_GYKEks2r1T/s400/_DSC7355.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Avalanches are a considerable danger during spring when snow melts! </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Walking along a gravel path towards Kea Point we then picked up the Sealy Tarns Track as we were climbing steps from here onwards - it got steep and we had to stop quite regularly as it was quite windy. We had read in the memorial books at the Department of Conservation Visitor Centre that someone had died back in <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/261366/Tourist-falls-to-death-at-Mt-Cook" target="_blank">2008</a> on the Sealy Tarns Track after straying off the route so we wanted to be a bit careful.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrEv59pO_XQBcbhq8vem-PnJGW_S9fYxXyOR_A7ju41URtbTDn6Cwm5o0M03kVwFTPoRBs16MbXiPkzVvYTge9lX4c-tYBT-WxGFyc69BhzuAPT6f-IWdFKdkxvFpE4HUNhz-tregD2To/s1600/_DSC7369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrEv59pO_XQBcbhq8vem-PnJGW_S9fYxXyOR_A7ju41URtbTDn6Cwm5o0M03kVwFTPoRBs16MbXiPkzVvYTge9lX4c-tYBT-WxGFyc69BhzuAPT6f-IWdFKdkxvFpE4HUNhz-tregD2To/s640/_DSC7369.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Taking in the impressive view as we head up the Sealy Tarns Track</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEutxJYED8eZGJUTdj0NDfhJKIXjukth_W3T7WHbkgMTb_PO10eKGst48TP3xPlNo5znT98l6hjRpTjbIJyiq3vko-CkHAkCFTakXXzb3w8lo1ZwECx7AWWfYMLloLJ1VEpO9OqgcsClTp/s1600/_DSC7391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEutxJYED8eZGJUTdj0NDfhJKIXjukth_W3T7WHbkgMTb_PO10eKGst48TP3xPlNo5znT98l6hjRpTjbIJyiq3vko-CkHAkCFTakXXzb3w8lo1ZwECx7AWWfYMLloLJ1VEpO9OqgcsClTp/s400/_DSC7391.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The imposing Aoraki/Mt Cook in all her glory</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4dZfGCKD0a4DzBeBLRCsWzgNTuFFKcq8wk1a3p_6E4azNAQIp5Cfak1o-Y2WzAmDBtf6ZTUIO3gsYOMgZbUpQrOjDEFQxmDOG7Ebzvv-0CglYIg8HGX0oTHKTve7jfpwhEoOyauxrtIe/s1600/_DSC7382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4dZfGCKD0a4DzBeBLRCsWzgNTuFFKcq8wk1a3p_6E4azNAQIp5Cfak1o-Y2WzAmDBtf6ZTUIO3gsYOMgZbUpQrOjDEFQxmDOG7Ebzvv-0CglYIg8HGX0oTHKTve7jfpwhEoOyauxrtIe/s640/_DSC7382.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The start of the Mt Cook Range at the edge of the Mueller Glacier lake</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNMWzu6ysvMkBCulvmg-pFS_WZWsnlfu1fXjFt8fsr9fy65NrKhYYdActdmr0xBrs3i6NotUgZgkUBuAtorSBETRWYlo38H9MF6w7YAXBOb4o18pVU81JWt9T9miOizhjuXiQfOpUkFcw/s1600/_DSC7395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNMWzu6ysvMkBCulvmg-pFS_WZWsnlfu1fXjFt8fsr9fy65NrKhYYdActdmr0xBrs3i6NotUgZgkUBuAtorSBETRWYlo38H9MF6w7YAXBOb4o18pVU81JWt9T9miOizhjuXiQfOpUkFcw/s400/_DSC7395.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2jtJA20pwypTghLD-Ga19MNCtv7ozS1hyyPffSKawJ0l6jFfUzRgVB1TVpF-ALNLIJCZp1qv4qIAYTGFgbM9ZgZoErUkMt-7qCk6SL4qEJWHGxE25Th2vb7iS-SQOSXPdVf62UWNdXuo/s1600/_DSC7397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2jtJA20pwypTghLD-Ga19MNCtv7ozS1hyyPffSKawJ0l6jFfUzRgVB1TVpF-ALNLIJCZp1qv4qIAYTGFgbM9ZgZoErUkMt-7qCk6SL4qEJWHGxE25Th2vb7iS-SQOSXPdVf62UWNdXuo/s640/_DSC7397.JPG" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie posing with famed Mt Cook lily, <i>Ranunculus lyallii</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The higher we went the better the views unfolded: first of all the Mueller Lake, then the Hooker Glacier behind the moraine and eventually all the way down the Hooker Valley from the glacier down to the lake and then the river. What makes Aoraki/ Mt Cook National Parkso impressive is that it contains more than 140 peaks standing over 2,000m.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVg3AKATNqBSMvJ9mraZ9YTFl3IwTWFylhreQt-6gTPnhYaoXMKx22I1wGzaP_sCf62ElbfUVvONgdLpGJqcGNl1ZlcUoePf8PU-7UaKOUK89fmWhMQ7OAplmGJiRQB_Pyy_4PhtN0katu/s1600/Mt+Cook+from+Sealy+Tarns_Panorama3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVg3AKATNqBSMvJ9mraZ9YTFl3IwTWFylhreQt-6gTPnhYaoXMKx22I1wGzaP_sCf62ElbfUVvONgdLpGJqcGNl1ZlcUoePf8PU-7UaKOUK89fmWhMQ7OAplmGJiRQB_Pyy_4PhtN0katu/s640/Mt+Cook+from+Sealy+Tarns_Panorama3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Panoramic view </span><span style="font-size: small;">of the Mt Cook Range from the Sealy Tarns Track</span><span style="font-size: small;">- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9355358765/in/set-72157626997092316/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In all it took us about 1 hour 30 mins to reach the tarn, zip-zagging over 1,810 steps made from 5km of timber and 1km with a few stops along the way and small stream crossing. <br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielHMhzWAV43HnaMHSj5s7Dwsrcc0NNF_MhMYdQJ3A8HUSTX_2HJHoNVD1QRv92cNvIC8yyBnA9NeAPdq6XHzDOO_eoGRV3meHsg39jBIC5VfCfyII2JCqhd5xJztTB9DnW5ZUh10jJIeV/s1600/_DSC7414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielHMhzWAV43HnaMHSj5s7Dwsrcc0NNF_MhMYdQJ3A8HUSTX_2HJHoNVD1QRv92cNvIC8yyBnA9NeAPdq6XHzDOO_eoGRV3meHsg39jBIC5VfCfyII2JCqhd5xJztTB9DnW5ZUh10jJIeV/s400/_DSC7414.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">No time for we feet we've got a tarn to reach!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDR-HVihRIsD3EAeqUsFsTaEbXajB7BkBQ_9YRITIgtNhbpxSkbx-rRoDsTjM7N8SLhwJlecu3TdQIjBsEcy8t8r1QYXeE4v4miXZmmVH5NAlcBwm61TaznKdXe26PyukWUbolXQESvBM/s1600/_DSC7450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDR-HVihRIsD3EAeqUsFsTaEbXajB7BkBQ_9YRITIgtNhbpxSkbx-rRoDsTjM7N8SLhwJlecu3TdQIjBsEcy8t8r1QYXeE4v4miXZmmVH5NAlcBwm61TaznKdXe26PyukWUbolXQESvBM/s400/_DSC7450.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">A tarn is a small alpine pond.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Op_apouPtyfHrlv-modwFiWjipAgqhISK2YUlKBY11mT4wXWISuWF-_sGlaFWSCaVm470XR-D7BKt1gKzsqzWvXkN61KQ4QZZhC7SHwMjlO-m7BYKGJcKjLPEzOQjTrZdbVKIe6Lv9ba/s1600/_DSC7421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Op_apouPtyfHrlv-modwFiWjipAgqhISK2YUlKBY11mT4wXWISuWF-_sGlaFWSCaVm470XR-D7BKt1gKzsqzWvXkN61KQ4QZZhC7SHwMjlO-m7BYKGJcKjLPEzOQjTrZdbVKIe6Lv9ba/s400/_DSC7421.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another tarn looking back towards the Burnett Mountains </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
By the time we got up to 1,300m it had clouded over a lot and the face of Aoraki/ Mt Cook was cloaked behind the clouds but we were able to admire the mighty ice shelves directly opposite us on Mt Sefton.<br />
<ol>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNaelroFIeQZkVvAia9q8jpzwSF1Ko6uh4GjpxbntX4R3JvxJWXHNuGYxNPpix9EmuTKIswchBmh93Hipvnq__vaAKqWau3_MrVUyq3gA6xeUpV-PDdZoQwSE9wOvLjFZZPWERNVaWRU5/s1600/_DSC7453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNaelroFIeQZkVvAia9q8jpzwSF1Ko6uh4GjpxbntX4R3JvxJWXHNuGYxNPpix9EmuTKIswchBmh93Hipvnq__vaAKqWau3_MrVUyq3gA6xeUpV-PDdZoQwSE9wOvLjFZZPWERNVaWRU5/s320/_DSC7453.JPG" width="208" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Spectacular glaciers and ice shelves</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcCWfayCDdVSP0qYqtfJYMntATRCHCBwXWOxJNXGPoJyBP_j31O77MN1HAA2xlguOuo4ECELGijBGqSJ2bSkvs_X6UJQuhmyyZAVpjl2DNNTWjiUSReTD2iepXAvdTt24SH3wt4nEn0i-/s1600/_DSC7409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcCWfayCDdVSP0qYqtfJYMntATRCHCBwXWOxJNXGPoJyBP_j31O77MN1HAA2xlguOuo4ECELGijBGqSJ2bSkvs_X6UJQuhmyyZAVpjl2DNNTWjiUSReTD2iepXAvdTt24SH3wt4nEn0i-/s320/_DSC7409.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A breathtaking view of The Footstall and Cadogan Peak</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
From here we had two options:<br />
<ol>
<li>Wait for someone to lead the way up the Mueller Hut Route.</li>
<li>Turn back around and go back down the way we came.</li>
</ol>
Lucky for us there were quite a few people continuing up to the Muller Hut. At this point we were now following poles and orange markers up a scree route for 500m. This was a little more challenging than anything we've done before as it required having sure footing and climbing over loose rocks.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yq5M4TOYQjjUE97eUaXDUXkmzqSZSuh_qUfVu6dc7-8_DnyTEFMOP_iXX2Cwk9EMYJx8IRD6wnu-5HPeSUirT7Hz4i5IowsHCxkCnijQbYaUOSHKdL32X-WZLKWQu7aoHvfvTSFoBQQE/s1600/_DSC7422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8yq5M4TOYQjjUE97eUaXDUXkmzqSZSuh_qUfVu6dc7-8_DnyTEFMOP_iXX2Cwk9EMYJx8IRD6wnu-5HPeSUirT7Hz4i5IowsHCxkCnijQbYaUOSHKdL32X-WZLKWQu7aoHvfvTSFoBQQE/s400/_DSC7422.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie at the first pole marker of the Mueller Hut Route</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Once we reached the snow line it was quite exposed and steep, there were six other groups who all had a go and wading through the snow <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNZmlyi0p38qG1Df8aemeQ1i3Vy-Ht8cRR5H3aefKuWUqzZSQoQQnf70yLX-Zg15x8G5dmwZyaqmFIVBJCLwpnk-1CbsDmoudd8F6dlEricfddr9xMa1-ET4jnwRAeouJav5hN_P22f2Y/s1600/_DSC7426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNZmlyi0p38qG1Df8aemeQ1i3Vy-Ht8cRR5H3aefKuWUqzZSQoQQnf70yLX-Zg15x8G5dmwZyaqmFIVBJCLwpnk-1CbsDmoudd8F6dlEricfddr9xMa1-ET4jnwRAeouJav5hN_P22f2Y/s400/_DSC7426.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Where the alpine tussock and rocks end and the snow begins!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgAwmJsdn2a7lYEyvbKbEmZ8YPcp9HQcqZRELtxE5A8MpHDGySqPtEH2YJN6QEhhEMHY4D1i7Qm4hZux-jlLeWEvEqEgMUmaCL-5okYIGmrl_FdG-Q8YHol2Q4ABNRD7UpKe-HbVgwbDM/s1600/_DSC7434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgAwmJsdn2a7lYEyvbKbEmZ8YPcp9HQcqZRELtxE5A8MpHDGySqPtEH2YJN6QEhhEMHY4D1i7Qm4hZux-jlLeWEvEqEgMUmaCL-5okYIGmrl_FdG-Q8YHol2Q4ABNRD7UpKe-HbVgwbDM/s400/_DSC7434.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love snowy mountains, I really can't think of anywhere I'd rather be.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The furthest one group got was six poles (possibly 600m) beyond where we stopped but they eventually gave up as well, as it was so steep and one person in their party was wading in deep snow wearing jeans and trainers! Not exactly the most clever thing to be wearing on a mountain!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIis9mYSXH6XQPH-RzX9TSRbPFSgu3DWKRxKFctRWQwfeqXttDwEh4pjWWs-rtk5XvuPDr8i4-cnb3J432wtGvV1W_LmurxL0_eHQ5ialbN14MtX51ff7mbPEELCg0AK7852yZowX48xyN/s1600/_DSC7432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIis9mYSXH6XQPH-RzX9TSRbPFSgu3DWKRxKFctRWQwfeqXttDwEh4pjWWs-rtk5XvuPDr8i4-cnb3J432wtGvV1W_LmurxL0_eHQ5ialbN14MtX51ff7mbPEELCg0AK7852yZowX48xyN/s400/_DSC7432.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the further anyone got all day on the Muller Hut Route</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In a lot of the ways the DOC are an excellent organisation but they should also be known as the Department of Crap as they could have warned us how steep the gradient was for the final section of walk was to the summit, it was impossible to get very far without the aid of walking poles.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBBYV1WgwUVS8-_ymNN6_zMBRXOhgw8HQcWPwdTMPzEUOkEPdXWlBZUrRcRXvbB7JKbhQNsTU0eaf2QrBn8gE33OEjcsQzozFZvmgoG1pY_vo2xeCy-qOm9mqSQkdaHo8LRmqriQl6VR7/s1600/_DSC7428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBBYV1WgwUVS8-_ymNN6_zMBRXOhgw8HQcWPwdTMPzEUOkEPdXWlBZUrRcRXvbB7JKbhQNsTU0eaf2QrBn8gE33OEjcsQzozFZvmgoG1pY_vo2xeCy-qOm9mqSQkdaHo8LRmqriQl6VR7/s400/_DSC7428.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Hooker River carving pattern as it meets the Tasman River </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37cNyPrg6cbUR7yDv49tcicPxlrlN7dV65Wz7150e7e5wUIiQGx4AM4HfdzVu5jpSuslQaDUrx1t2jYLWxZZdpWww4DQSmPK-ULLVHRkDwxESl6ZXrfO2CDmOSAio4MpZUhLMXJgIxh5X/s1600/_DSC7429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37cNyPrg6cbUR7yDv49tcicPxlrlN7dV65Wz7150e7e5wUIiQGx4AM4HfdzVu5jpSuslQaDUrx1t2jYLWxZZdpWww4DQSmPK-ULLVHRkDwxESl6ZXrfO2CDmOSAio4MpZUhLMXJgIxh5X/s400/_DSC7429.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nqV2W64iCTSVLUv_BT51_38SCCZdnniBhrZ9aR6TaQzBK1bfv19VgjEKQ7RuADzbyIxK3XRWKR0XSA2CJjhd69OEzvCdSvsBuM4fOhrDwBpSpYlY9Fnncdut6mvW5H-COr-UH1FSLtPp/s1600/Mueller+Hut+Route+Mt+Cook+National+Park_Panorama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5nqV2W64iCTSVLUv_BT51_38SCCZdnniBhrZ9aR6TaQzBK1bfv19VgjEKQ7RuADzbyIxK3XRWKR0XSA2CJjhd69OEzvCdSvsBuM4fOhrDwBpSpYlY9Fnncdut6mvW5H-COr-UH1FSLtPp/s640/Mueller+Hut+Route+Mt+Cook+National+Park_Panorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Panorama of the Hooker Valley from the Mueller Hut Route</span><span style="font-size: small;">- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9358113350/in/set-72157626997092316" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Coming back down on the loose scree was actually more difficult than on the way up and I noticed that there was a stream to cross which I didn't remember on the way up. As we made our way down from Sealy Tarns the stream under the waterfall we crossed had got a lot deeper, compared to when we crossed it earlier and in the DOC leaflet ("<a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/canterbury/Aoraki/walks-in-aoraki-mt-cook-national-park.pdf" target="_blank">Walks in Aoraki/ Mt Cook National Park</a>") it mentioned that we should be prepared for "unexpected streams" crossings. Either way we were more prepared to get our feet wet than get too close to the edge of the track where the drop off was quite steep. This could have been due to the snow melting rapidly or even from all the rainfall the night before...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuixEF20zKXbwf0hA9O3mciAqWEq4JSyM6k1JHnuUEzj8M_tZs6gZlqOVGWrKkchC3A8EII_k-iNZk8FN00bDRLusT_oCIryKjWyXMNT4lPIMyY7V3tbEunEBnWCw6Y7V40ykHNsLs7_-N/s1600/_DSC7448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuixEF20zKXbwf0hA9O3mciAqWEq4JSyM6k1JHnuUEzj8M_tZs6gZlqOVGWrKkchC3A8EII_k-iNZk8FN00bDRLusT_oCIryKjWyXMNT4lPIMyY7V3tbEunEBnWCw6Y7V40ykHNsLs7_-N/s400/_DSC7448.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sealy Tarn from our descent down the Mueller Hut Route</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOTV0cIydYxrDGjLDix7Z9ccQ2C4Q1j-verTTMCPpLXbzVAv_q-ngsUEGpeTatvIVYLbROG8bK2YxBOvhbJI9w8zQ8569sa5Y0-q0L_RNoOIKrMEAE91NiCPQS1bdtuKvHxfGjuahiheX/s1600/WP_000238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOTV0cIydYxrDGjLDix7Z9ccQ2C4Q1j-verTTMCPpLXbzVAv_q-ngsUEGpeTatvIVYLbROG8bK2YxBOvhbJI9w8zQ8569sa5Y0-q0L_RNoOIKrMEAE91NiCPQS1bdtuKvHxfGjuahiheX/s400/WP_000238.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The stream from earlier cutting across the track and over the edge!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In all the walk to Sealy Tarns and partway along the Mueller Hut route took us 4 and ½ hours return although our legs felt like jelly by the end of it, coming back down all those steps! Getting off the track it definitely felt like we had caught the sun even though it was only really out for an hour and half at the most - I guess it shows how different the atmosphere is round this part of the world, in that you can still get easily sunburnt when the weather clouds over at higher altitudes.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSXk5C0HTbK_tTKT2zdotTYQW0TF6OAZJdGlBophVI8f8v-LEf5ytK_wq7cubZGirxGtSYL3-nchNR0wsxyMXvdLjwyEtqV6Zjc_bkj6kBJGTZCWTMm2J7r2OrggFcjnGizHj1328Pk1e/s1600/_DSC7466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSXk5C0HTbK_tTKT2zdotTYQW0TF6OAZJdGlBophVI8f8v-LEf5ytK_wq7cubZGirxGtSYL3-nchNR0wsxyMXvdLjwyEtqV6Zjc_bkj6kBJGTZCWTMm2J7r2OrggFcjnGizHj1328Pk1e/s640/_DSC7466.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The face of Aoraki is always watching</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0L31gejAjewsSS4hFDQYXKHF_SmhOsfrR8VDT3G66h232uxDmw8DtS6r8Jxu_eKUSvQTIK4Mt9tSq2vBAmPVehc_nwzu7Rxo3g82lDFapTx-E9C5n0krkPogKhIC9evcOz5cXPVdlIcte/s1600/_DSC7446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0L31gejAjewsSS4hFDQYXKHF_SmhOsfrR8VDT3G66h232uxDmw8DtS6r8Jxu_eKUSvQTIK4Mt9tSq2vBAmPVehc_nwzu7Rxo3g82lDFapTx-E9C5n0krkPogKhIC9evcOz5cXPVdlIcte/s400/_DSC7446.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ANBvPbEtuFd6ghnA9PjusYO92CsopMDXijA9SHmyXr2kucCkPZDjCPHhAc9tXRl_4NTJSugtsun5qcKpQOKiuPRkCCYFYB4zliCi0avumKT5szAMMWy4qfGjLo85p6uQ8hwSNzFgd9mt/s1600/_DSC7461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ANBvPbEtuFd6ghnA9PjusYO92CsopMDXijA9SHmyXr2kucCkPZDjCPHhAc9tXRl_4NTJSugtsun5qcKpQOKiuPRkCCYFYB4zliCi0avumKT5szAMMWy4qfGjLo85p6uQ8hwSNzFgd9mt/s400/_DSC7461.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rock flour sediment in the glacier lake</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcuiszdHz4Uun2aDpO5jhOVpFTtttfU4H-aaqGkni_H1FgzlmF_ameBT0Pu50QozlyZo4_O0tAxWBjd7GRPY481ZcTasBTm_YENnXhlFurNldra9jzzPY49diaZHNj6K6QJYadHY1ywPd/s1600/_DSC7462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcuiszdHz4Uun2aDpO5jhOVpFTtttfU4H-aaqGkni_H1FgzlmF_ameBT0Pu50QozlyZo4_O0tAxWBjd7GRPY481ZcTasBTm_YENnXhlFurNldra9jzzPY49diaZHNj6K6QJYadHY1ywPd/s400/_DSC7462.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
In a last ditch attempt to see the Tasman glacier again we drove back down the Tasman Valley road but by the time we reached the car park and walked up to the lookout the rain clouds had descended over valley and it was actually worse than when we went the day before, so it was time to call it a day and go home...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPG6PF-u0Z82-qHgViJlem7T2aYEFmIbMdNPKwBKZ9CxSrNUB8ru_ZQyqIdEBglFLOM8WOGyn6ZRMC4pr0xwEMguRUerxQSZd-xeMIkuwlUUIzOZcJgDBmi-kNqx-Umgll0QTkMQ57ccw_/s1600/_DSC7471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPG6PF-u0Z82-qHgViJlem7T2aYEFmIbMdNPKwBKZ9CxSrNUB8ru_ZQyqIdEBglFLOM8WOGyn6ZRMC4pr0xwEMguRUerxQSZd-xeMIkuwlUUIzOZcJgDBmi-kNqx-Umgll0QTkMQ57ccw_/s400/_DSC7471.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Novara Peak (2,298m) and terminal face of the Tasman Glacier</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We were a little disappointed not to see a Kea in Aoraki/ Mt Cook National Park especially at the Tasman Glacier where there were signs warning people to feed the Kea but we're still hoping for "twitching" opportunities on the Routeburn Track or if we decide to go to Milford Sound.<br />
<br />
It was at this we point we came to the realisation that this would be the last time we would visit Aoraki/ Mt Cook National Park as our time in New Zealand is drawing to a close but we hope it won't be another 5 years again before we're back in <i>Aotearoa</i>. At least our visit was memorable for more than one reason...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMd2xzM5tRGwTiAwhIfqPSQbqYpeBmDR4j55hJda1aXhcNaPungCRmHAVvXGJL5VwV0427q-B6gaTFlFy4lLCky_WxNFYPzPFIzGMRchdqhER4zcp7Ss9nbCKMGpP_SEZB9jStGzghWRz/s1600/_DSC7478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMd2xzM5tRGwTiAwhIfqPSQbqYpeBmDR4j55hJda1aXhcNaPungCRmHAVvXGJL5VwV0427q-B6gaTFlFy4lLCky_WxNFYPzPFIzGMRchdqhER4zcp7Ss9nbCKMGpP_SEZB9jStGzghWRz/s400/_DSC7478.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking back towards Aoraki/ Mt Cook N.P. from Peter's lookout</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-31060203249777129182013-02-28T03:53:00.001-08:002013-10-06T04:02:33.716-07:00Wakatipu walks<div>
Being the seasoned "Queenstowners" we have become, we've been able to steer clear a lot of the main tourist traps and dig a little deeper into what the local area has to offer, and appreciate the natural beauty of the Wakatipu region. Most of the visitors passing through only really get to experience just the tip of the iceberg of what Queenstown has to offer. The Wakatipu area caters to a range of different walking experiences from bush walks and lake views to historic trails and challenging alpine traverses. As we've been in Queenstown for a while and have tried several of the walks covered in the excellent Department of Conservation brochure, "<a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/otago/wakatipu-walks-brochure.pdf" target="_blank"><b>Wakatipu Walks</b></a>", I decided to write a summary of four of the best walks that we did.<br />
<div>
</div>
<br /></div>
<b>Mt Crichton Loop Track</b> - this historic walking track is found 10km from Queenstown on the Glenorchy Road at the Mt Crichton Scenic Reserve. This track can be walked in either direction but we started off by crossing a footbridge over Twelve Mile Creek before we following it back upstream as we climbed up alongside a gorge that passed through strands of mountain beech and mänuka forest. Once we got up high above the creek couldn't really see the mountains through the forest. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVccJ9LlPVDxBVaKih8S42UV_h84238nSsDMAMlXf3IDfI8LP8UpJyZyXxqfTAfN9gbGNp0bDAO1Q74kjIBfkJmkYFGzjz2qBkBr5BNbR62Ea6GGMo3AoyAJHR6kVmYabY7ze26tfX6uJO/s1600/_DSC6887.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVccJ9LlPVDxBVaKih8S42UV_h84238nSsDMAMlXf3IDfI8LP8UpJyZyXxqfTAfN9gbGNp0bDAO1Q74kjIBfkJmkYFGzjz2qBkBr5BNbR62Ea6GGMo3AoyAJHR6kVmYabY7ze26tfX6uJO/s400/_DSC6887.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Don't get too close to the edge of the gorge!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49BCQqqSdLVGY2UV-KGDB-nDGgW0rQLBrUmX8lIBcktCHTtciAEB__NmNLFAT3Xkg77Ezo2MSI5Bqjeb0FsvzNkCHuD2jZC2M_HKtScmW41LrAvkVWnMI-vPAMVRZb_3LhCLJguuLpVTi/s1600/_DSC6894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49BCQqqSdLVGY2UV-KGDB-nDGgW0rQLBrUmX8lIBcktCHTtciAEB__NmNLFAT3Xkg77Ezo2MSI5Bqjeb0FsvzNkCHuD2jZC2M_HKtScmW41LrAvkVWnMI-vPAMVRZb_3LhCLJguuLpVTi/s400/_DSC6894.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On of the many crossings over the winding Twelve Mile Creek</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2H0FyyisYyDitmPXHHnEnzZTIDE_uiux5ExNbweePGF7f7oUhR3jX8ioolANwhxHGIuldjF66NHDOGzKXarzj0kZ6PmvYm1VpUaykHgqPCCDlYEckGgw8oGGGQ3oRCLagK2ZOHM8ajCQY/s1600/_DSC6898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2H0FyyisYyDitmPXHHnEnzZTIDE_uiux5ExNbweePGF7f7oUhR3jX8ioolANwhxHGIuldjF66NHDOGzKXarzj0kZ6PmvYm1VpUaykHgqPCCDlYEckGgw8oGGGQ3oRCLagK2ZOHM8ajCQY/s400/_DSC6898.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Eventually we reached an impressive sluiced canyon, which marked a time where 19<sup>th</sup> Century gold miners had shaped the landscape by removing as much as 1.8 million cubic metres of rock to create a large open space. Slowly but surely the surrounding beech forest has started to reclaim the site, however, the contour of the land has been permanently altered!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDLLqGpK3Yc_J5MZ1a4E64BOgcAb1BFPWICIyEppuYJ25WngBcNlpmSsM1_P1FTacJrCPcqnmAsxPSYmSeuiovfc2Xb_A9wmB_AgecnznYXdIypZM6EQkewqBrP7OTeAnYhaVakSCre4P/s1600/_DSC6900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDLLqGpK3Yc_J5MZ1a4E64BOgcAb1BFPWICIyEppuYJ25WngBcNlpmSsM1_P1FTacJrCPcqnmAsxPSYmSeuiovfc2Xb_A9wmB_AgecnznYXdIypZM6EQkewqBrP7OTeAnYhaVakSCre4P/s400/_DSC6900.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gold-bearing gravel was washed off these cliffs towards the tailrace</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It was in this clearing that we caught our first properly glimpse of Mt Crichton (1,870m) - the most prominent peak in the scenic reserve. A little further ahead a side track lead us to an impressive rock fissure, which was once used by the gold miners as a tail race tunnel.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBwr01k8OLhxojXXjYNc4exeP0CrqaUvt3ZDEPzeyXvJtb055Le8LAcTgz_6SbHIguggoJNJYDTvFmCDKGRQ7o3vN32iLIVpS65ExeriqDHl9wJfAvyYws9x-xCpwG5OfDkX735VA-wBW/s1600/_DSC6903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilBwr01k8OLhxojXXjYNc4exeP0CrqaUvt3ZDEPzeyXvJtb055Le8LAcTgz_6SbHIguggoJNJYDTvFmCDKGRQ7o3vN32iLIVpS65ExeriqDHl9wJfAvyYws9x-xCpwG5OfDkX735VA-wBW/s640/_DSC6903.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nearly 240m3 of rock was laboriously chiselled and blasted to make this tailrace tunnel</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Continuing along on the main track we continued to follow the gorge high above Twelve Mile Creek (which is sourced by Lake Isobel at the top of Mt Crichton) before eventually reaching the historic Sam Summers Hut - a relic of the gold rush era. Sam Summers was a prospector who mined in Twelve Mile Creek on-and-off for 30 years, where he built a hut with his brothers in 1930. Sam helped provide for his sister and nine brothers by prospecting and hunting. Sam eventually left his hut to go to war but often returned to visit it, walking all the way from Queenstown. While other prospector's shelters have crumbled away, Sam's hut has been regularly repaired and maintained for over 80 years - it can still be used as basic accommodation even today! Sam Summers passed away in 1997, aged 92 but his hut serves a strong historical link to the region's gold mining heritage.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiGoS5LJj6aHrYXWfmzmKQ_kyGDUMpEw-aZ89Szq_Cu28-I_ERpANHmltkWuF3RlNjKvNu57yUoREUfjrX5ikaHajJShuqg2J5gi6ZV1Y56er9-4DGGoY5nCPq9xlVloQ1iU39EA1py2l/s1600/_DSC6924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijiGoS5LJj6aHrYXWfmzmKQ_kyGDUMpEw-aZ89Szq_Cu28-I_ERpANHmltkWuF3RlNjKvNu57yUoREUfjrX5ikaHajJShuqg2J5gi6ZV1Y56er9-4DGGoY5nCPq9xlVloQ1iU39EA1py2l/s320/_DSC6924.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSrNO8DjHqzOYM5z8qNV4f_i_y90fIBa5KCQdXsUgmNE5LaD2jOtJMt7-nha8fFp-__uPLgWJn4wiCMD2Slo2wbBJ1rUyw8w1x8teVLcghLlW9r-sLbeYVoTcpyi8JEMxq0ct2ElHMsTi/s1600/_DSC6915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeSrNO8DjHqzOYM5z8qNV4f_i_y90fIBa5KCQdXsUgmNE5LaD2jOtJMt7-nha8fFp-__uPLgWJn4wiCMD2Slo2wbBJ1rUyw8w1x8teVLcghLlW9r-sLbeYVoTcpyi8JEMxq0ct2ElHMsTi/s320/_DSC6915.jpg" width="211" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAhsVYjteSuN_ZQQBPI2W6aqgDydn-9PBXY0MNy7IUdCP_4wxEl_-YF0z0haKrZ8h8vGQBHM2n9Zio4nBSYaE97sKbd5Qssm8U7Iddnlxiutd-kri0INznCPlxY6cGgJwU7Shz-36ceq9/s1600/_DSC6922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAhsVYjteSuN_ZQQBPI2W6aqgDydn-9PBXY0MNy7IUdCP_4wxEl_-YF0z0haKrZ8h8vGQBHM2n9Zio4nBSYaE97sKbd5Qssm8U7Iddnlxiutd-kri0INznCPlxY6cGgJwU7Shz-36ceq9/s200/_DSC6922.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPBuMUgTr9q1fAMv-MpKjyl4piIYKu6lWPMMACl8GaPVg_ltUVwSilNpRMQgvOEGAW0x4ZW_BGWHoyWCk3oHM9nub6OVxhTEJ3WQ0ChMbtGJEfvkpxS90cd99u5BHE7beP-bfTr1lGBu9/s1600/_DSC6920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPBuMUgTr9q1fAMv-MpKjyl4piIYKu6lWPMMACl8GaPVg_ltUVwSilNpRMQgvOEGAW0x4ZW_BGWHoyWCk3oHM9nub6OVxhTEJ3WQ0ChMbtGJEfvkpxS90cd99u5BHE7beP-bfTr1lGBu9/s320/_DSC6920.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Following Twelve Creek past an impressive waterfall, it wasn't long before we were climbing up again where were able to catch a fleeting view of Walter Peak (1,800m) through the tree line above the sluiced canyon before we reached a short side track that connects with Lake Dispute. From here we could walk down to the lakeside and pick up the track to Moke Lake if we really wanted to make a day of it but we decided the view was enough for us and that we wanted to finish off walking the loop.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEE47rU6vzQYfrQ8uLYdqpnD5nebm9eCqyWoK5loaxvS_NjMDkf7HF8_7YrferMygloBmeegiEK1etEAeVFtHBv-ewWmvB1VAwPOoDyPX0oO6iIZdhnKTLZnRAqPqdeDGN26fciRx40SH/s1600/_DSC6926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJEE47rU6vzQYfrQ8uLYdqpnD5nebm9eCqyWoK5loaxvS_NjMDkf7HF8_7YrferMygloBmeegiEK1etEAeVFtHBv-ewWmvB1VAwPOoDyPX0oO6iIZdhnKTLZnRAqPqdeDGN26fciRx40SH/s400/_DSC6926.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A lush waterfall cascade near Sam Summers Hut </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIizcbXPlyGYVV_btkuqMBFiOFSHW91l8I4vKMrVESaQr3EXz3SVMDGkxjMePpIPiea8umvJ-d_lKdxjQcbQyMXgu2jzbmezMD347DKJsL2fyPqB7h5TFPaILekCtVS-bBETzMm6R3rbP/s1600/_DSC6931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIizcbXPlyGYVV_btkuqMBFiOFSHW91l8I4vKMrVESaQr3EXz3SVMDGkxjMePpIPiea8umvJ-d_lKdxjQcbQyMXgu2jzbmezMD347DKJsL2fyPqB7h5TFPaILekCtVS-bBETzMm6R3rbP/s400/_DSC6931.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A snow-capped Walter Peak high above the sluiced canyon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0Hy3e7h9eT3ldrtaK5K3JU9dVV54LD6HcroTQCsSOX3affyt8Dm86Cj1d6R4nhdtFF1fY9-H_jOaWv5drGYeMR496GF8v3AR-Uja4FB1ouYJ4iG3XNlHEq-cDX6CDLVICO-heDqfgDtB/s1600/_DSC6944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj0Hy3e7h9eT3ldrtaK5K3JU9dVV54LD6HcroTQCsSOX3affyt8Dm86Cj1d6R4nhdtFF1fY9-H_jOaWv5drGYeMR496GF8v3AR-Uja4FB1ouYJ4iG3XNlHEq-cDX6CDLVICO-heDqfgDtB/s400/_DSC6944.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The side track connects with Lake Dispute from above the lake</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfv6PH2Dk6fuuoQsqGXSrvbRXXXsVtIPegreecKsOw96B-K5etXjYMpR6j3NPtNfWoiN5OOSR4NqZHTikxRvKoKizY2zS_fZgPC0HQIKZrtjk6gIqL9eyu9SHCWYk5FJhFor5DxYL4bh2/s1600/Lake+Dispute_Panorama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfv6PH2Dk6fuuoQsqGXSrvbRXXXsVtIPegreecKsOw96B-K5etXjYMpR6j3NPtNfWoiN5OOSR4NqZHTikxRvKoKizY2zS_fZgPC0HQIKZrtjk6gIqL9eyu9SHCWYk5FJhFor5DxYL4bh2/s640/Lake+Dispute_Panorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A panoramic view of Lake Dispute - click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9214355932/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We knew it wasn't much further to end of track as we were on the opposite side of the sluiced canyon where we got spectacular views of Mt Crichton which had a small dusting of snow on the peak and across the scenic reserve. But before we could finish there was the small matter of climbing over a tree which had been obviously blown over in a storm!</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFl8qlX6l9A31k29tr7O0neftFN02ryLu1B-EyAnh6SfCheTFMnQGPc8Hk4R8uXpUND1U6FhrjkUWPUeY8ai155xnPd6BgqLcJBqNGSNVCiiyTsrpafAOFP7RnPNgCBWI5cEvvrgyTcQD/s1600/_DSC6971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFl8qlX6l9A31k29tr7O0neftFN02ryLu1B-EyAnh6SfCheTFMnQGPc8Hk4R8uXpUND1U6FhrjkUWPUeY8ai155xnPd6BgqLcJBqNGSNVCiiyTsrpafAOFP7RnPNgCBWI5cEvvrgyTcQD/s400/_DSC6971.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The peak of Mt Crichton on the left </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QBBzpEBxipOG-PUlP8vabTIiNK_l1IptH6Hyi5MI8yzbJUT72Yk66beDOG12dmvh2PE_3TKndC52xDv2SO5FRi6-t_GhUxrvoxVFQToXveUSvT5qfh8ttIX36netZuDk05HmEJ2VBiA7/s1600/_DSC6984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QBBzpEBxipOG-PUlP8vabTIiNK_l1IptH6Hyi5MI8yzbJUT72Yk66beDOG12dmvh2PE_3TKndC52xDv2SO5FRi6-t_GhUxrvoxVFQToXveUSvT5qfh8ttIX36netZuDk05HmEJ2VBiA7/s400/_DSC6984.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie ready to tackle the tree blocking our path!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN88qnbvMCTDw6x0JdcplqjUTGmws6vBx4RcHuSVazhPI4Li6kheLeGL1aQ0Wcjhp4q8vXYoCMPb84h1rIdvsvp0T9SOHAWmI-UOYyMPuNogjkLV6yX8Xsrk-GFYpStH6IheMrDSZTA4vZ/s1600/_DSC6987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN88qnbvMCTDw6x0JdcplqjUTGmws6vBx4RcHuSVazhPI4Li6kheLeGL1aQ0Wcjhp4q8vXYoCMPb84h1rIdvsvp0T9SOHAWmI-UOYyMPuNogjkLV6yX8Xsrk-GFYpStH6IheMrDSZTA4vZ/s400/_DSC6987.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A view of the sluiced canyon from the other side of the loop</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXe3wVhAy9cp-4qockPS9VZwAdWXYhJy30aaMB-N2xB6swUKjT06VX-8U7-6I4YMl61aL-H2ejJJuW9efd23Ia-TmfFuaVvjoDsvAPmA39vuPieHyvKYyX_uuRt1PmPPPyQfq963HEq-Ae/s1600/Mt+Crichton+Track_Panorama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXe3wVhAy9cp-4qockPS9VZwAdWXYhJy30aaMB-N2xB6swUKjT06VX-8U7-6I4YMl61aL-H2ejJJuW9efd23Ia-TmfFuaVvjoDsvAPmA39vuPieHyvKYyX_uuRt1PmPPPyQfq963HEq-Ae/s640/Mt+Crichton+Track_Panorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Panoramic view of Mt Crichton and across the sluiced canyon- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9214349882/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The walk took us just over 3 hours in total, which included the side tour of Lake Dispute and stopping off for a quick lunch. This is somewhere between the 2-4 hour estimate by the Department of Conservation, but the lower end of the timings could take into account how long it takes to run the loop as there were a lot of joggers out and about.<br />
<br />
<b>Moke Lake Loop Track - </b>Moke Lake is also 10km drive from Queenstown like the Mt Crichton Loop Track, with the last 3km of the drive along an unsealed gravel road through the Closeburn Station alongside Wedge Peak (1,086m) and past Lake Kirkpatrick. We eventually reached Moke Lake where we got a fantastic view of the Williamsons Spur and Ben Lomond in the backdrop.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rpF66U1voKYtH2XH5r2nByOZjlBbODoSrnbg7xRYsSOhnqUXKRGkyqyNoPIGRp0YbGr9iGVUim0XeOssZD-aQd_RHPdbiaohscRxu1bxFt5XSYUpzbBeBd2Ty1jGj3B9e-pFKWBqAJHV/s1600/_DSC7518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rpF66U1voKYtH2XH5r2nByOZjlBbODoSrnbg7xRYsSOhnqUXKRGkyqyNoPIGRp0YbGr9iGVUim0XeOssZD-aQd_RHPdbiaohscRxu1bxFt5XSYUpzbBeBd2Ty1jGj3B9e-pFKWBqAJHV/s400/_DSC7518.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqdqNI1pU148azTpvJRpkdaPYghtQKiWlOLiOlGM-HVcFeTWgbuGqy57RYKW09pJ5lP7N6_ODj5S77Gys7qvtESnEFgaKrx07VS9cl-6TLuun0IFz9xhyG4rdRNlTYEpPycRXftdkFeaV/s1600/_CSC7977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqdqNI1pU148azTpvJRpkdaPYghtQKiWlOLiOlGM-HVcFeTWgbuGqy57RYKW09pJ5lP7N6_ODj5S77Gys7qvtESnEFgaKrx07VS9cl-6TLuun0IFz9xhyG4rdRNlTYEpPycRXftdkFeaV/s400/_CSC7977.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvMwynw9jFpy2JIMvnqJ8mTQSj88k8lq8A3KNx0fD00wHS1MZKx7bCMqtUC_6s-84jxl0PBxDaBkhanfXWRY6zNI4Mu0jX-TNkVVSvbilletOpc6lYHDmHsGsE26QO-cWg7iUmGc8vLAL/s1600/Moke+Lake_Panorama1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvMwynw9jFpy2JIMvnqJ8mTQSj88k8lq8A3KNx0fD00wHS1MZKx7bCMqtUC_6s-84jxl0PBxDaBkhanfXWRY6zNI4Mu0jX-TNkVVSvbilletOpc6lYHDmHsGsE26QO-cWg7iUmGc8vLAL/s640/Moke+Lake_Panorama1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A panorama of Moke Lake with Wedge Peak in the centre - click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9214357482/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Walking anticlockwise around the track, we passed a young <span style="text-align: center;">Little Pied Cormorant</span> perched on a broken jetty before we the trail started to climb above the lake.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAFA9_8G1SQ9gll4e-z_BgM_lM2sWRteTAMs-kooMhEypyxjJjyRHcO0aFnWjCfuKsMPzp-oZxaQpHlKjGpRhsvIqOdW2qRe3rGjkwSAD0VpgELJagIRn3KEUYq-H8pnPMAQl_FFN8sZ1/s1600/_DSC7545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAFA9_8G1SQ9gll4e-z_BgM_lM2sWRteTAMs-kooMhEypyxjJjyRHcO0aFnWjCfuKsMPzp-oZxaQpHlKjGpRhsvIqOdW2qRe3rGjkwSAD0VpgELJagIRn3KEUYq-H8pnPMAQl_FFN8sZ1/s400/_DSC7545.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;">A juvenile </span>Little Pied Cormorant (<i>Microcarbo melanoleucos</i>)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
At the southern end, there was a short boardwalk over a small area of wetland before the track started undulating again where we skirted the base of Wedge Peak on the return section of the loop.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpV_Ot3UY3Nsq31lb5cH12D3oJMqHYPYQD_EuIE-aIF1a3gle_I6-7GHPXCT7ywmEGMauz8lEdO6v50j82SMG9raAXxHF7POBZXCCwHptJSnM9sxnHCXxwiyIAvoxSPiL4nw2UlJo5S25/s1600/_DSC7548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpV_Ot3UY3Nsq31lb5cH12D3oJMqHYPYQD_EuIE-aIF1a3gle_I6-7GHPXCT7ywmEGMauz8lEdO6v50j82SMG9raAXxHF7POBZXCCwHptJSnM9sxnHCXxwiyIAvoxSPiL4nw2UlJo5S25/s400/_DSC7548.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking across to Ben Lomond</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOb_h0-70PliuwT7cVgJ6t4c_sLZSuaMR4sx-jU233X3E-9jUQ1B8IyJpX8gxZWwkcjgZUqciUIM9_Bk967-neLCVpZ1r7L_MMYJjxc-VIYU560u2Ujo3Do-80Gybk0ju6-tlFwyXsJhpr/s1600/_DSC7551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOb_h0-70PliuwT7cVgJ6t4c_sLZSuaMR4sx-jU233X3E-9jUQ1B8IyJpX8gxZWwkcjgZUqciUIM9_Bk967-neLCVpZ1r7L_MMYJjxc-VIYU560u2Ujo3Do-80Gybk0ju6-tlFwyXsJhpr/s400/_DSC7551.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View of the southern end where there is a boardwalk over wetland </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbCryBqzDZILB2angHV9lRSTC3w5FxsjW0TXlpv8yNXFIZgDDrDZY4E8jx7R0vHWK3rTADFJs_fZTIkfI_20qoD-JDg6LqKNq8_ck_qGFaMWq6gaSFAwHHyq_qZ8bWSztUI6QIehRqtIR/s1600/_DSC7555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPbCryBqzDZILB2angHV9lRSTC3w5FxsjW0TXlpv8yNXFIZgDDrDZY4E8jx7R0vHWK3rTADFJs_fZTIkfI_20qoD-JDg6LqKNq8_ck_qGFaMWq6gaSFAwHHyq_qZ8bWSztUI6QIehRqtIR/s400/_DSC7555.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Across the lake looking back towards Moke Spur</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoPLfYJtUS0xluavNzfSmnDUVTo_0FO6BH3NEyl5lW7cTelCs9GvuATK05wg69Qr0y9ap-ZOr8i8An3LwmSWAowChzMfEu5SyJAqUQCgDIh4bqkNBlse__HwcceRDiKncckgvEWg1RHyy/s1600/Moke+Lake_Panorama3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoPLfYJtUS0xluavNzfSmnDUVTo_0FO6BH3NEyl5lW7cTelCs9GvuATK05wg69Qr0y9ap-ZOr8i8An3LwmSWAowChzMfEu5SyJAqUQCgDIh4bqkNBlse__HwcceRDiKncckgvEWg1RHyy/s640/Moke+Lake_Panorama3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A panoramic view of the southern end of the lake along the </span><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">Williamsons Spur</span> </span><span style="font-size: small;">- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9211573667/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyuIXlDsmrN4KmT-QG9EeZkR8k_LE1FLdpca4IxFXJahjejIXj_VxbJ2IKHJ6v3KT8HG0kA3rpACBmY-ahxmu-ls7qvBhiu5TKdSqHzhtx0AS0x55WBf7JF3wn6IcCqZL9wg7R9BcK_qu/s1183/_DSC7971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyuIXlDsmrN4KmT-QG9EeZkR8k_LE1FLdpca4IxFXJahjejIXj_VxbJ2IKHJ6v3KT8HG0kA3rpACBmY-ahxmu-ls7qvBhiu5TKdSqHzhtx0AS0x55WBf7JF3wn6IcCqZL9wg7R9BcK_qu/s400/_DSC7971.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A short boardwalk with a the tip of the Williamsons Spur to the right</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Department of Conservation estimate that the Moke Lake loop track takes two and half hours on average to walk around the lake, however, it took us just over two hours with quite a big break for lunch! It was a nice enough walk and a good spot for families but I felt the Mt Crichton Loop Track had more to offer in terms of points of interest.<br />
<div>
<br />
<b>Twelve Mile Delta</b> - The Central Otago region provided several prominent Middle-Earth locations for the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, in particular with one particular scene from the Two Towers ("Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit") just on our doorstep! Being the Lord of Rings geeks that we are it would have been rude not to check this out at Twelve Mile Delta not far from the Mt Crichton Loop Track.<br />
<br />
We first learnt about the scenes from the Two Towers from the<a href="http://www.wetanz.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-location-guidebook-revised-edition-signed/" target="_blank"> Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook</a> written (and signed!) by Ian Brodie, as the Queenstown area has a number of other significant locations including the Pillars of the Kings and the River Anduin at the Kawarau River, the Ford of Bruinen and the Gladden Fields at Arrowtown, and various locations at Deer Park Heights which has sadly been not open to the public for a number of years... Lord of the Rings locations can also be found on the Department of Conservation website as mentioned in my <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/glenorchy-and-arrowtown.html" target="_blank">Glenorchy</a> post.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhru9oEa1NseNAfGX8-hfWvdNnUKfjT-cg5JPN4RFhxkeyNoo_UWG6c1k74iqQ6hMPs2P25fahnOda5rLu0A_xZhigmMn4OOofKJ7t8HifkeO2MNy0pBFdqp9ZxI6a_KYBNCZTVIlYE2Hxz/s1600/_DSC8557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhru9oEa1NseNAfGX8-hfWvdNnUKfjT-cg5JPN4RFhxkeyNoo_UWG6c1k74iqQ6hMPs2P25fahnOda5rLu0A_xZhigmMn4OOofKJ7t8HifkeO2MNy0pBFdqp9ZxI6a_KYBNCZTVIlYE2Hxz/s400/_DSC8557.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie looking very geeky with her LOTR locations guide!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Twelve Mile Delta itself is picturesque with dramatic views of the Lake Wakatipu and surrounding mountains. Twelve Mile Creek is also one of five places you can fossick for gold in Otago. There are two areas at Twelve Mile Delta used to portray Ithilien; the first is where Sam, Frodo and Sméagol watch the battle between the Rangers of Ithilien and the men of Harad. The second scene is where Sam and Smeágol are comparing notes on the best way to eat a brace of coneys.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyB7zbYVvWy7XZzm-aZvgbA4-TJaT5JjUtaIFDQN_xVvksgzPb6iOiqOQfTnis1g0rt1hoQwjFVFILkaaidEkQhazrU4oAXBnDq8MST6b4K-xEh4jhILigOadvXOCEwdIpH1lXKT4zRqo1/s1600/_CSC8540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyB7zbYVvWy7XZzm-aZvgbA4-TJaT5JjUtaIFDQN_xVvksgzPb6iOiqOQfTnis1g0rt1hoQwjFVFILkaaidEkQhazrU4oAXBnDq8MST6b4K-xEh4jhILigOadvXOCEwdIpH1lXKT4zRqo1/s400/_CSC8540.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The cliffs of Twelve Mile Delta with Cecil Peak (1,978m) behind </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sdoDpYbMxsTaf6d5e4wFHvmUtv_HNvXZcecOtNLrkAwXa-zXm5NeDw9C1pS65-v6pTbgychWe27dPceN9fUI-srNqO8xfcy_ibY8uJyuGCNBub4dpLOE4Kqt-GZoLPpC9lQIX9Rsujbr/s1600/_CSC8541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6sdoDpYbMxsTaf6d5e4wFHvmUtv_HNvXZcecOtNLrkAwXa-zXm5NeDw9C1pS65-v6pTbgychWe27dPceN9fUI-srNqO8xfcy_ibY8uJyuGCNBub4dpLOE4Kqt-GZoLPpC9lQIX9Rsujbr/s400/_CSC8541.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Twelve Mile Stream flowing into Lake Wakatipu</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Once we reached the car park at Twelve Mile Delta, there's a walking track near Twelve Mile Stream, from here the bank across the river is where the trio watch the battle. To reach the cliff top we had to follow the walking track to the western end of the river. Crossing a footbridge over a relatively shallow canyon which Twelve Mile Stream rushes through, (it must have been at least a couple of metres deep as the water was crystal clear as you could see all the way to the bottom) there were some canyoning tour groups being taken through the stream.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpAxVkBG0Mei0e3pVM3kJJUV6Wy_mcHBd5j3y7Ef0JdnKzH52tgdmFaPMHrbVA0rYZLmsWNScmtKAxPr_p3YX21lIvJuwUbT41E8IG32C9QWZhhG7KiJ8Rt-lF-36JWaeOG13nhBZ-DuK/s1600/_DSC8553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHpAxVkBG0Mei0e3pVM3kJJUV6Wy_mcHBd5j3y7Ef0JdnKzH52tgdmFaPMHrbVA0rYZLmsWNScmtKAxPr_p3YX21lIvJuwUbT41E8IG32C9QWZhhG7KiJ8Rt-lF-36JWaeOG13nhBZ-DuK/s640/_DSC8553.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The chasm where the canyoning group were exploring Twelve Mile Stream</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The area where Sam is cooking the coneys is another 5-10 minutes from here on the left where the ground is scrubby with tough matagouri bushes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFL70NK7h8x5_GZZOltDLVdOIbTA8I3KdwYoT79GSNputeSph0zwp9Nw9acEGS-pZahyY3Pe-wt3M6zXeduqYgND5mj0-Uk5Cb4hGNCTyuORRDp1KHhIoOQOCjZSVtL2OF0IqE1iwgx-DI/s1600/_DSC8550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFL70NK7h8x5_GZZOltDLVdOIbTA8I3KdwYoT79GSNputeSph0zwp9Nw9acEGS-pZahyY3Pe-wt3M6zXeduqYgND5mj0-Uk5Cb4hGNCTyuORRDp1KHhIoOQOCjZSVtL2OF0IqE1iwgx-DI/s400/_DSC8550.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlSLo62eA8l3dp9R13PWvvLakDXcvJGwNXxYVjFGZau45nkdEQA7dWRBYuQiQFQieT681fbl3Y7GjTtkap-IgwPWFn_4WGqCRdfmfPDsE46WcPXsHHL_HqnBZnoMOOt9mqQoocEGLlFUn/s1600/Stupid+fat+hobbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlSLo62eA8l3dp9R13PWvvLakDXcvJGwNXxYVjFGZau45nkdEQA7dWRBYuQiQFQieT681fbl3Y7GjTtkap-IgwPWFn_4WGqCRdfmfPDsE46WcPXsHHL_HqnBZnoMOOt9mqQoocEGLlFUn/s400/Stupid+fat+hobbit.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"What's 'taters precious?"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
If you carry on round the footpath you'll start ascending up the track and be brought back round to where the Oliphants march through Ithilien. There's a break in the tree line where you get a decent view looking back to Mt Crichton, although you need to be careful as the cliff has a steep drop. If you go any further you'll won't be able to see this anymore and will eventually end up heading towards Bob's Cove.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12QSN2CcdV0oWqZiWch7qlLF3vZKVkcUAglwrBmOlwlw9ve0OiNz3w6X7TQyoiq40oRpEmKt24PZwnIWJkmASvedHy3i8UilsRQU1aNRaSjfrbm_8zN2sb7GLNHALT6MAIAB7HauCVojx/s1600/Army2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12QSN2CcdV0oWqZiWch7qlLF3vZKVkcUAglwrBmOlwlw9ve0OiNz3w6X7TQyoiq40oRpEmKt24PZwnIWJkmASvedHy3i8UilsRQU1aNRaSjfrbm_8zN2sb7GLNHALT6MAIAB7HauCVojx/s400/Army2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijQ2MJlRL-pFXfCWdnyk-fQ4JafiaNCJDQqyzhg8dsJLzSdy1aR12k4T3unQYByrELSQhC5XgNWzMs9JMZnkBa5H_KCtgh79ZC8lEpvbYTxLFBoO1ilm85coqjasu61xqguk545_CV5G7/s1600/Army3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhijQ2MJlRL-pFXfCWdnyk-fQ4JafiaNCJDQqyzhg8dsJLzSdy1aR12k4T3unQYByrELSQhC5XgNWzMs9JMZnkBa5H_KCtgh79ZC8lEpvbYTxLFBoO1ilm85coqjasu61xqguk545_CV5G7/s400/Army3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhn-XCGUcVQAUuiz8oe167FWRIJ_pk_6yNSZ2MjOSHoQxDqRxyNrAtUEP1TSp-i5sUnaWmh4Kx9v6oQkfjSRBE2XlEqUbQW_x9u3lubC5PoTmv2UagD1t2nfowORrQo_ewrDkWvrH-7Cnu/s1600/_DSC8546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhn-XCGUcVQAUuiz8oe167FWRIJ_pk_6yNSZ2MjOSHoQxDqRxyNrAtUEP1TSp-i5sUnaWmh4Kx9v6oQkfjSRBE2XlEqUbQW_x9u3lubC5PoTmv2UagD1t2nfowORrQo_ewrDkWvrH-7Cnu/s400/_DSC8546.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The same view without the computer generated Oliphants and army!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XKwtwOUF-W92_B6I_jqDAMZEupWmblw38oAkx4pSjUXsH6V8dwcBGhSg1njsCuS2FSIxUklZoeUQi8NwfdDUcFcSxqK4gqaadfd9xkPNjnEFZGoy93Qd25qgWxPomDVpSvny2cxxoTgX/s1600/Oliphant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XKwtwOUF-W92_B6I_jqDAMZEupWmblw38oAkx4pSjUXsH6V8dwcBGhSg1njsCuS2FSIxUklZoeUQi8NwfdDUcFcSxqK4gqaadfd9xkPNjnEFZGoy93Qd25qgWxPomDVpSvny2cxxoTgX/s400/Oliphant.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mt Crichton is clearly visible in this still</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb04yu4hl1QnumSMS1P1qw9Ot0q5pGpKzAP7mWTBiNdWdP4I3sMx55gHc-MY4FpW_R2Zxjuznw-24eKf86qJV3vRFw9ADkS_XK0hiiFj2VbsXDVJTYr1LRcwwi4PIE_2-28cZ-CGm8gsqq/s1600/_DSC8545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb04yu4hl1QnumSMS1P1qw9Ot0q5pGpKzAP7mWTBiNdWdP4I3sMx55gHc-MY4FpW_R2Zxjuznw-24eKf86qJV3vRFw9ADkS_XK0hiiFj2VbsXDVJTYr1LRcwwi4PIE_2-28cZ-CGm8gsqq/s400/_DSC8545.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The peaks of Mt Critchton and Ben Lomond in the background</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The beauty of having found the location on our own steam was that there was a tour group which shortly followed us, confirming we were indeed had the right location and all it cost us was the price of the book instead of a costly tour! The movie stills above are copyright of New Line Productions.<br />
<br />
<b>Ben Lomond Walking Track</b> - Possibly one of the more challenging one days walks you can do in Queenstown is the Ben Lomond (Te taumata-o-Hakitekura) track which takes you all the way to the 1,748m summit. Ben Lomond was named after it's namesake on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond in Scotland by shepherd Duncan McAusland in the mid 1800s.<br />
<br />
We walked from the very bottom of town via the tiki trail all the way up to the Skyline gondola building, which took us about 50 mins to walk. Alternatively, you can pay for the gondola to the top which takes 10 minutes but it's not as fun (or as tiring)!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ta0jugu7WhPSp5ZlSL0cC7bJcJ24w-zypUCVzuQMz6QhCjHUIEHBYgOd0hY3kmMPf_s9tP7-x0fyjMupXV4gT2RxmJUiuo4QkogL6CXlEh2KkaO8IuDQzkc0Fu37URak0Tf8p2Y8Kdis/s1183/_DSC8164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Ta0jugu7WhPSp5ZlSL0cC7bJcJ24w-zypUCVzuQMz6QhCjHUIEHBYgOd0hY3kmMPf_s9tP7-x0fyjMupXV4gT2RxmJUiuo4QkogL6CXlEh2KkaO8IuDQzkc0Fu37URak0Tf8p2Y8Kdis/s400/_DSC8164.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We couldn't have picked a more perfect start to the day</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
From the Skyline complex building we picked up the start of the Ben Lomond track, this is one of two approaches to the track, the other one being at One Mile Creek, near Fernhill. From here we had the option of following the saddle for 1 hour 30 mins or reaching the summit in 2 hours 30 mins.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQgztCLBBZvcicOS7d5MjArEgyGFq289MyNybzj2cfWqRgnoe7LjT-TRfQEENCG6cp6W5q7lfGvQvmUxs9MaquE_LcVzyT2mlraIPF3YxQsabJRt0TFkk6QjoZDa84ShCbRAIGMJVkeSL/s1600/_DSC8171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmQgztCLBBZvcicOS7d5MjArEgyGFq289MyNybzj2cfWqRgnoe7LjT-TRfQEENCG6cp6W5q7lfGvQvmUxs9MaquE_LcVzyT2mlraIPF3YxQsabJRt0TFkk6QjoZDa84ShCbRAIGMJVkeSL/s640/_DSC8171.jpg" width="420" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We were determined to reach the top so we started our long ascent up the dry and dusty dirt track. Looking across to the very tip of Ben Lomond peak it still had the tiniest patches of snow at the top, even as we were moving into summer! Climbing up the saddle we got some sweet views looking down over Queenstown and across Lake Wakatipu. There was also a steady stream of people coming towards us from the summit so we knew it possible for most people to do even though the Department of Conservation considers it one of the more "demanding" day walks.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW58JBvT2D4dDy4BEN06LQXHFlmESQIv0-d-s1TamjDo7aitxcylMgBMsBXFn7B56-WrO9Il1QTFfuam0B0yb4eyq7uG8aR6IRN_Nl8WhrrcyyV9AkENmNRNBvBggVoLoxhUU5mBDXg4Ji/s1183/_DSC8172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW58JBvT2D4dDy4BEN06LQXHFlmESQIv0-d-s1TamjDo7aitxcylMgBMsBXFn7B56-WrO9Il1QTFfuam0B0yb4eyq7uG8aR6IRN_Nl8WhrrcyyV9AkENmNRNBvBggVoLoxhUU5mBDXg4Ji/s400/_DSC8172.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">The vegetation moves from Douglas Fir forest to open tussock grasslands</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginX1Swl0KEOb22E3vbBMDyyvNw_5toN3KqfS_ZIPIdYzlf3QBAKyGI0g6-_JgMJVmvoemnUvacWBt5F0iTp_DnpJpRgFgknm-6rSeBOuyQiEILfEy5U3k5jjzvpcbvFjIKh9pcNFda5q7/s1600/Ben+Lomond_Panorama3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginX1Swl0KEOb22E3vbBMDyyvNw_5toN3KqfS_ZIPIdYzlf3QBAKyGI0g6-_JgMJVmvoemnUvacWBt5F0iTp_DnpJpRgFgknm-6rSeBOuyQiEILfEy5U3k5jjzvpcbvFjIKh9pcNFda5q7/s640/Ben+Lomond_Panorama3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Ben Lomond panorama </span><span style="font-size: small;">- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9214361870/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kwTogciXEjGW7BnyV7E2BdxH1TUaS2uvqr3uIfcNTmuTC2ObtkDBsQ5_RKdz47RbRotccl0vIr9ZJf2_0ILu2VSYEVS__QI15YN2N30WAe0Gm3NJrew-R6-rbZ9cUPL42mIkaPSHC8Pa/s1600/_DSC8176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kwTogciXEjGW7BnyV7E2BdxH1TUaS2uvqr3uIfcNTmuTC2ObtkDBsQ5_RKdz47RbRotccl0vIr9ZJf2_0ILu2VSYEVS__QI15YN2N30WAe0Gm3NJrew-R6-rbZ9cUPL42mIkaPSHC8Pa/s400/_DSC8176.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Would "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx1ATUVDdCk" target="_blank">It's a long way to the top</a>" be an appropriate song for this walk?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nGtSg5giREdIiXkMi7tpe91XFTGJtA5tKZAfTsJFaib-SzR90pOVkpaaZWrlw2yWbcyi80tsLK-Ousx1H1xvIiSK5ANUzqyT36Gm2k2d7u87IsEvDrxdFUf-P4eElm6a-5q-uihwRAVV/s1600/_DSC8193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0nGtSg5giREdIiXkMi7tpe91XFTGJtA5tKZAfTsJFaib-SzR90pOVkpaaZWrlw2yWbcyi80tsLK-Ousx1H1xvIiSK5ANUzqyT36Gm2k2d7u87IsEvDrxdFUf-P4eElm6a-5q-uihwRAVV/s400/_DSC8193.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A large rock slip across the path of the saddle</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08bxRJMtucwdrX6-04qHIdICoIYNGobuKKjr7GxLpigrmH34707RZMAaUob75IhqZi8Y8sXFSQEKXUJc2WWFU6hE3w6NyLI_Ahnqy1M0LO5g35Zht8jQ-pYcVzK838G_vJQfff8I-xahg/s1600/_DSC8191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08bxRJMtucwdrX6-04qHIdICoIYNGobuKKjr7GxLpigrmH34707RZMAaUob75IhqZi8Y8sXFSQEKXUJc2WWFU6hE3w6NyLI_Ahnqy1M0LO5g35Zht8jQ-pYcVzK838G_vJQfff8I-xahg/s400/_DSC8191.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking East over to Coronet Peak and Crown Range on the horizon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpIHXETZHrWKHoTBpWpzzc_wnuGaKv1106xdEdFJL0AlwcCSncQxHnB9xVSQOsT-zhDd0geI_zLDf41k882Ozr98CtsOO1g9smhrcf6lD0E28su3L9l09HsBCdzoRSBKT7v2nzE3oqaf7/s1600/_DSC8194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpIHXETZHrWKHoTBpWpzzc_wnuGaKv1106xdEdFJL0AlwcCSncQxHnB9xVSQOsT-zhDd0geI_zLDf41k882Ozr98CtsOO1g9smhrcf6lD0E28su3L9l09HsBCdzoRSBKT7v2nzE3oqaf7/s400/_DSC8194.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A magnificent view across to Kelvin Heights and </span><span style="font-size: small;">the Remarkables</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLTHl5sOpaI7QzoANAKgss3owmizBq-GlbhYUtJ-1bEmhEnaJqafenwWA-91LrP9qDylUjvTgPslgdXHqwvLyCqoevP4tF_aXi1ze167itf564ylH6CKCD1kc8d3klIalRtX7T8d5vPgU/s1600/_DSC8206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLTHl5sOpaI7QzoANAKgss3owmizBq-GlbhYUtJ-1bEmhEnaJqafenwWA-91LrP9qDylUjvTgPslgdXHqwvLyCqoevP4tF_aXi1ze167itf564ylH6CKCD1kc8d3klIalRtX7T8d5vPgU/s400/_DSC8206.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Only another 3 hours back to the home via the Moonlight Track!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
After about an hour and half of walking in the blazing sun with nowhere to provide shade, we reached the end of the Ben Lomond saddle where there a bench to sit on so we could take in the truly magnificent view across the valley to the white peaks of the Richardson Mountains, past the Harris Mountains and all the way to Mt Aspiring National Park. From here it was supposedly going to take us another hour to reach the summit but this part of the walk would be the toughest as the path to the top of Ben Lomond is very steep.<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNuGoLx2XfXYEsoi6kl-ocspG3nPZGOXMsKZOOU4bQCjtV4K32Z5qTw__yQPQJD4VzQPp3O5ApqiFu8NJAVGxLhIrRZPHCaYep_Op56PsT8Y1kTZn424mRkHsSaJCaRXImsXcdml8HQAj/s1600/P1000108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaNuGoLx2XfXYEsoi6kl-ocspG3nPZGOXMsKZOOU4bQCjtV4K32Z5qTw__yQPQJD4VzQPp3O5ApqiFu8NJAVGxLhIrRZPHCaYep_Op56PsT8Y1kTZn424mRkHsSaJCaRXImsXcdml8HQAj/s400/P1000108.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This doesn't really the view any justice, plus there's two people in the way!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFQkY-jXLhm7SwClBbR3TSVsyIkL8vlPVbtXrO0Rq8inVxd3al_0y45DHPqrj5AqFcSFN8henTQ7KQngAe41nrNENncnciukDRudJVJzX8rbNYhUAynr4ihfb2G_HnE9XPzBmQ5Ieh_At/s1600/_DSC8218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFQkY-jXLhm7SwClBbR3TSVsyIkL8vlPVbtXrO0Rq8inVxd3al_0y45DHPqrj5AqFcSFN8henTQ7KQngAe41nrNENncnciukDRudJVJzX8rbNYhUAynr4ihfb2G_HnE9XPzBmQ5Ieh_At/s640/_DSC8218.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The summit of Ben Lomond is deceptively close in the picture...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVP0EePSsMCD5bdoLEznxYIWyQP0vnUROLXeDuro4x-AH7wjsDrwnOJMaqjow1bbky8yfOu1H5LbGooBwDilKrxbzn8HFZpZ2fvoLXiEKdFlWJGLF_fKCxY7_-N1GJ34TzfiYRpMTKZ7lO/s1600/_DSC8233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVP0EePSsMCD5bdoLEznxYIWyQP0vnUROLXeDuro4x-AH7wjsDrwnOJMaqjow1bbky8yfOu1H5LbGooBwDilKrxbzn8HFZpZ2fvoLXiEKdFlWJGLF_fKCxY7_-N1GJ34TzfiYRpMTKZ7lO/s400/_DSC8233.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Connected to Ben Lomond is the twin peak of Bowen Peak (1,631m)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Coming up the saddle it like felt we were making good progress but the climb to the summit seemed to go on forever but once we reached 1,748m summit the amazing vistas more than made up for it! A couple of times as we approached the summit I could feel my head spinning a little as the path came close to the edge of a few rocky outcrops but it wasn't that bad a track to climb, but possibly not the best walk to do if you don't have a head for heights!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPV4LepSg6j3YTV6-rycN9yyGlebDCEkzoFsQ1ksAoUh6DIiDIoFQTF4OCrPjcaDb6mEAOkC46SjtuKoD-3aPyeZDk0YcLtwK1GBa8Br9Z-cXDCzNvX4R0-_trka9K1rfFgc8l8YRKZlH_/s1600/_DSC8237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPV4LepSg6j3YTV6-rycN9yyGlebDCEkzoFsQ1ksAoUh6DIiDIoFQTF4OCrPjcaDb6mEAOkC46SjtuKoD-3aPyeZDk0YcLtwK1GBa8Br9Z-cXDCzNvX4R0-_trka9K1rfFgc8l8YRKZlH_/s400/_DSC8237.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie catching a breath on the exhausting climb to the top</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzKNCVJSQrxzXkrJy6L7zrLfd5IBwHKsoGxbgsGMViKH0uHeDeJN06qn89DHhKG2jc9KmQSTzhG7B-MYW886yJqSFafXKZvGHXYcxzEwziVFs9M2kNlK9LOUI_akCSoY1P9vJbv0iMiTZ/s1600/_DSC8250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzKNCVJSQrxzXkrJy6L7zrLfd5IBwHKsoGxbgsGMViKH0uHeDeJN06qn89DHhKG2jc9KmQSTzhG7B-MYW886yJqSFafXKZvGHXYcxzEwziVFs9M2kNlK9LOUI_akCSoY1P9vJbv0iMiTZ/s400/_DSC8250.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrzL0pjes8ubDkS7e0RMKiGDxr0M_w_vgUELPUxxCdzyy6JCZWcKdqkrBs3M874PDkkENJhJuId9c93uKr4tcbnS3Ti258x8tICSEBNhAjrq5bM-kF3R-l1WUFpLZYtibRAjwDJHEXXLb/s1600/View+over+to+Richardson+Mountains+and+Bowen+Peak_Panorama1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrzL0pjes8ubDkS7e0RMKiGDxr0M_w_vgUELPUxxCdzyy6JCZWcKdqkrBs3M874PDkkENJhJuId9c93uKr4tcbnS3Ti258x8tICSEBNhAjrq5bM-kF3R-l1WUFpLZYtibRAjwDJHEXXLb/s640/View+over+to+Richardson+Mountains+and+Bowen+Peak_Panorama1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View over to the Richardson Mountains and Bowen Peak </span><span style="font-size: small;">- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9211573667/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHNZnFvVnNgmp3jlsZmNu86QTCSWvt9ehZuei5IbGwBqcY5si1x5S-OKnNIib2efaMd1jrFAjmwpaPhS4njsb9AEpfPwXWjK_JaSYsDbNXNiIVJ-FDcqzJwCYJRhCRCOmMLtOARpmDvAA/s1600/_DSC8261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJHNZnFvVnNgmp3jlsZmNu86QTCSWvt9ehZuei5IbGwBqcY5si1x5S-OKnNIib2efaMd1jrFAjmwpaPhS4njsb9AEpfPwXWjK_JaSYsDbNXNiIVJ-FDcqzJwCYJRhCRCOmMLtOARpmDvAA/s400/_DSC8261.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
At the summit there wasn't much room for too many people to stop and have a rest but the views are some of the best you can get in the area, looking down Queenstown and across the lake to the Remarkables to the South and South East, Bowen Peak and Coronet Peak to the East, Moke Lake beneath and Mt Crichton to the West and the Richardson and Harris Mountains to the North - a truly fantastic reward for a such a demanding climb!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUTOR-o1cvKEMOuCjQm6QiYLn7L8_hMNTNmzfdvLXHryMx4H1AiuoNp0GRWdSEXV-d_-u0qv3jdmOkeI2abzRdXa1sneQn7aUGLX-hM0IeORvmt4loxozLrCp6LSnRzadZCYZL7Dj1OQR/s1600/P1000105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUTOR-o1cvKEMOuCjQm6QiYLn7L8_hMNTNmzfdvLXHryMx4H1AiuoNp0GRWdSEXV-d_-u0qv3jdmOkeI2abzRdXa1sneQn7aUGLX-hM0IeORvmt4loxozLrCp6LSnRzadZCYZL7Dj1OQR/s400/P1000105.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Reaching spiritual enlightenment on the top of Ben Lomond!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn01bg70TPJBtIjXX1UR-685l08YngjGuPhYvvn2Ugct6MuKU9pAdW3Bo5RPuHb_HRJMcIzKJszaFybytfKhpdnU53rriY4zasZyjRM86UKttHMXGLnWgam2o4kw498b6Thp0_bmPMEHHU/s1600/_DSC8305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn01bg70TPJBtIjXX1UR-685l08YngjGuPhYvvn2Ugct6MuKU9pAdW3Bo5RPuHb_HRJMcIzKJszaFybytfKhpdnU53rriY4zasZyjRM86UKttHMXGLnWgam2o4kw498b6Thp0_bmPMEHHU/s400/_DSC8305.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The distinctive peak of Mt Aspiring/ Tititea (3,027m) in the centre </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRynjmW8dBdGTGqqzw3n5F0VABLvV4CbD7eBqLYNy2N9XDuqc364jym2ZdEhgPbj5CdtRgzzz_pvvbhoaeT6zXKAgavYs6CbRLcz9esMblKMLwE54IBNBc8lssFTrsiRR3UfMdscl6hsf/s1600/_DSC8307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRynjmW8dBdGTGqqzw3n5F0VABLvV4CbD7eBqLYNy2N9XDuqc364jym2ZdEhgPbj5CdtRgzzz_pvvbhoaeT6zXKAgavYs6CbRLcz9esMblKMLwE54IBNBc8lssFTrsiRR3UfMdscl6hsf/s400/_DSC8307.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The Centaur Peaks over towards Glenorchy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNP2rhLXIgtyOg-WsJMtZh5PxKT6kW0jc4S6nNkiyyFIci4vOX0XcU6Or3DgouPuN9PIuwc-8zp97suhy5sVffgU_7hQFktl78V2Tq5haZZWVFBuspvBCsjmG4CpTwZJ0XzET4FeEizWTB/s1600/_DSC8308.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNP2rhLXIgtyOg-WsJMtZh5PxKT6kW0jc4S6nNkiyyFIci4vOX0XcU6Or3DgouPuN9PIuwc-8zp97suhy5sVffgU_7hQFktl78V2Tq5haZZWVFBuspvBCsjmG4CpTwZJ0XzET4FeEizWTB/s400/_DSC8308.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mt Earnslaw (2, 819m) aka the Misty Mountains from LOTR!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsB-RQEcoowDiziiBfi4RYsEJZoTVSgbcZYl0Bc0c6w6NW44JgzxUE_X4anpQnTExcWwPZHXuGWGZB-o_52xfMmFKvi_Ju0Q_g3EfjWtJsSb7tqEeyDAYrqRVYb_QioEbNCbW0YJZX0WOW/s1600/_DSC8309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsB-RQEcoowDiziiBfi4RYsEJZoTVSgbcZYl0Bc0c6w6NW44JgzxUE_X4anpQnTExcWwPZHXuGWGZB-o_52xfMmFKvi_Ju0Q_g3EfjWtJsSb7tqEeyDAYrqRVYb_QioEbNCbW0YJZX0WOW/s400/_DSC8309.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A little closer to home, Coronet Peak (1,651m)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXMuWHEWlw4VCscd93LHICRM30HvGascJ2-WcOsR6vR57l5z3SCRKn0Ze_cuVpqwKuf-IPkc4IVzzwPik-Ia9-433PVWHnGP_jAJuVxv3CQrI5i0qgOneqP3nB2tB9uCT__cE9J6i0coh/s1600/Wakatipu+Basin+from+Ben+Lomond_Panorama1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXMuWHEWlw4VCscd93LHICRM30HvGascJ2-WcOsR6vR57l5z3SCRKn0Ze_cuVpqwKuf-IPkc4IVzzwPik-Ia9-433PVWHnGP_jAJuVxv3CQrI5i0qgOneqP3nB2tB9uCT__cE9J6i0coh/s640/Wakatipu+Basin+from+Ben+Lomond_Panorama1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Panoramic view of the Wakatipu Basin from the top of Ben Lomond </span><span style="font-size: small;">- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9211559431/in/photostream/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZL7be8Ca4uhYuKIcG5rqqQLoFduXCHn21w4RvWIaATUm5-WE-v5rjZlvCB0BOExSaX60YR_c2OacsjfDZkaLp3rZ1W8wESjSZ0aEJfBIlHHEkmRcFC4rpcQTRCvQwdMjNQKfZR6MiGUX/s1600/View+over+to+Lake+Wakatipu+and+Richardson+Mountains_Panorama1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZL7be8Ca4uhYuKIcG5rqqQLoFduXCHn21w4RvWIaATUm5-WE-v5rjZlvCB0BOExSaX60YR_c2OacsjfDZkaLp3rZ1W8wESjSZ0aEJfBIlHHEkmRcFC4rpcQTRCvQwdMjNQKfZR6MiGUX/s640/View+over+to+Lake+Wakatipu+and+Richardson+Mountains_Panorama1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View of Lake Wakatipu towards the Richardson Mountains </span><span style="font-size: small;">- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9211564795/in/photostream/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanJwlx_6YRdAZ6TKyN1_Kn_kJ_HMeb0Vlg6qf4Ne91Sv4xIJmsNeMD0x3MnQj484ioZsvqdIX9llQ5sUKMqBemaDD3wNZDP0qrZkmuPFPXyzNQQJSQf_qErPM4CPYEUU8GEVuV8VQDSXT/s1600/View+from+the+top+of+Ben+Lomond_Panorama1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanJwlx_6YRdAZ6TKyN1_Kn_kJ_HMeb0Vlg6qf4Ne91Sv4xIJmsNeMD0x3MnQj484ioZsvqdIX9llQ5sUKMqBemaDD3wNZDP0qrZkmuPFPXyzNQQJSQf_qErPM4CPYEUU8GEVuV8VQDSXT/s640/View+from+the+top+of+Ben+Lomond_Panorama1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View from the top of Ben Lomond towards the Crown Range </span><span style="font-size: small;">- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/9211568291/in/photostream/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Heading back down it's a little more challenging as our legs we're a bit like jelly and the track a little slippery. Personally, I found that the walk to the top wasn't as bad as coming back down, which wrecked my feet, however, Lizzie would have to disagree in that coming down was far easier than going up! At least I got some well earned blisters!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-dSkbsj_jSonEx3IDcNHQ78QE60F-GFkWyEdQ22CnCBgRQkZLoR8sm5FnlP36_ll22Jswvs3g-vIARqDxqpu4CCkQVM4OKmOpAIabtgGfJ0yKsNXJN-DedQk0Db4ayjZVPz1e0FB7wC1/s1600/_DSC8317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-dSkbsj_jSonEx3IDcNHQ78QE60F-GFkWyEdQ22CnCBgRQkZLoR8sm5FnlP36_ll22Jswvs3g-vIARqDxqpu4CCkQVM4OKmOpAIabtgGfJ0yKsNXJN-DedQk0Db4ayjZVPz1e0FB7wC1/s400/_DSC8317.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">We were up higher than the helicopters were flying!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Once we reached the saddle, we could hear Keas (mountain parrots found in the South Island) screeching in the distance) but couldn't see them. By the time we had walked all the way back to the Skyline gondala building we decided that we had enough of walking and sneaked onto the gondola to get a ride back into town for free and to reward ourselves with a well earned Fergburger! We were really glad that we did the Ben Lomond Track it definitely the most epic of all the walks we've done so far and possibly the highest we ever climbed.</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-68476199431659628072013-01-31T05:28:00.001-08:002013-02-03T05:36:48.760-08:00The wettest place in New Zealand?As we've been working in Queenstown for the last couple of months and have been caught up in the tail end of the ski season, we've wanted to make a conscious effort to keep up with our travels on the South Island, even if it has to be in smaller day trips. For one of our first trips outside the Queenstown region, we managed to book a day cruise on Doubtful Sound through <a href="https://www.realjourneys.co.nz/en/destinations/doubtful-sound/" target="_blank">Real Journeys</a>, as they're the main company that run cruises in that part of Fiordland, plus we were able to take advantage of an offer where Queenstown "locals" can get a discount taking the price from $265 NZD down to $145 NZD! It's still a reasonably expensive cruise compared to the ones at Milford Sound but we've heard that it's a much better experience and having already been to Milford Sound five years ago, we though it would be interesting to do a comparison.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.auzmosis.com/images/Tree_debris_Milford_Sound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://www.auzmosis.com/images/Tree_debris_Milford_Sound.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the left iconic Mitre Peak rising 1,692m from the fiord at Milford Sound</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are several reasons why Doubtful Sound is considered a better experience for visitors, namely the shear inaccessibility of the area - an untouched wilderness that can be enjoyed in any season and the sense of grandeur that you get when visiting a fiord which is ten times bigger than Milford Sound, making it the second largest fiord in Fiordland National Park!<br />
<br />
Starting our Doubtful Sound adventure, we needed to drive to the small township of Manapouri (population of 210!) in the southwest corner of the South West. Driving from Queenstown down to Manapouri via the Southern Scenic route, it roughly took us 2 hours (172km) following State Highway 6 and then picking up State Highway 94 at Mossburn. Lake Manapouri resides within Fiordland National Park and the <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/cloud-piercer.html" target="_blank">Te Wāhipounamu</a> (the place of greenstone) World Heritage area. As mentioned previously, Manapouri is largely used as a starting point for cruises to Doubtful Sound, and getting to the fiord is an an adventure in itself, as it can only be accessed by crossing the lake as part a tour, following by a coach ride over the Wilmot Pass through some dense cool temperate rainforest to Deep Cove.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Manapouri was the site of New Zealand's first major environmental campaign, when in 1959 it was proposed that the lake level should be raised by 30m for the use of the West Arm hydroelectricity power station. If this had gone ahead then the lake's famous wooded islands would have disappeared and the fragile shoreline beech forest would have been lost. This resulted in a decade-long nationwide protest with a petition gathering 265,000 signatures (almost 10% of voting-age New Zealanders at the time). The end result was that the power station was still completed, but without any alterations to the lake's natural level, making it a major milestone in the history of New Zealand's environmental protection. At present, the lake's levels are carefully controlled to be close to natural fluctuations. Preserving the natural environment is still as prominent a concern for Kiwis today as it was 70 years ago with the current controversial proposals to build a tunnel to Milford Sound through <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/glenorchy-and-arrowtown.html" target="_blank">Mt Aspiring National Park</a> gaining a lot of negative publicity...<br />
<br />
Lake Manapouri is the fifth largest lake and second deepest in NZ with four major arms; North, South, West and Hope as well as small indentations at Calm Bay and Shallow Bay. The lake has 32 islands, of which 22 are wooded. The largest island is Pomana Island, which lies close to the centre of the lake. Other notable islands include Holmwood, Rona and Mahara Islands. The Waiau River is both a natural inflow and outlet for the lake, flowing northeast of the lake from Lake Te Anau. The lake's catchment is also served by the slopes of the Kepler Mountains, Turret Range and Hunter Mountains that surround all but the eastern shore of the lake.<br />
<div>
<br />
According to Māori legend, Lake Manapouri was formed from the tears of two sisters, Motorau and Korowae, daughters of an old chief in the region. The name Manapouri is Māori for "sorrowful heart", although, due to a cartography error the original Lake Manapouri was North Mavora Lake, which lies between Lake Te Anau and Wakatipu. The lake's original name is believed to have been Roto-ua (Rainy Lake). Local Māori also called Lake Manapouri, Moturua which means "many islands". </div>
<br />
It wasn't the best start to the trip as we arrived to a drenched Manapouri (the weather forecast for Fiordland for the weekend was for 100mm of rain) and it was already getting dark at 7.30pm as there were many heavy clouds with the rain thrashing outside.When we woke the next morning, we were surprised to discover it had been actually snowing over night, although the weather report was for snow down to levels of 400m.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvxQW3weyXJlFrGHap7qg35FkyKwAjBZszL_-CiQ98Udx97AIIsaKK80Z2HydiSzS3DMuzzJNkHcSj_XDPBpnVdrk4WFTADOUcGW29oQ6YCcy0xDF4jz1AHBt844wFqznWjPKKWJ79oZM/s1600/_DSC5198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvxQW3weyXJlFrGHap7qg35FkyKwAjBZszL_-CiQ98Udx97AIIsaKK80Z2HydiSzS3DMuzzJNkHcSj_XDPBpnVdrk4WFTADOUcGW29oQ6YCcy0xDF4jz1AHBt844wFqznWjPKKWJ79oZM/s400/_DSC5198.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kepler Mountains to the northwest of the lake </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsTX2OgA_Edobtax7aP_2F-nljoDNJNmcryl6h1gsQXpMODE3k5_DMwYf1jFznWucLyTcc8JgroOEk4y9tmY3Dn42pYAQoMHqhyphenhyphen7VlzI4fZDbY1qOcmxntouhg1iudATKNNeG3UgCtaVw/s1600/_DSC5199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsTX2OgA_Edobtax7aP_2F-nljoDNJNmcryl6h1gsQXpMODE3k5_DMwYf1jFznWucLyTcc8JgroOEk4y9tmY3Dn42pYAQoMHqhyphenhyphen7VlzI4fZDbY1qOcmxntouhg1iudATKNNeG3UgCtaVw/s400/_DSC5199.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Clouds looming over the Hunter Mountains</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQ7FUj8jdnHrOmnw8vWY5R4f9eCIYI7o3Zm4MR-pSkfOTkQQVX0lzTMIubMBY4evfulWR-_GsKia-fVdBvpjkFndI-IYZRloX9T-_bySvMllWjvoKMSCL6Jqo7XWmNIAx2GegBizFkvru/s1600/_DSC5200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQ7FUj8jdnHrOmnw8vWY5R4f9eCIYI7o3Zm4MR-pSkfOTkQQVX0lzTMIubMBY4evfulWR-_GsKia-fVdBvpjkFndI-IYZRloX9T-_bySvMllWjvoKMSCL6Jqo7XWmNIAx2GegBizFkvru/s400/_DSC5200.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was a wonderful sight seeing the mountains after the storm</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In our usual style, we arrived fashionably late for check-in at Real Journeys office by the entrance to the Wairau River, although it was still another 15 mins before we would actually board our vessel (the MV Titroa) to take us across the lake.<br />
<br />
The initial cruise across Lake Manapouri took us roughly 45 minutes, passing many of the bush clad islands the lake is famous for, however, it was raining/sleeting quite steadily and the visibility was pretty poor so I was a little concerned how much we would be able see at Doubtful Sound. I was particularly keen for reasonable weather as I was testing out the optical quality of a <b>Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC</b> telephoto zoom lens that I borrowed from work!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqYl8o7yCkIFmYNS63j5lT93r0gElhmZq-r9_gzWQyr8VbgBSYganuZrlkOYpuysp0gOb69SqiPOJdYpMAh6PVf16vc-JnVqMcm2q8ZRr0rXlENVEhdhM2POUircryLe7oIapJbSfxxbD/s1600/_DSC5209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqYl8o7yCkIFmYNS63j5lT93r0gElhmZq-r9_gzWQyr8VbgBSYganuZrlkOYpuysp0gOb69SqiPOJdYpMAh6PVf16vc-JnVqMcm2q8ZRr0rXlENVEhdhM2POUircryLe7oIapJbSfxxbD/s400/_DSC5209.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lake Manapouri isn't know as Moturau (many islands) for nothing</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzuHyEs1qufZ490THnUxnWvW8DiyOCx0nN4iRHbTQtB0-HJckIWp-Gs2RI4C2P5_SVV-PnpxBP1sdhdiBq5kveIVkVdoKTkUJxWhvyOMdjTYVbyrk8ZYOfLNQ9_nYeX1Q_AcVAqX2ArIz/s1600/_DSC5214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZzuHyEs1qufZ490THnUxnWvW8DiyOCx0nN4iRHbTQtB0-HJckIWp-Gs2RI4C2P5_SVV-PnpxBP1sdhdiBq5kveIVkVdoKTkUJxWhvyOMdjTYVbyrk8ZYOfLNQ9_nYeX1Q_AcVAqX2ArIz/s400/_DSC5214.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Passing Cone Peak (1,495m) and the South Arm of the Lake</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSo52pq3mv8ouJ5Z9Od0PWDDA4DfOt8a_qtV8O5hHQscVLekHWGgPWa-xEjgXMojknxp5pZMsQWb_8c5jbcK7fqQHXalDBzPc0BbnOIqDude-_YIlyBzvzrcvUiSzc4RtOaEnGYbhIsCBQ/s1600/_CSC5231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSo52pq3mv8ouJ5Z9Od0PWDDA4DfOt8a_qtV8O5hHQscVLekHWGgPWa-xEjgXMojknxp5pZMsQWb_8c5jbcK7fqQHXalDBzPc0BbnOIqDude-_YIlyBzvzrcvUiSzc4RtOaEnGYbhIsCBQ/s400/_CSC5231.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beanies, scarves and waterproof jackets are the order of the day</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5b1se2cKjG1thun1dgIN0l-XBLR4p2rx5_gWkjmpFUCsXnIzKya1OPoZjhf3EBO5W6qx3alYperjQH6fobccrIequLWWSdkvDazfNso_RVwPfDQnchHOhlvHzyCZw_72x8UdxBI0bTm1/s1600/_DSC5222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5b1se2cKjG1thun1dgIN0l-XBLR4p2rx5_gWkjmpFUCsXnIzKya1OPoZjhf3EBO5W6qx3alYperjQH6fobccrIequLWWSdkvDazfNso_RVwPfDQnchHOhlvHzyCZw_72x8UdxBI0bTm1/s320/_DSC5222.JPG" width="208" /></a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidU7sf3JCApydR3aH_KbCpGMn1c9aZ4nnNZ1k1iLKKFUHWeoP-vuWS50tnG9uhb4j301Ebn879PDc8jp541B01vp7sFtsArLHhkOvfQdgrYEnJ2KqTSdMyWSAp8dvJkkeRPBw05WTflGkd/s1600/_DSC5221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidU7sf3JCApydR3aH_KbCpGMn1c9aZ4nnNZ1k1iLKKFUHWeoP-vuWS50tnG9uhb4j301Ebn879PDc8jp541B01vp7sFtsArLHhkOvfQdgrYEnJ2KqTSdMyWSAp8dvJkkeRPBw05WTflGkd/s320/_DSC5221.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Evidence of landslides on the side of the mountains </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mRrrnL0fPdR_fTqyj5kjVdJsJhqDgFeOw8DX6-tCPOBzaanXPj3LSWgVD4AF5OQXAg1e_Xjw5KdXFmpzFi8PRw3H0nRaCjadKlJMASW9z9yYT9BT0wrd8jIeIot834VBzrJC00ip9kaR/s1600/_DSC5376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-mRrrnL0fPdR_fTqyj5kjVdJsJhqDgFeOw8DX6-tCPOBzaanXPj3LSWgVD4AF5OQXAg1e_Xjw5KdXFmpzFi8PRw3H0nRaCjadKlJMASW9z9yYT9BT0wrd8jIeIot834VBzrJC00ip9kaR/s400/_DSC5376.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Titiroa is also a prominent mountain in the Te Anau Basin area</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As we cruised around the North Arm, we slowed down past some stunning unnamed waterfalls that the captain of the MV Titroa, claimed for himself - I'm pretty sure he called them "Māori Rowan Falls" but I would be interested to find out if anyone actually caught what the actual name was!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HEXslO2prkA8d2ASm1wb7wSB9kp431BiLxFnIE4yX9kORGqIJEL8EYtAmUuiy_1mYfzuhd8d7vEFoN5j9h3Yah3pFj7gIYyUP2Rmmw8gQRrooCn0SO9dfrS_W61KhZVR2cED0mUQXK_p/s1600/_DSC5232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HEXslO2prkA8d2ASm1wb7wSB9kp431BiLxFnIE4yX9kORGqIJEL8EYtAmUuiy_1mYfzuhd8d7vEFoN5j9h3Yah3pFj7gIYyUP2Rmmw8gQRrooCn0SO9dfrS_W61KhZVR2cED0mUQXK_p/s640/_DSC5232.JPG" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The mysterious but stunning falls on the North Arm of the lake</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Arriving at the tip of the West Arm of the lake we disembarked from our the vessel by the Manapouri Power Station. From here we would take the next form of transport, a coach over the Wilmot Pass to take us into Deep Cove at Doubtful Sound.<br />
<br />
The 671m high pass was built in the mid 1960s to provide heavy equipment access for the construction of the power station. According to the coach driver, the Wilmot Pass cost $2 for every cm layed, by my reckoning the 22km road must have cost $440,000 to build, making it one of the most expensive roads built in New Zealand at the time. Floods, snow, mud and landslides lengthened the initial project from 12 months to 2 years!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
The drive over the Wilmot Pass (named the explorer Ernest Wilmot) was made especially "interesting" by the persistent snow fall and our coach was preceded by a snow plow clearing at least 6 inches off the road! It sounded like we were in for a real treat at Doubtful Sound with the freakish weather we were having.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZIHRXGqgRvFcupBJCo-FPH-t7lNlaA-0gfaEPRDGj1TLncWtYpfRnd4hFWuWa24AjbwvdsHlNcAigL0ERDI0KynXKumk-YYQJnzUP5zEsjf_uSJ_8zJir3q-p6k34iG5tytUJQ1KDlDO/s1600/_DSC5246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZIHRXGqgRvFcupBJCo-FPH-t7lNlaA-0gfaEPRDGj1TLncWtYpfRnd4hFWuWa24AjbwvdsHlNcAigL0ERDI0KynXKumk-YYQJnzUP5zEsjf_uSJ_8zJir3q-p6k34iG5tytUJQ1KDlDO/s400/_DSC5246.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was a beautiful sight seeing all the snow on the Wilmot Pass</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDrZ9yLoH5-fKwS4JB_GFuvzhmhughcikMxhXIOHRXCStI13erEVLDSqeLEwi-nH6_GIfECMS4mlg9cI6xb89CQ5pEsH7H5hI0LIWxPzCaapPlcmGQMkJA0Ky24nH8p6vZoSsxWWUEvPk/s1600/_DSC5250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDrZ9yLoH5-fKwS4JB_GFuvzhmhughcikMxhXIOHRXCStI13erEVLDSqeLEwi-nH6_GIfECMS4mlg9cI6xb89CQ5pEsH7H5hI0LIWxPzCaapPlcmGQMkJA0Ky24nH8p6vZoSsxWWUEvPk/s400/_DSC5250.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Silver beech (tawhai) trees dominate the forest on the pass</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPXKpEqbcyoeaTqyRHvu7V4lSR_G0IqaDIf0T1DyCZpa7_q2gMZF1tbLrYVgmfWoLQzh6CrP8BFVBvFfrF47I37jyZgAiLgGxoylGj2-Is4GuEIsXsiwTHVmaEIDukA5EHj40tVhpsJ60/s1600/_DSC5252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPXKpEqbcyoeaTqyRHvu7V4lSR_G0IqaDIf0T1DyCZpa7_q2gMZF1tbLrYVgmfWoLQzh6CrP8BFVBvFfrF47I37jyZgAiLgGxoylGj2-Is4GuEIsXsiwTHVmaEIDukA5EHj40tVhpsJ60/s640/_DSC5252.JPG" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not the sign you want to see coming down the other side</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Fiordland National Park is the largest of New Zealand's national parks - an area roughly the size of Wales at 1.25 million hectares or 3 million acres, and Doubtful Sound lies in the heart this designated World Heritage Listed area - Te Wāhipounamu. Fiordland is considered New Zealand's rawest wilderness area with jagged forested mountains, intersected by numerous deeply recessed fiords in some of the most inaccessible parts of the country.<br />
<br />
It also happens to be one of the wettest regions in New Zealand. Moist westerly airstreams fan across the Southern Ocean and South Tasman Sea, before crashing into the high landmass. The average rainfall increases the further West you move into Fiordland, for example:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>At Manapouri the average rainfall is 1,200mm rain a year </li>
<li>At the West Arm of Lake Manapouri the average rainfall is 3,500mm rain a year </li>
<li>At Deep Cove the average rainfall is 5,300mm rain a year or the equivalent of 25ft!</li>
</ul>
<br />
It's not all bad news though, as the area has numerous amazing waterfalls and forests to enjoy, thanks to the 180 days worth of rain in Fiordland each year.<br />
<br />
Arriving in Deep Cove for the start of our cruise, our boat for the Doubtful Sound was the Patea Explorer, an impressive catamaran with three decks and two covered areas at the stern. As we headed slowly towards the mouth of the Tasman Sea, the cruise was estimated to take 3 hours to get around the fiord, as Doubtful Sound is three times longer and ten times larger than it's better known cousin Milford Sound. However, it's not the largest of Fiordland National Park's 14 fiords - that title belongs to Dusky Sound.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgL12-osOUF1YFj2i68mpfr9xVCc44gwO5agYqRjDUIjSS8kMCmKRnPdeHLrJIXi2j_-r2yiE9gE1TTONd09uhNLU6Me30IX7al0rvMeULKYRVdiqmMwyHCujY4YtgnVVF1IO7AktZcUk/s1600/_DSC5258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjgL12-osOUF1YFj2i68mpfr9xVCc44gwO5agYqRjDUIjSS8kMCmKRnPdeHLrJIXi2j_-r2yiE9gE1TTONd09uhNLU6Me30IX7al0rvMeULKYRVdiqmMwyHCujY4YtgnVVF1IO7AktZcUk/s400/_DSC5258.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The fiord looked moody and dramatic in the heavy mist</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuB26nUMsqcGTPUw7DyS3ZqR7zf_zLs_yvQm7qql-FJsc4v18v5zUOaC8duEl7jscLzO80CgeIY_FL2U5S_9KjZa9mAZ7m3LU1iP7EDc68NUBmSmPfyNDBoKb-I0c4mcR_gbi7o7RNAAzT/s1600/_DSC5268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuB26nUMsqcGTPUw7DyS3ZqR7zf_zLs_yvQm7qql-FJsc4v18v5zUOaC8duEl7jscLzO80CgeIY_FL2U5S_9KjZa9mAZ7m3LU1iP7EDc68NUBmSmPfyNDBoKb-I0c4mcR_gbi7o7RNAAzT/s400/_DSC5268.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Passing the end of Elizabeth Island (Taipari Roa) in the foreground </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7P_NmNbz_5Tgd9V8jC-LOglURBzkuKeTcaAb_MBadpAMaWbaYDjt866NbCnbxel-LqX2ceqX7IsIh3Li7YwXY06fQHRVY5H5QWo3LswnGcOs08TbiCZKIH28EeD43t82YS1BS3dtP71i/s1600/_DSC5275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7P_NmNbz_5Tgd9V8jC-LOglURBzkuKeTcaAb_MBadpAMaWbaYDjt866NbCnbxel-LqX2ceqX7IsIh3Li7YwXY06fQHRVY5H5QWo3LswnGcOs08TbiCZKIH28EeD43t82YS1BS3dtP71i/s400/_DSC5275.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking up the Crooked Arm at Kellard Point</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
According to Māori legend, Doubtful Sound and the other fiords were created by a godly figure (Atua). Tu-Te-Raki-Whanoa, the creator of the fiords wanted to create long winding inlets that would serve as refuges from the stormy seas. When Tu crafted Doubtful Sound (Patea) he was assisted by four young sea gods named Taipari, who created the arms - First Arm or Taipari-poto (short), Crooked Arm or Taipari-nui (big), Hall Arm or Taipari-row (long) and Deep Cove or Taipari-tiki (little).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7e2n9X3nnysgk6BB7tBKy7AQTQObn_MYyA6i5lStpoPA-0sI_Pl_QQheEc4etv6CZNbx3zk0c-5DRNcwAhqShlu4bQjBP7bRA0qGSxI0d98e3j0IgXWNq0gLp9Yu_jDJUjOLS7OAxrp1/s1600/P1050086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7e2n9X3nnysgk6BB7tBKy7AQTQObn_MYyA6i5lStpoPA-0sI_Pl_QQheEc4etv6CZNbx3zk0c-5DRNcwAhqShlu4bQjBP7bRA0qGSxI0d98e3j0IgXWNq0gLp9Yu_jDJUjOLS7OAxrp1/s400/P1050086.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">It was absolutely freezing on the top deck if you can't tell.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
New Zealand is fabled for having unpredictable weather and four seasons in one day, and we literally had one of those days! We had rain, snow, sleet, blustery breezes, blue skies and the sun all rolled into one - it certainly made it challenging to get photos without getting droplets all over the Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC camera lens especially as the autofocus feature wasn't compatible with my Nikon D5100. But a plus side of the stormy weather we're experiencing was that there were lots of small waterfalls cascading into the fiord due to all the rain water running down the sides of the mountains. Not to mention the snow topping all the peaks, making it an even more beautiful sight that usual.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizq6HAJsiNEgbt4PB_D28Qnunjx1FYUbBuKj__uX_9qJj4rL6jJLaiPvfNKbea-8xfHpDsOTYu8lnIhLe8ua3V6fPZpD5Pc4VsLuwPB1Gd8j8A7kjnqm4KIOOv-Uxn24DWcHeZ7LjwFo5h/s1600/_DSC5310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizq6HAJsiNEgbt4PB_D28Qnunjx1FYUbBuKj__uX_9qJj4rL6jJLaiPvfNKbea-8xfHpDsOTYu8lnIhLe8ua3V6fPZpD5Pc4VsLuwPB1Gd8j8A7kjnqm4KIOOv-Uxn24DWcHeZ7LjwFo5h/s400/_DSC5310.JPG" width="263" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJomedwu1TkalhTngzl_crZQtzVJnnfDMBd_yT2KJq4sQh4ryUAGWo2HUZPdh9todyjI0NKsP73_Or-1pfdb35OkHryWJwSUWprIzTqRxA_HOiTSwgHuWD3i0MX9ghpk5q5MT6hd_hHtxs/s1600/_DSC5292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJomedwu1TkalhTngzl_crZQtzVJnnfDMBd_yT2KJq4sQh4ryUAGWo2HUZPdh9todyjI0NKsP73_Or-1pfdb35OkHryWJwSUWprIzTqRxA_HOiTSwgHuWD3i0MX9ghpk5q5MT6hd_hHtxs/s400/_DSC5292.JPG" width="263" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Once we reached the entrance of Doubtful Sound we couldn't venture any further as the swells were quite rough on the Tasman Sea.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrNFwGEQHKh50ETat05ZhBw5gpDUM2QnC-2m2oMPfcabT3IUDDUdb7lwYO6fPTFvbf_3j1rsm_wJxOqFXGV7VOp4nDDvXEN8MIZRsAsnvCmWWDbnus3orRoi04q1lxvnn51jpxh0eFtY8/s1600/_DSC5293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrNFwGEQHKh50ETat05ZhBw5gpDUM2QnC-2m2oMPfcabT3IUDDUdb7lwYO6fPTFvbf_3j1rsm_wJxOqFXGV7VOp4nDDvXEN8MIZRsAsnvCmWWDbnus3orRoi04q1lxvnn51jpxh0eFtY8/s400/_DSC5293.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The Te Awaatu Channel between Bauza and Secretary Islands</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The first European to discover the fiord was Captain James Cook during his search for the "Great Southern Continent". Doubtful Sound was originally called Doubtful Harbour, as when Captain Cook observed the fiord from the coast in 1770, he was "doubtful" whether the winds would be sufficient to manoeuvre the Endeavour back out to sea from the fiord. It was reported that the scientists on board wanted to land but Cook wouldn't take the risk. Twenty-three years later the outer reaches of the fiord were explored by a Spanish expedition led by the Italian explorer, Alessandro Malaspina.<br />
<br />
In terms of wildlife spotting, were a little unlucky not to see Fiordland crested penguins (tawaki) as their breeding season offers the best viewing opportunities. We cruised passed Rolla and Shelter Islands but they were nowhere to be seen...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPt5jUnyAcDwh3NcFNvkdT7fn-Fq6u9eWOh32hI4ltqaqN2IwZefBmroZyHNlTjUSL-kBIclzrMUAt1CuXDbYbx0xvQXX5eFGjTqBfVXPVkNmvpoIrhsNkdzeyOJ_UzKgXZMfMR7hDFiZr/s1600/_DSC5289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPt5jUnyAcDwh3NcFNvkdT7fn-Fq6u9eWOh32hI4ltqaqN2IwZefBmroZyHNlTjUSL-kBIclzrMUAt1CuXDbYbx0xvQXX5eFGjTqBfVXPVkNmvpoIrhsNkdzeyOJ_UzKgXZMfMR7hDFiZr/s640/_DSC5289.JPG" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the closest we got to seeing a Fiordland crested penguin</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
However, we did see some bottlenose dolphins (which are the most southernmost in the world) and a lonesome New Zealand fur seal relaxing on the rocks by Marcaciones Point where a plaque dedicated to the Spanish explorers commemorates Malaspina's expedition. No other part of New Zealand has a such collection of Spanish place names as Doubtful Sound!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXua0yhCgUtzzz1SPYOGtL9-MW2IKpQIH-ZCHEvGjNmOJG6zjdKfmE1GppmqybI3gtoqaaqbcQHmJGPJFmkHDbonRInypq3d9lTQfANYY7CFNanGT6zzstt0U1W0VmuroB65luJ_kjJ_B/s1600/_DSC5305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXua0yhCgUtzzz1SPYOGtL9-MW2IKpQIH-ZCHEvGjNmOJG6zjdKfmE1GppmqybI3gtoqaaqbcQHmJGPJFmkHDbonRInypq3d9lTQfANYY7CFNanGT6zzstt0U1W0VmuroB65luJ_kjJ_B/s400/_DSC5305.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A lonesome fur seal at Marcaciones Point on Bauza Island </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-7ybilsxzQJMtn_cNFe7WaGYwKHhOmBjZOq8gLYhl7eX8wZAvwe3Yn9Qif4EGOU4jKIkzJg6p0HXkJAa7NSbXArW-j58D537UBiEE4JFazAEsnx9CWrCJJMSUmUlzumgtImHGv5zIJd6/s1600/_DSC5284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-7ybilsxzQJMtn_cNFe7WaGYwKHhOmBjZOq8gLYhl7eX8wZAvwe3Yn9Qif4EGOU4jKIkzJg6p0HXkJAa7NSbXArW-j58D537UBiEE4JFazAEsnx9CWrCJJMSUmUlzumgtImHGv5zIJd6/s400/_DSC5284.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sadly no penguins were hiding in the Shelter Islands to the left </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZX0cNVvmXYBQr4vak9jQuKcBDoKJrjrofUAFw-3aR-yPCB6i2pdxHcKwslcSCt94_9JWej_4gR1oN6Y3E_CcEv-ouyahyGuJKTCC1e-kMVx0exFlla__Quf8ZQ67mbkKYcP5pP8GeDwT/s1600/P1050099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZX0cNVvmXYBQr4vak9jQuKcBDoKJrjrofUAFw-3aR-yPCB6i2pdxHcKwslcSCt94_9JWej_4gR1oN6Y3E_CcEv-ouyahyGuJKTCC1e-kMVx0exFlla__Quf8ZQ67mbkKYcP5pP8GeDwT/s400/P1050099.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This hut in Blanket Bay is the only building in Doubtful Sound</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As we turned back from Te Awaatu Channel, we took a detour down the atmospheric Crooked Arm, which is actually longer than Milford Sound itself!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv77ZO_qggvx5GC5wJfJyKe7PGaAtbvmqim1p8GvTpbWneYCMmhHdb6anGwOFN43EIlpo1tImA6lG3S5UzQ7lReII8rYOrt0uxoEovCQ7LwfL1OH0z-xCMl359nPQTBVoFojHH0q3q1egV/s1600/_DSC5315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv77ZO_qggvx5GC5wJfJyKe7PGaAtbvmqim1p8GvTpbWneYCMmhHdb6anGwOFN43EIlpo1tImA6lG3S5UzQ7lReII8rYOrt0uxoEovCQ7LwfL1OH0z-xCMl359nPQTBVoFojHH0q3q1egV/s400/_DSC5315.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9MCOnkpOjvCjek7cwXHZIu6-F2hkAOL08UkLNehFiIqOOE7RVylWwvxCMbwP9WZprwtY_jDukEPiheqn74EKv0OxxM9KNMKx_75ea8_pEW8YkbhewRB53ieHT6_rN8ZJPGYNvQGOehd0/s1600/_DSC5319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9MCOnkpOjvCjek7cwXHZIu6-F2hkAOL08UkLNehFiIqOOE7RVylWwvxCMbwP9WZprwtY_jDukEPiheqn74EKv0OxxM9KNMKx_75ea8_pEW8YkbhewRB53ieHT6_rN8ZJPGYNvQGOehd0/s400/_DSC5319.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-EGqGZcy9BeDacKo3TvmiL81Sk0iMXF63mWMCMQ63Y3xevvEJH0iN15vP19DT9ythWqJb9yVpG4ZiFNzXnYZjOrk1KF-faWaU-A0cCcmnpBxg16GxX8v1LbIlEKOsEGHrDnnmNT_VVmO/s1600/_DSC5320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg-EGqGZcy9BeDacKo3TvmiL81Sk0iMXF63mWMCMQ63Y3xevvEJH0iN15vP19DT9ythWqJb9yVpG4ZiFNzXnYZjOrk1KF-faWaU-A0cCcmnpBxg16GxX8v1LbIlEKOsEGHrDnnmNT_VVmO/s400/_DSC5320.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
What was really impressive about some of the mountains in the glacial valley was that the forests on the mountainsides had been able to develop right down to the water's edge, even in the absence of deep soil development. Underneath the interlocking root systems of trees lies smooth, solid rock hence why the tree line lies so close to the water's edge. Tree avalanches are common in the area, usually triggered by high rainfall or heavy snow as evidenced by the "scars" or bare patches of rock where the fiord has claimed the trees. An earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Ricther scale struck Doubtful Sound back in 2003 and caused approx. 260 tree avalanches, however, a much stronger earthquake was recorded in 2009, which measured 7.8!<br />
<br />
Before we finished our cruise, we had one last opportunity to get an up close and personal view of the stunning Lady Alice Falls, Fiordland's tallest waterfall!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGMQaCSen9DPb340qqXCj1l6aQp25S8t7bTQf_uUJxmZ59njzT6ZoQerX8p_bbMfX4O0hgAHJVbWEphJ4_FliyrbbnWOXmiXkX-U11NSs3mqM2U9d8Is2Rq0cFGQZ7D2lIXnVoqqn81uO/s1600/_DSC5343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBGMQaCSen9DPb340qqXCj1l6aQp25S8t7bTQf_uUJxmZ59njzT6ZoQerX8p_bbMfX4O0hgAHJVbWEphJ4_FliyrbbnWOXmiXkX-U11NSs3mqM2U9d8Is2Rq0cFGQZ7D2lIXnVoqqn81uO/s400/_DSC5343.JPG" width="263" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5A7lzwWA9_hX_dhViUNgCommTAhDiaa6i5ITz_FnaTzKo5VgQyDDPGOEn06tGb44OtTKJAqKc62Ek8BuFcJPYN7eJBekPhtihynr8j9GrIs59uVPlRpJ1f1IgAdY4cHu47FgdfGizcDNJ/s1600/_DSC5345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5A7lzwWA9_hX_dhViUNgCommTAhDiaa6i5ITz_FnaTzKo5VgQyDDPGOEn06tGb44OtTKJAqKc62Ek8BuFcJPYN7eJBekPhtihynr8j9GrIs59uVPlRpJ1f1IgAdY4cHu47FgdfGizcDNJ/s400/_DSC5345.JPG" width="263" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As we pulled back into the wharf, our coaches were ready to take us back up the Wilmot Pass but not before we stopped off at the top the pass to get a view overlooking Deep Cove and to more importantly, to have a play in the snow!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TYMW72c-ru5GdHFBRJqhKRMcuSNNTLptMawu0Gs1FDudksSd00ECS4VNcMssEaTtZaEIubzxCFYrriYh_0y7oORZ3MPAre3BXSFg3n9069hjdAbyS5IFmbcxIlfxC7Q2IA5Wnvas3nmf/s1600/_DSC5351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TYMW72c-ru5GdHFBRJqhKRMcuSNNTLptMawu0Gs1FDudksSd00ECS4VNcMssEaTtZaEIubzxCFYrriYh_0y7oORZ3MPAre3BXSFg3n9069hjdAbyS5IFmbcxIlfxC7Q2IA5Wnvas3nmf/s400/_DSC5351.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWiFvzFnj1lHpcSUne-7TMmbPUYjr42zAhKZIR3GZUg4LfAxj5-zTTUETqklozdL314Hbqc1ghQ7k7rEiB2OLUAPFQDz_wypwsuEKMBSxFBz_zAny3hSVHKJ7IDRYmYBkx9_s4bmwpXpd/s1600/_DSC5361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWiFvzFnj1lHpcSUne-7TMmbPUYjr42zAhKZIR3GZUg4LfAxj5-zTTUETqklozdL314Hbqc1ghQ7k7rEiB2OLUAPFQDz_wypwsuEKMBSxFBz_zAny3hSVHKJ7IDRYmYBkx9_s4bmwpXpd/s400/_DSC5361.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9A7MNE4gzlilRusTmCtQv8XY44eJoGcR28gKl2l4jFTqpqcPqE1cCW7JL7b3NslzKIQLY2WCM3g9xucNK6TN1sYCdsNkfhihLTiTgvWu_eSn89Mt9kFikQPd1dXakNeXM9SXvkcKs5U0/s1600/_DSC5362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9A7MNE4gzlilRusTmCtQv8XY44eJoGcR28gKl2l4jFTqpqcPqE1cCW7JL7b3NslzKIQLY2WCM3g9xucNK6TN1sYCdsNkfhihLTiTgvWu_eSn89Mt9kFikQPd1dXakNeXM9SXvkcKs5U0/s400/_DSC5362.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizB9EMt278kyCHl3oHGsLORX97LksAhXi5OWJk284paVajlKBRKjFS25B3qvVcD3I1BL2sGQv71EYxxEa-pJIk2bAAfnTBNNI95gP0vxqWSSit7XPEcE6abNvRc7Wn7XdSGoYYQQQr8O3C/s1600/_DSC5363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizB9EMt278kyCHl3oHGsLORX97LksAhXi5OWJk284paVajlKBRKjFS25B3qvVcD3I1BL2sGQv71EYxxEa-pJIk2bAAfnTBNNI95gP0vxqWSSit7XPEcE6abNvRc7Wn7XdSGoYYQQQr8O3C/s400/_DSC5363.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Although the visibility was poor, it's still a great view into Deep Cove </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBxUoFzoBKgW353VX_hgivlmlGXOt_qfyKzP_0kUFkml_IaL-DVFwd1n98jFMdm7Lz53GrzEleo0_FEoCCUlk0T5jz8Qg_lRphaaqWROU-YQeXRpse-9sVcg1QDDZgUcOaRxN2h4FkUD2/s1600/_DSC5356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBxUoFzoBKgW353VX_hgivlmlGXOt_qfyKzP_0kUFkml_IaL-DVFwd1n98jFMdm7Lz53GrzEleo0_FEoCCUlk0T5jz8Qg_lRphaaqWROU-YQeXRpse-9sVcg1QDDZgUcOaRxN2h4FkUD2/s640/_DSC5356.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie getting carried away in the snow!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Before we made our return journey across Lake Manapouri, we had one last treat in store - a journey into the heart of the granite mountains to the underground power station! Lake Manapouri is the site of the largest hydroelectric power station in New Zealand with its generating units housed in a cavern excavated from the rock 200m below the lake. Having already had the pleasure of doing a tour of the Dinorwig Power Station in Wales more than once, I was ready for another marvel of engineering - can you detect the hint of sarcasm!?<br />
<br />
To get to the underground machine hall of the power station, our coach drove through a spiral tunnel carved 2km into the mountain. When power station was first constructed trucks had to reverse down the tunnel when delivering machine parts (as there's no turning room at the end), which sometimes took up to 12 hours! The power station was originally built to supply the power requirement of Comalco Aluminium Smelter, 171km away at Bluff. However, in 1963, the New Zealand Government had to take over the construction costs of building of the power station as Comalco could only finance the smelter.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMT2Y0s5Vx7Tig8T6zGiL24sgPrjwQitFHIoYSS1l2QIvuaA9KuwEOXRhqKf9IjsWJOrNNVNg7PIoKrQw3Pjyz87jxV_9kJXoUIAVvvyG8piH5Co6drna1_Tdele9EvioXYUMoyg1I4BRx/s1600/_DSC5367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMT2Y0s5Vx7Tig8T6zGiL24sgPrjwQitFHIoYSS1l2QIvuaA9KuwEOXRhqKf9IjsWJOrNNVNg7PIoKrQw3Pjyz87jxV_9kJXoUIAVvvyG8piH5Co6drna1_Tdele9EvioXYUMoyg1I4BRx/s400/_DSC5367.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The Manapouri power station machine hall</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8l9VimClaPq5WfIfA3BGFAutbrCb2o7U2QSKx_4JmsGHjk-xLcStjYFG6reVFUrvRNqv40lV_C31eo6sS7TKl2shDoXZiTFg2YChDkR0eCSZq9qkoUvKlo6Vhc3ah9lR0IVSM5uPuWODp/s1600/_CSC5368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8l9VimClaPq5WfIfA3BGFAutbrCb2o7U2QSKx_4JmsGHjk-xLcStjYFG6reVFUrvRNqv40lV_C31eo6sS7TKl2shDoXZiTFg2YChDkR0eCSZq9qkoUvKlo6Vhc3ah9lR0IVSM5uPuWODp/s400/_CSC5368.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The station utilises the 230m drop between the West Arm of Lake Manapouri and Deep Cove 10km away to generate electricity. Building the power station and constructing the road over the Wilmot Pass was dangerous work, and it tragically claimed the lives of 16 men whose names are on a memorial plaque on the rock that forms the power station they helped create. I guess in a funny way if the campaign to prevent the construction of the power station was successful then Wilmot Pass possibly wouldn't have existed and Doubtful Sound would be even more inaccessible today than it already is for tourists.<br />
<br />
Our verdict on the trip was despite the slight worry about the weather, having all the overnight snow made it a better experience than when we went to Milford Sound five years ago. As to whether it would be better than Milford overall on a different day, the jury is open...The Doubtful Sound experience is much more magnificent in terms of a cross section of wildernesses - going from a lake to an alpine pass and a vast fiord. However, you don't get the imposing Mitre Peak or the scenic journey up the Milford Road...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com1Queenstown, New Zealand-45.0311622 168.66264350000006-45.120947699999995 168.50128200000006 -44.9413767 168.82400500000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-68532322935749509132012-12-24T02:01:00.004-08:002012-12-24T02:01:56.229-08:00It's not what you know, it's who you knowThis blog post has been written an unintentional follow up to my original post about <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/easy-pickings-things-to-consider-when.html" target="_blank">working in New Zealand</a>. One of the biggest attractions about working in Queenstown is that it's the place to be in New Zealand; it has stunning mountain scenery, year-round adventure activities and hedonistic nightlife - all in all its a town driven by tourism.<br />
<br />
So, apart from the main cities (Auckland and Wellington) and regional seasonal work, Queenstown is a good place to look for temporary work. The best time to look for work is before the two main seasons, <b>summer</b> and <b>winter </b>(with spring and autumn being the shoulder seasons), where you can get jobs such as working for local adventure activity companies, jobs at Coronet Peak and the Remarkables ski fields, or even general work in the hospitality sector. It is possible to find other jobs in the town during the main seasons because of the high turnover of backpackers passing through with working holiday visas. As long as your prepared to work unsociable hours for the minimum wage, there are plenty of jobs in bars, restaurants, convenience stores, retail shops, etc.<br />
<br />
Personally, I've found it quite a difficult experience to find work in Queenstown having dropped off lots of CVs into shops, hotels, the local cinema - basically anywhere which had a job going and for work which isn't particularly challenging, especially when it would be easy to pick up quickly with some on-the-job training. So far I've had trials at a pizza restaurant and a convenience store both with their own "interesting experiences".<br />
<br />
My first trial was at <a href="http://www.thecowrestaurant.co.nz/" target="_blank"><b>The Cow</b></a> pizzeria on Cow Lane, working as a kitchen hand. I found out that there was a job available through the hostel we were staying at - this can often be the best way of finding out about jobs in Queenstown, through word of mouth as well as checking out the Lakes Weekly Bulletin, and job search websites such as <a href="http://www.seek.co.nz/" target="_blank">Seek</a> or <a href="http://nz.indeed.com/" target="_blank">Indeed</a>. Having arranged a trial with the chef, I spent three hours in the kitchen rolling out pizza bases till my arms ached, as well as being shown the ropes by the current kitchen hand. Having impressed enough to be asked back the next day, I was given the impression that the job was mine for the taking as I was asked to bring my <b>IRD number </b>(for paying tax) and bank details with me. Returning to the kitchen the following day it was another arduous exercise of making pizza dough and rolling out bases to within an inch of their life. However, after three hours I was told that I could go as the restaurant had some more people they wanted to trial and they would be in touch soon having taken my contact details - a complete turn around from the day before when I thought I had bagged the job!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vifo411_Hf8/UKrpKRWnCWI/AAAAAAAACg4/4LiL-A6N9kQ/s1600/DSC_0254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vifo411_Hf8/UKrpKRWnCWI/AAAAAAAACg4/4LiL-A6N9kQ/s640/DSC_0254.JPG" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Cow restaurant on Cow Lane</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It came as no surprise that after a week I still hadn't received a phone call, not even to say "thanks, but no thanks" - a text message might have even sufficed! So I decided to go back to The Cow to get an explanation, however, I was fobbed off with a convenient excuse from the main chef that they were still trialling another person and that he had lost my phone number but would let me know soon. What really drives me mad is when people can't even be up front about not wanting you for the job. If the chef had at least been honest and said "I'm sorry but you're not the right person for the job" then that would have been fine, it's worse when people string you along and toy with your emotions especially when you're dependent on finding a job to get some stability. To be fair I'm not sure if I would have been suited for the job as it was quite hectic with all the tasks that needed doing, and in all honesty the kitchen hygiene standards left a lot to be desired, with the regular kitchen hand eating the soggy salad with his fingers before preparing the next set of pizzas. The boards that the pizzas were served on weren't even washed between servings, just the remnants of the last meal scraped off, and last but not least the gluten free pizzas were just frozen pizzas bases!<br />
<br />
My other experience was at one of the <b>City Express</b> convenience stores in town. The job was advertised in store and the manager was keen to meet potential applicants after screening their CVs. Personally, this was my least preferable choice of job as the hours were largely unsociable and the store manager was very condescending at the best of times. Having worked a couple of 3pm - 1am shifts, to say it was quiet would be an understatement - it was pretty much the ghost shift! However, this is possibly due to the lack of people visiting Queenstown because of the shortfall of snow throughout the winter season, which has had a big impact on all the ski fields and local businesses, but that's another story...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SZPLBLiroCI/UKrmKBuMgSI/AAAAAAAACg4/WL6V2ZBg8Jc/s1600/DSC_0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SZPLBLiroCI/UKrmKBuMgSI/AAAAAAAACg4/WL6V2ZBg8Jc/s400/DSC_0253.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">City Express on Church Street a.k.a. the Kwik-E-Mart</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Its a pretty soul destroying experience working into the early hours of the morning on your own whilst the rest of Queenstown is having fun, but needs must! Every so often you might get a group of customers break up the monotony but as the evening progressed they'd be getting more and more wasted. Pretty much all the products in the store are unashamedly overpriced (although the prices aren't on display so it's like your stereotypical corner shop from the 90's!) but the tourists who use the store are too lazy to shop around and are frivolous with their money as they're on holiday. The tedious list of staff rules were a joke, with one particular rule stating "<b>No friends or family to visit whilst you are working</b>".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXro_nQCU3U/UKrp-2i7SpI/AAAAAAAACg4/qJMZNB6Z2hU/s1600/DSC00849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXro_nQCU3U/UKrp-2i7SpI/AAAAAAAACg4/qJMZNB6Z2hU/s640/DSC00849.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The abridged version of the <strike>prison</strike> staff rules - part one...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9vL14va0RbU/UKrqC_zZTmI/AAAAAAAACg4/AdF8zqFhxrA/s1600/DSC00850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9vL14va0RbU/UKrqC_zZTmI/AAAAAAAACg4/AdF8zqFhxrA/s640/DSC00850.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">...part two of the grammatically inconsistent nonsense</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I found out quite quickly how serious the company were on enforcing the rules when Lizzie dropped into the store to say "Hi" on her way home from work one evening, after about 10 minutes I got a phone call from the store manager explaining that the security company had called him to say there was a person hanging around by the checkout for too long - FFS talking about taking surveillance to the extreme! I though the security cameras were there to keep an eye on the customers not the staff! In all seriousness I felt that I was being constantly monitored with 7 cameras in the store, especially when I had to open up the store at 7.00am one morning and I got a text message from the store manager at 7.02am trying to find out why the store wasn't open despite having just putting my key in the door...<br />
<br />
Fortunately, I have managed to find a better job in the meantime but when I think about the store manager and how he had penny-pinching down to a fine art, with cost cutting measures and a massive mark-up on the goods in the store, it reminded me of Apu from The Simpsons and his Kwik-E-Mart. Especially, when the store manager was justifying that you could still sell microwaved frozen pies which had been put under a heated lamp for 10 hours because "it's what they do in Mobil garages!"<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pNOw2HSh7Ko/UCdT7Hqd3OI/AAAAAAAABzQ/kaVgRrpuW-4/s1600/Apu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pNOw2HSh7Ko/UCdT7Hqd3OI/AAAAAAAABzQ/kaVgRrpuW-4/s400/Apu.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The next time you're tempted by a convenience store pie, think about how long it's been sitting in the heater!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Continuing back on the theme of looking for jobs, one of the best sources of local information is the <a href="http://www.lwb.co.nz/" target="_blank">Lakes Weekly Bulletin</a>, which is published every Monday around 1.30pm on the website and is available in print every Tuesday. However, it's best to be on the internet waiting for the online edition as it seems quite a lot of people are all searching for the same jobs and it can pay to be the first off the block with casual work. Quite a lot of the jobs advertised will be part-time (often 20-30 hours) so you might find yourself trying to juggle two part-time roles at once or even working for accommodation if you're staying a hostel.<br />
<br />
Quite often I've found prospective employers don't have time to read through reams of résumés/ CVs very thoroughly so it's worth pointing out your relevant experience and skills when dropping off your CV. Also, if you haven't heard back after 3 or 4 days it's always worth doing a follow up to keep your submission fresh in the employer's mind, plus it makes you seem keen and eager for the job, but you can also come across as annoying if you don't get the balance right.<br />
<br />
There are a number of job agencies in Queenstown, however, we've really had mixed experiences with these as they often talk the good talk but rarely go out of their way to push work in your direction. I guess it's because so many people register with these agencies when they first arrive in town that you're often just a name amongst hundreds of others. I got a phone call from the <strong>Queenstown Job Agency</strong> the other day, 6 weeks after I first registered with them asking if I was still looking for work! What a joke! If we hadn't found a job by then we would have tried our luck back in Wellington or Auckland instead - it's such a waste of time for everyone involved that it takes so long for recruitment staff to actually get back in touch with you just to find out if you're still looking for a job...<br />
<br />
However, sometimes finding a job can come down to who you know more than based on your own merits, as I found when I mentioned to a housemate that I applied for a job at a zipline eco-tour adventure company. He kindly offered to put in a good word to the course manager as he was mate, but I felt if I was the right person for the job then I should be offered the job based on that and not anything else. I also had a very different experience when I applied for video editor role at local sky diving company called <a href="http://www.nzone.biz/" target="_blank"><b>Nzone</b></a>. Not only didn't I receive any sort of acknowledgement to confirm receipt of my application (which was submitted a week ahead of the closing date) but also I had to call the General Operations Manager, <b>Jon Rowe</b>, to find out that my application hadn't been considered properly because of my work visa...<br />
<br />
After convincing the manager to take another look at my application I asked him when he would be getting back in touch to which he said that he would get back to me the same day. Two days later I phoned up again to find out what he thought of my application only to discover that the position had been filled as New Zealand residents get first priority for <b>full-time</b> jobs and that no one else had even been considered outside of this criteria. I was pretty cheesed off that I had to ring him up twice and so I sent a strongly worded email to express my opinion and make a complaint. A couple of hours later I actually got a phone call from the man himself as he was pissed off that I had called into question his professionalism, which also involved him threatening me, that "Queenstown's a small place" - implying that I shouldn't mess with him as he could make my life difficult here because of <b><u>who he knows</u></b>...which comes back to my original point and something that has fast become a cliché from my experiences here: "<i>It's not what you know, it's who you know</i>".<br />
<br />
Having gone round and round in circles on the phone I at least got him to concede that the job advert didn't describe the role as being permanent, if it had I wouldn't have wasted my time and he wouldn't have had so many other pointless applications to wade through. This is the actual job description taken directly from the Lakes Weekly Bulletin:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmxZ5PWiRTuYXyqkwkl3Z2wT0aTD77huQ12mrZHqhbPSl8DvgGXo2fByBseLbld2HUoWORVF6zKwiqOQINsZQFNnX92FojCwqJ0u45TOX_I31MQOOLDtlJ7WtfIHBl5adm1uV8NdKQLZs/s1600/nzone+jd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEmxZ5PWiRTuYXyqkwkl3Z2wT0aTD77huQ12mrZHqhbPSl8DvgGXo2fByBseLbld2HUoWORVF6zKwiqOQINsZQFNnX92FojCwqJ0u45TOX_I31MQOOLDtlJ7WtfIHBl5adm1uV8NdKQLZs/s640/nzone+jd.jpg" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Unless I'm mistaken where does it say "<b>for New Zealand residents only</b>"?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
What really puzzled me was Mr Rowe's definition of a "full time job", to him this meant it was a permanent role - this is different to my understanding, and was particularly surprising coming from someone who is involved in hiring new employees. He claimed that people on working holiday visas that myself and Lizzie are on couldn't apply for "full time jobs", however, this contradicts the work we did in the Bay of Islands where we working up to 60+ hours a week. For someone who is involved in recruitment he should really get a better understanding of the difference between the terms "permanent" and "full-time" before trying to make someone who has taken an interest in an exciting job opportunity, feel like a second-class citizen. Overall it was a pretty disheartening response, especially considering the current situation with young Kiwis emigrating to Australia for higher wages and a better lifestyle, whilst those travellers who are willing to fill the gap in the market are overlooked.<br />
<br />
To add insult to injury, once you've been in New Zealand for more than 183 days on a working holiday visa, you no longer eligible to claim all the tax money you have paid back, but only a proportion on the earnings where you've overpaid tax! So you can't apply for permanent jobs because you're not a New Zealand resident but you're not entitled to a full tax refund because you're considered a <b><a href="http://www.ird.govt.nz/international/comingleaving/coming/temp/" target="_blank">New Zealand tax resident</a></b><i> - </i>go figure!?!<br />
<br />
Last but not least, some jobs tend to carry a gender bias and women might find it easier to get jobs in bars, cafés or doing housekeeping work, whereas guys might find it easier to find labouring jobs or kicthen-based work. It's technically against the law to employ staff based on their gender, but it seems to happen more or less everywhere.<br />
<br />
Queenstown is a fantastic place to live, however, it seems that it's the English expats who have come to New Zealand for a better life and opportunities, are the ones spoiling the experience for everyone else. As one friend quite rightly pointed out, Queenstown can be a bit of a<b> C.U.N</b>.ext <b>T.</b>uesday soup!<br />
<br />
Once you've got over the hurdle of finding a job, don't expect to save much money especially with the combination of minimum pay work, part-time shifts and spending your wages straight back into the town. However, I guess its the "Queenstown experience" that attracts people here in the first place!<br />
<br />
**Since writing this post, I've been lucky to get a couple of better jobs and although I stand by my original view, at least I've been able to try things that I wouldn't have considered at home, plus there have been some small perks of the job...**<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-woBtRML_TqI/UKrqNeVbK1I/AAAAAAAACg4/ssrcygTn4RI/s1600/WP_000067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-woBtRML_TqI/UKrqNeVbK1I/AAAAAAAACg4/ssrcygTn4RI/s400/WP_000067.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's not all bad when you're out and about picking up stock from the airport on a beautiful day </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0Queenstown, New Zealand-45.0311622 168.6626435-45.0760497 168.5836795 -44.986274699999996 168.74160750000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-74718808287470618482012-11-29T02:53:00.001-08:002012-12-23T04:12:28.351-08:00Glenorchy and ArrowtownIf the hustle and bustle of Queenstown gets too much, then there are a couple of charming, low-key townships which you can visit not too far away. In opposite directions to Queenstown lie the quaint towns of Glenorchy and Arrowtown.<br />
<br />
<b>Glenorchy</b> lies at the head of Lake Wakatipu, which is a scenic 40-minute drive (45km) northwest from Queenstown. Glenorchy is the gateway to some of the finest tramping tracks that New Zealand has to offer including a circuit of the Rees and Dart rivers, the Routeburn Track, and the Greenstone and Caples tracks but apart from that, the township itself doesn't really have much to offer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Plnt1vUDKnE/UKrmx1Ixb8I/AAAAAAAACg4/tehbqKlw_e8/s1600/_CSC6992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Plnt1vUDKnE/UKrmx1Ixb8I/AAAAAAAACg4/tehbqKlw_e8/s400/_CSC6992.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The area is also the site for the proposed <a href="http://www.stopthetunnel.co.nz/" target="_blank">Routeburn tunnel</a>, which would carve an 11km tunnel through <b>Mt Aspiring National Park </b>to provide a more direct route to Milford Sound from Queenstown and reduce the journey times of the day trip, which can currently take up to 12 hours from Queenstown. The proposal has proven controversial as it would threaten the World Heritage Status of both Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Parks, as well as draw tourism away from Te Anau and increase traffic through Glenorchy, which is essentially an "end of road" destination, thus spoiling the wilderness of the area.<br />
<br />
En route to Glenorchy, there are a number of tracks down by Lake Wakatipu for lakeside walks, historic sites, fishing or swimming. We stopped off at Bob's Cove (Te Punatapu) in the Upper Lake Wakatipu Reserve to walk a short nature trail down by the lakeside, which was part of the original bridle track to Glenorchy.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BNOUINBfDr8/UKrm4xVph9I/AAAAAAAACg4/zukL7upKM-U/s1600/_DSC3353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BNOUINBfDr8/UKrm4xVph9I/AAAAAAAACg4/zukL7upKM-U/s400/_DSC3353.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">In front of the shore of Bob's Cove with Mt Nicholas and Mt Turnbull</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Fortune Cove, or Bob's Cove, derives it's name from Bob Fortune, a boatman who worked for William Rees, who was an early pioneer in the area. It was also the site of a short lived but important lime quarrying and burning industry in Queenstown for agriculture and building materials.<br />
<br />
Apparently, Bob's Cove is one of the best places to observe Lake Wakatipu's <b>seiche </b>(a french word, used in the context of an enclosed body of water where it sways back and forth), the phenomenon which causes the lake's level to fluctuate approx. 15cm every 5 minutes, although we didn't really notice anything. However, the tranquil turquoise waters were more what I imagined <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/lake-tekapo.html" target="_blank">Lake Tekapo</a> would look like. Getting down to the lake edge we were able to get some nice views of the Remarkables and Walter Peak (1,815m).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-smQnrEZagYI/UKrm2EAO61I/AAAAAAAACg4/-RfVF4AjY6Q/s1600/_DSC3350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-smQnrEZagYI/UKrm2EAO61I/AAAAAAAACg4/-RfVF4AjY6Q/s400/_DSC3350.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bob's Cove looking across the Tweleve Mile Bush</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TLvKSAOjUGU/UKrpbIuYihI/AAAAAAAACg4/O3CssPcUdPc/s1600/_DSC3346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TLvKSAOjUGU/UKrpbIuYihI/AAAAAAAACg4/O3CssPcUdPc/s640/_DSC3346.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The remains of a lime kiln and gum trees possibly used for fuel </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fRZTbV9gpKg/UKrm6_IjVxI/AAAAAAAACg4/n-Ws_gXj1OQ/s1600/_DSC3357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fRZTbV9gpKg/UKrm6_IjVxI/AAAAAAAACg4/n-Ws_gXj1OQ/s400/_DSC3357.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Limestone hill on the right with the Remarkables and Walter Peak</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Continuing along the Glenorchy Road, we passed some opportune lookouts for stunning views up towards the head of the lake with Pigeon Island (Wāwāhi Waka) and Pig Island (Matau) in the centre of the lake and the snow-capped Humbolt and Forbes Mountains on the horizon reflecting the sunlight back at us.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Q5JQGQh-im2so8NcM1Dl3mnU5EmE1KWlhYMqWuUQiuX8YFL41Uhiq_ohweRSCdxUHarUHvlVi79AhEEG9EgDcFJEyWdN0gnfcMbfnlz4qaNK8vQ6ZgSUHauelRkiH4nyxggQoixryP4v/s1600/_DSC3360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Q5JQGQh-im2so8NcM1Dl3mnU5EmE1KWlhYMqWuUQiuX8YFL41Uhiq_ohweRSCdxUHarUHvlVi79AhEEG9EgDcFJEyWdN0gnfcMbfnlz4qaNK8vQ6ZgSUHauelRkiH4nyxggQoixryP4v/s400/_DSC3360.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The view from Bennett's Bluff towards the head of the lake</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zv-7GgXGwyM/UKrm_NDbZoI/AAAAAAAACg4/mg9eTfPYZNs/s1600/_DSC3363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zv-7GgXGwyM/UKrm_NDbZoI/AAAAAAAACg4/mg9eTfPYZNs/s400/_DSC3363.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking west to the Hummocks and Round Peaks</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_RhdHGs67M/UKrnqPRrRRI/AAAAAAAACg4/3whSCum3jkQ/s1600/_DSC5099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l_RhdHGs67M/UKrnqPRrRRI/AAAAAAAACg4/3whSCum3jkQ/s400/_DSC5099.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pig Island is the long and flat one and <span style="text-align: start;">Pigeon Island has the mound</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Starting off at the waterfront near the wharf, we walked the Glenorchy Walkway along the edge of the lake and through some wetlands along a boardwalk around the lagoon, north of the township.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DEeENGx6WDM/UKrnH1mAiOI/AAAAAAAACg4/VW6Y-P-sENk/s1600/_DSC3383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DEeENGx6WDM/UKrnH1mAiOI/AAAAAAAACg4/VW6Y-P-sENk/s400/_DSC3383.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The wharf at Glenorhcy with Bold Peak (2,118m) in the background</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6tjU1pVmVxqubdzXVAEBcrLCi9_EzKxoJgh5QtbSZuNDDkapAMDLrJPgUocCw1yfz_9sTjGrnbYiYKQLYDw5VAHeGMor_jOhC3H3wL0-U0tCIjf7VNCjnhPa5v5PB9kwSiJoSoeKjCUb/s1600/_DSC3369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6tjU1pVmVxqubdzXVAEBcrLCi9_EzKxoJgh5QtbSZuNDDkapAMDLrJPgUocCw1yfz_9sTjGrnbYiYKQLYDw5VAHeGMor_jOhC3H3wL0-U0tCIjf7VNCjnhPa5v5PB9kwSiJoSoeKjCUb/s400/_DSC3369.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stone Peak (2,130m) towering over Glenorchy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHfau1jFZmY/UKrnMpwGFzI/AAAAAAAACg4/ZuUudiZL1JM/s1600/_DSC3394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dHfau1jFZmY/UKrnMpwGFzI/AAAAAAAACg4/ZuUudiZL1JM/s400/_DSC3394.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The twin peaks of Mt Earnslaw dominate over the head of the lake</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic84qhAAoEuwhrQpKAf-ygWS_pOPMynpDOerGF4ZNmFZDV3SUE6csKFrxXqTrwcHNnhsqkiXSrQLva2fuwCoKnMs5Rfu4UJnB30W_-RTkMfyi6u7C4gN9NMcDEuKAK-Dir-bZFvAofwlf-/s1600/_DSC3395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic84qhAAoEuwhrQpKAf-ygWS_pOPMynpDOerGF4ZNmFZDV3SUE6csKFrxXqTrwcHNnhsqkiXSrQLva2fuwCoKnMs5Rfu4UJnB30W_-RTkMfyi6u7C4gN9NMcDEuKAK-Dir-bZFvAofwlf-/s400/_DSC3395.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Lizzie in front of Mt Alfred (Ari) and Mt Earnslaw (Pikirakatahi)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nddh7TNuC_A/UKrnRwOSgBI/AAAAAAAACg4/iJNOZ_pDdHs/s1600/_DSC3401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nddh7TNuC_A/UKrnRwOSgBI/AAAAAAAACg4/iJNOZ_pDdHs/s400/_DSC3401.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The general area has a strong connection with <a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/lord-of-the-rings-locations/" target="_blank">Lord of the Rings</a> as it's provided a number of landscapes for the trilogy including Isengard, Lothlórien, and Ithilien among others.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FxvgwsCvblA/UKrnKdo1ztI/AAAAAAAACg4/aOwtEdP2t6M/s1600/_DSC3391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FxvgwsCvblA/UKrnKdo1ztI/AAAAAAAACg4/aOwtEdP2t6M/s400/_DSC3391.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">View across to the Humboldt Mountains</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Taking advantage of the first weekend we've had since the end of the ski season we drove back to Glenorchy as we wanted to walk the Diamond Creek track and see Diamond Lake (14.5 km north of Glenorchy), as well as venture into Paradise. The Department of Conservation has a fantastic leaflet called "<b><a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/otago/head-of-lake-wakatipu.pdf" target="_blank">The Head of the Wakatipu</a></b>" with details on all the tracks around Glenorchy.<br />
<br />
Second time round in Glenorchy, there was far less snow on the mountains but this didn't make them any less picturesque. Following the Glenorchy-Paradise road past the lagoon, we crossed the Rees River over a bridge before turning left, in the direction heading towards the starting points for the Routeburn, Caples and Green tracks.<br />
<br />
Starting off at the car park from the Glenorchy-Routeburn road, the track was really soggy underfoot and I wasn't happy when my feet got soaked in the boggy marsh despite wearing Gore-Tex walking trainers! However, despite my complaining we were warned by the Department of Conservation office in Queenstown that there had been a lot of rain in the area recently.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8mA2_IP6Y30/UKrnwM_V16I/AAAAAAAACg4/WRUwUMuWlCQ/s1600/_DSC5107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8mA2_IP6Y30/UKrnwM_V16I/AAAAAAAACg4/WRUwUMuWlCQ/s400/_DSC5107.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Downstream from Diamond Creek towards the Humboldt Mountains</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dbo4hikxAhM/UKrns-mYC6I/AAAAAAAACg4/UGiI6uQToAE/s1600/_DSC5102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dbo4hikxAhM/UKrns-mYC6I/AAAAAAAACg4/UGiI6uQToAE/s400/_DSC5102.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: start;">Lizzie with Mt</span><span style="text-align: start;"> Earnslaw behind her</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The walk to Lake Reid took us approx. 45 mins, following the bank of the creek with Mt. Alfred opposite us and amazing views of Mt Earnslaw (2,830m) straight ahead. Towering over the Rees and Dart Valleys, Mt Earnslaw lies on the southern end of the Forbes Range.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwcoc1a3V_PMZw0T0W8RkIsKS7InEDTJ95dezdry_XlVULDXEPdMb-yEjmKvtRVMmxObk6YryFNNbnJvTPrkJPvmgNbL38gcABTY9NBSpdUOXBYJ_SlB13MAXayVIbd5uMIfUZntfLtTU/s1600/_DSC5126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwcoc1a3V_PMZw0T0W8RkIsKS7InEDTJ95dezdry_XlVULDXEPdMb-yEjmKvtRVMmxObk6YryFNNbnJvTPrkJPvmgNbL38gcABTY9NBSpdUOXBYJ_SlB13MAXayVIbd5uMIfUZntfLtTU/s400/_DSC5126.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Lake Reid looking across to Paradise and the Dart Valley</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CnEU6yznjc0/UKrmq1qO6II/AAAAAAAACg4/5vh50SjwUu0/s1600/_CSC5186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CnEU6yznjc0/UKrmq1qO6II/AAAAAAAACg4/5vh50SjwUu0/s200/_CSC5186.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0bB7Kq7QOaU/UKrmpH_LeBI/AAAAAAAACg4/kfbJ8aMcsDc/s1600/_CSC5185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0bB7Kq7QOaU/UKrmpH_LeBI/AAAAAAAACg4/kfbJ8aMcsDc/s320/_CSC5185.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ddCRELjAmfE/UKrmm5IWaGI/AAAAAAAACg4/2Tva9xyggoo/s1600/_CSC5183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ddCRELjAmfE/UKrmm5IWaGI/AAAAAAAACg4/2Tva9xyggoo/s200/_CSC5183.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br />
<br />
Clockwise: the West Peak of Mt Earnslaw (2,820m), the Comsos Peaks (above) and, Mt Nox (1,940m) and Mt Chaos (1,995m)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
Once we reached Lake Reid it was really windy with gusts blowing from the Dart Valley and across the lake. Looking across to Mt Alfred, Lizzie spotted a waterfall on the mountain on the opposite side of the creek. Having had enough of being blown around and getting our feet soggy we headed back through the swampy track to where we parked the car.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tqxh7VRWiEw/UKrpoOdWAKI/AAAAAAAACg4/atXc0pyXXGQ/s1600/_DSC5135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tqxh7VRWiEw/UKrpoOdWAKI/AAAAAAAACg4/atXc0pyXXGQ/s640/_DSC5135.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes photos don't really do the scenery justice</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As we were on the edge of Mt Aspiring National Park I was particularly interested in checking out Diamond Lake and Paradise, as the area was used for some of the Middle Earth locations such as Parth Galen and Lothlórien in the Lord of the Rings films.<br />
<br />
Driving back along the Glenorchy-Paradise road in the direction towards Paradise, the road became an unsealed gravel road suitable for most vehicles, unlike some of the other backcountry roads as you venture deeper into Mt Aspiring National Park. Crossing Earnslaw Burn, we approached the entrance to the national park where there were some signs warning us about possible vehicle damage on the road and deep fords, however, we weren't really sure what to expect.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g0vXjKYk5Pc/UKroGeF5w9I/AAAAAAAACg4/qPbA24_PAcI/s1600/_DSC5169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g0vXjKYk5Pc/UKroGeF5w9I/AAAAAAAACg4/qPbA24_PAcI/s400/_DSC5169.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Earnlsaw Burn looking over to Cockburns Bush and Reef Spur</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Hb7RBUevIc/UKrrKTRvHgI/AAAAAAAACg4/9-BiQl113pw/s1600/WP_000150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Hb7RBUevIc/UKrrKTRvHgI/AAAAAAAACg4/9-BiQl113pw/s400/WP_000150.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sounds ominous!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Driving alongside Diamond Lake we climbed up above the beech forest eventually reaching the River Jordan, a small crossing to negotiate in the car but we decided to heed the earlier warning and walked on from this point, however, there were quite a few people crossing the ford in your run of the mill, everyday vehicles - I guess as they say "He who dares, wins"...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EBNLec7p53I/UKrn6jDZ2TI/AAAAAAAACg4/7Fp1PZ8k_b4/s1600/_DSC5151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EBNLec7p53I/UKrn6jDZ2TI/AAAAAAAACg4/7Fp1PZ8k_b4/s400/_DSC5151.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mt Alfred on the other side of Diamond Lake</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MIcNgXSKm5o/UKrmidQChiI/AAAAAAAACg4/RfsBMxoMR-M/s1600/_CSC5161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MIcNgXSKm5o/UKrmidQChiI/AAAAAAAACg4/RfsBMxoMR-M/s400/_CSC5161.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's getting biblical as Lizzie crosses the River Jordan!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Having said that, there wasn't really much to see once we were in Paradise as it was mainly farmland but we did catch a couple more glimpses of the snow-capped peaks of Mt Nox, Mt Chaos and Poseidon Peak. Again, as with most areas in New Zealand hyped up as worth seeing, it was a bit confusing to know where we should be aiming for.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FDhzWdu3HWjz8Pam9v2q3YxeF1tRZjV-rPvPiDZykEQ25oY4kN3xOYpsr_l5VpRpzN4w3UtWaXFlYEdVfj3gvSXccsevSZf6GHiIQJ122YeGUvp7Zr41CIogAijgnoLo3t_WOYUbjuJ4/s1600/_DSC5166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FDhzWdu3HWjz8Pam9v2q3YxeF1tRZjV-rPvPiDZykEQ25oY4kN3xOYpsr_l5VpRpzN4w3UtWaXFlYEdVfj3gvSXccsevSZf6GHiIQJ122YeGUvp7Zr41CIogAijgnoLo3t_WOYUbjuJ4/s400/_DSC5166.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The striking peaks of <span style="text-align: right;">Mt Nox and Mt Chaos</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrt6v0uxqBGnkk9w5rQkdeq9Kj4LqjmQ9SwvVZDy80RAZfXturdKw0FjWftuRLKrUXqJHyfryO1HqoZPsdNYvWkzSINzcWBkm_G3Wc0NlfD4ddWNvhEzX0xWrPBxr2Y6JgNQb2LymXII9/s1600/_DSC5165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrt6v0uxqBGnkk9w5rQkdeq9Kj4LqjmQ9SwvVZDy80RAZfXturdKw0FjWftuRLKrUXqJHyfryO1HqoZPsdNYvWkzSINzcWBkm_G3Wc0NlfD4ddWNvhEzX0xWrPBxr2Y6JgNQb2LymXII9/s400/_DSC5165.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Cosmos Peaks and beyond into the Dart Valley</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It was a bit of a disappointing end to the day, as we didn't really find a walk for Diamond Lake but this may have arisen because of some confusion with the research on my part. As it turns out there is also <a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/otago/wanaka-makarora/diamond-lake-and-rocky-mountain-walks/" target="_blank">Diamond Lake</a> in Wanaka, which also is on the way to Mt Aspiring National Park. Although a slight irritation, it has given us another walk to try some point in the future, as it offers some amazing views of Lake Wanaka, the Southern Alps (Kā Tiritiri o te Moana) and Mount Aspiring (Tititea).<br />
<br />
<b>Arrowtown</b> is a historic gold mining town that is located 20 minutes northeast of Queenstown. The main reason why the frontier town exists today is because of the unwitting discovery of gold in the Arrow Rover in 1862 by Jack Tewa (a.k.a. Māori Jack), and not by William Fox, although it is debatable as to who the first person really was. This quickly brought prospectors along the Crown Range and into the Cardrona Valley where gold was discovered later that year. As a result the population of Arrowtown rapidly swelled from a few lonely settlers to 6,000 fortune hungry prospectors!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MxNATdWAM-M/UKroLspZRsI/AAAAAAAACg4/R0pXraB8ryM/s1600/_DSC5387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MxNATdWAM-M/UKroLspZRsI/AAAAAAAACg4/R0pXraB8ryM/s400/_DSC5387.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arrowtown is also famous for it's trees, which are spectacular in autumn</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Arrow River became known as the richest for its size in the world - a reputation which drew Chinese settlers to the area, where they were shamefully segregated from the rest of the main Bush Creek community, as part of the inherent discrimination of the time. Many immigrants came with dreams of earning a fortune and returning home to their families, however, the harsh reality was that very few realised their dreams and often died from over working or poor living conditions.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wqm1GWkA9CY/UKrnbtDlkFI/AAAAAAAACg4/VONEDr1J_u4/s1600/_DSC3596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wqm1GWkA9CY/UKrnbtDlkFI/AAAAAAAACg4/VONEDr1J_u4/s400/_DSC3596.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
After the initial gold rush, a more permanent town began to establish itself by becoming a farm service town. Although the permanent population declined during the 1950s, Arrowtown gained a reputation as a popular holiday destination. Today, Arrowtown still has the feel of an old gold rush era town, but tourism is now it's main source of economy.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yIcVEl_yoJQ/UKroWdwm1aI/AAAAAAAACg4/0Pd0sPmGnaY/s1600/_DSC5518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yIcVEl_yoJQ/UKroWdwm1aI/AAAAAAAACg4/0Pd0sPmGnaY/s400/_DSC5518.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Buckingham Street has a number of beautifully preserved buildings</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCH4NipIpmFadYd0HZvHj7YW18Hw2PRQUXurHGcBlaVwR2d1KhT0Fld3D88b3svmkRs6mX5DBoaISwV6nASzo65KWolmXDS5QDLN9LvFRIaO4c2oyCQL-jGKhiBeHWax0mHVjcH2EJwldr/s1600/_DSC5529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCH4NipIpmFadYd0HZvHj7YW18Hw2PRQUXurHGcBlaVwR2d1KhT0Fld3D88b3svmkRs6mX5DBoaISwV6nASzo65KWolmXDS5QDLN9LvFRIaO4c2oyCQL-jGKhiBeHWax0mHVjcH2EJwldr/s400/_DSC5529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Historic buildings include the Lakes District Museum and Post Office</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vLWw2mQyu8M/UKrnehfOsaI/AAAAAAAACg4/beMYsFk0plc/s1600/_DSC3597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vLWw2mQyu8M/UKrnehfOsaI/AAAAAAAACg4/beMYsFk0plc/s400/_DSC3597.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As part of the <span style="font-size: small;">150</span><sup>th</sup> anniversary celebrations, hundreds of local residents took a step back in time by participating in a re-enactment of the discovery of gold in the Arrow River. Watching the action unfold on the bank of the river, there were gold panners, Chinese miners, horses, wagons, dancing girls and even a pop-up saloon and tent village.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yj4s2WQ96wY/UKrpxN7i56I/AAAAAAAACg4/LHlOs3IBW1Y/s1600/_DSC5570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yj4s2WQ96wY/UKrpxN7i56I/AAAAAAAACg4/LHlOs3IBW1Y/s400/_DSC5570.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Best costume and accessory goes to...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5coh3x6kU9Q/UKrpuFmCmcI/AAAAAAAACg4/bdlY13Em_EI/s1600/_DSC5533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5coh3x6kU9Q/UKrpuFmCmcI/AAAAAAAACg4/bdlY13Em_EI/s400/_DSC5533.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The iconic Post and Telegraph Office</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Apparently, a lot of the grand buildings built in Dunedin were built on the back of the gold found in the Otago goldfields. There's still gold to be found in Arrow River if you're prepared to look hard enough for it! Back in 2006, a nugget about the size of a crushed egg was found, fetching approx. $15,000 NZD.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NlhH409QD10/UKroe2wyGFI/AAAAAAAACg4/MFwzcOzK4rQ/s1600/_DSC5536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NlhH409QD10/UKroe2wyGFI/AAAAAAAACg4/MFwzcOzK4rQ/s400/_DSC5536.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9_bGZuS9ibY/UKrolap083I/AAAAAAAACg4/LSRy_mzJRTE/s1600/_DSC5545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9_bGZuS9ibY/UKrolap083I/AAAAAAAACg4/LSRy_mzJRTE/s400/_DSC5545.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qLDM9SKAHFE/UKroostslAI/AAAAAAAACg4/u6NAuMJZvZQ/s1600/_DSC5549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qLDM9SKAHFE/UKroostslAI/AAAAAAAACg4/u6NAuMJZvZQ/s400/_DSC5549.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qQiqIwYXmBY/UKrozNZ3TyI/AAAAAAAACg4/qhCwUaRlNgE/s1600/_DSC5560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qQiqIwYXmBY/UKrozNZ3TyI/AAAAAAAACg4/qhCwUaRlNgE/s400/_DSC5560.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNR5iM2fhNO32qob6nQU3I0toxk4mAx9RhQpfwQUGle6kalLGI4e6zuXNUiUWWgL5XNzyfh032-ydZ1H2zj5UPWbXrnkiGnutohGKYSRRkameG40tc3Yyprj8T6ggEGdDeyvGnm25zUHLU/s1600/_DSC5568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNR5iM2fhNO32qob6nQU3I0toxk4mAx9RhQpfwQUGle6kalLGI4e6zuXNUiUWWgL5XNzyfh032-ydZ1H2zj5UPWbXrnkiGnutohGKYSRRkameG40tc3Yyprj8T6ggEGdDeyvGnm25zUHLU/s400/_DSC5568.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We stayed long enough to watch an official welcome by Arrowtown's Chinese community and the <a href="http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/thousands-re-enact-otago-gold-rush-video-5143466">dr</a><a href="http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/thousands-re-enact-otago-gold-rush-video-5143466" target="_blank">agon dancers</a>. The Chinese Settlement at the western end of Buckingham Street, has a number of heavily restored buildings, which are the best-preserved gold-era Chinese community buildings in New Zealand. Many of the buildings were only meant to be temporary but the best preserved building is Ah Lum's store (separately registered as an historic place). Ah Lum was highly regarded by both the Chinese and Europeans miners, and he was a pillar of the Chinese community.<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKxJSh8WkuvFEN-i77RiXdep2N0atoG9YXfmL3hVnCpgSCq2c2QRKEfqNa7lEv4eJs6UlDaKkEAAGzR8aBCOMmovL4g-iU1r7g3LUccHpLqQNgzMUYZH3T8VxcGvgw_suVo5PC4uCc7zp/s1600/_DSC3592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKxJSh8WkuvFEN-i77RiXdep2N0atoG9YXfmL3hVnCpgSCq2c2QRKEfqNa7lEv4eJs6UlDaKkEAAGzR8aBCOMmovL4g-iU1r7g3LUccHpLqQNgzMUYZH3T8VxcGvgw_suVo5PC4uCc7zp/s400/_DSC3592.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Chinese Settlement is considered an important historic site </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ixlAOKQCbv8/UKrnYW49y2I/AAAAAAAACg4/wdyz_lcL3SM/s1600/_DSC3594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ixlAOKQCbv8/UKrnYW49y2I/AAAAAAAACg4/wdyz_lcL3SM/s400/_DSC3594.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Life must have been tough in one of these huts especially in the winter </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The <span style="font-size: small;">150</span><sup>th</sup> anniversary celebrations continued into the weekend, coinciding on the same week that the "Lady of the Lake", the <b><a href="http://www.upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/the-adventure-capital-of-world.html" target="_blank">TSS Earnslaw</a></b> celebrated it's <span style="font-size: small;">100</span><sup>th</sup> birthday. There was also a gold-panning championship over the weekend in Arrowtown, among other events.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xtArIScw_6s/UKro6O6KOZI/AAAAAAAACg4/3y0clGjKxvE/s1600/_DSC5573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xtArIScw_6s/UKro6O6KOZI/AAAAAAAACg4/3y0clGjKxvE/s400/_DSC5573.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">One of the horse drawn carriages used in the re-enactment </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A nice walk to do in Arrowntown is the Tobins track, which starts off by the Arrow River near the recreation reserve. Crossing a wooden bridge over the river, it's a brisk walk to the top where you climb to where it plateaus up at the Crown Terrace. After about 40 mins you reach the top of Tobins Track where there is a trig station and some benches for walkers to have a rest and enjoy the spectacular views of the Wakatipu Basin and the surrounding mountains.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Icadg4NX8Gs/UKrphf-0w3I/AAAAAAAACg4/o9h87rrdM3U/s1600/_DSC4624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Icadg4NX8Gs/UKrphf-0w3I/AAAAAAAACg4/o9h87rrdM3U/s400/_DSC4624.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A marker in memory to Thomas Tobin</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aZG8cSFB9-s/UKrpkdHx5jI/AAAAAAAACg4/EiVLUPnCw9M/s1600/_DSC4626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aZG8cSFB9-s/UKrpkdHx5jI/AAAAAAAACg4/EiVLUPnCw9M/s400/_DSC4626.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Tobin built the track as a route to Wanaka</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.auzmosis.com/images/TobinsTrack_Panorama2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://www.auzmosis.com/images/TobinsTrack_Panorama2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View from Tobins Track looking back over Arrowtown and to Queenstown - click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/8241179680/in/photostream/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0Queenstown, New Zealand-45.0311622 168.6626435-45.0760497 168.5836795 -44.986274699999996 168.74160750000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-22014138653505547982012-11-28T03:23:00.001-08:002012-12-27T01:11:25.591-08:00Skiing in QueenstownPart of the reason why we came to the South Island during the winter was experience some of the places we'd already been to our on original trip during a different season. However, we were never sure if we'd get the chance to do any winter sports partly because skiing/ snowboarding aren't the most accessible activities for beginners on a budget. To begin with you need clothes such as a ski jacket and pants, ski socks, waterproof gloves, a beanie, thermals and ideally some goggles, although some people make do with sunglasses. It helps if you know someone you can borrow clothes from as we did from our old "flatties", who kindly lent us their fancy gear when they weren't using it!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJdUJJhiJoI/UKrmUbWTJ4I/AAAAAAAACg4/vPE9uOXhPAg/s1600/P1040977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RJdUJJhiJoI/UKrmUbWTJ4I/AAAAAAAACg4/vPE9uOXhPAg/s400/P1040977.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">I loved the Speights branded Sessions ski jacket!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Then there's the equipment itself: a board/ skis, boots and bindings, and maybe a helmet. However, you can rent a lot of clothing and equipment from any number of shops, especially in Queenstown or at the ski fields themselves. Last but not least there's the cost of the mountain lift passes depending on how often you reckon you'll be carving up the snow. A season pass can cost around $1300 NZD (or £660 GBP at the time of writing), which is quite a huge outlay, but you can use it as often as you want throughout the season, although you might not be able to use the pass from one ski area to another. For example, a lift pass for the Remarkables wouldn't allow you to ski at Cardrona as they're run by different companies. The other alternative is to get a day lift pass as this cheaper if you're going to be skiing infrequently, but it does work out more expensive in the long run at $95 per day. Another thing to consider is how are you going to get to the ski area? If you don't have your own transport then there are buses which take you up to the mountains (at an additional cost), but some people try their luck and hitch a ride.<br />
<br />
It's also definitely worth getting some sort of winter sports insurance, as with any adventure activity there's always some risk of injury, but it can get costly if you hurt yourself badly - we've seen quite a few people around town with arms in slings or walking around on crutches. We didn't get any ski related injuries, but I got a nasty inversion ankle sprain playing indoor football - so it goes to show it's not always the sports you think are the most hazardous...!<br />
<br />
The ski season in New Zealand runs from June to October, however, it wasn't really until the end of August that we got an opportunity to give it a try, but this was still great as never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I'd actually be able to go down a slope on a pair of skis! The closest I thought we would get to doing a winter activity was when we went snow tubing at Lake Tekapo! I was quite fortunate to get a job at <b><a href="http://www.outsidesports.co.nz/" target="_blank">Outside Sports</a></b> on Shotover Street for a short while, where I was able to make use of the staff benefit of using the rental ski gear for free whenever I wanted!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fKmqjzdIOcI/UKrmMXMZ-XI/AAAAAAAACg4/8LvtpQdkeGo/s1600/P1040606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fKmqjzdIOcI/UKrmMXMZ-XI/AAAAAAAACg4/8LvtpQdkeGo/s400/P1040606.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Snow tubing is not to be scoffed at!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/j18YnyQoupo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Our very first skiing experience was at Coronet Peak, where we booked a one day starter pack designed for an absolute first timer. It covered all our equipment hire including boots, poles and skis (not clothing), two 90 minute lessons, and our lift passes. The aim was that by the end of our lessons we should hopefully be able to slide with confidence, learn how to stay upright, stop, ride the surface lift and maybe start to change direction - easier said than done, right?<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NrR00A8xklA/UKrnhClfbtI/AAAAAAAACg4/k2V4fDDvqNQ/s1600/_DSC3692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NrR00A8xklA/UKrnhClfbtI/AAAAAAAACg4/k2V4fDDvqNQ/s400/_DSC3692.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Coronet Express chairlift at Coronet Peak</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GloVPWHhd1I/UKrmPMzYtiI/AAAAAAAACg4/rYUT1TBPXPk/s1600/P1040962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GloVPWHhd1I/UKrmPMzYtiI/AAAAAAAACg4/rYUT1TBPXPk/s400/P1040962.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Getting all kitted out for our first lesson on the snow!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.snowreports.co.nz/content/plugins/SnowReports/SkiAreaMaps/TrailMap_CoronetPeak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="452" src="http://www.snowreports.co.nz/content/plugins/SnowReports/SkiAreaMaps/TrailMap_CoronetPeak.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Coronet Peak ski trails</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Actually, it was quite surprising how quickly both me and Lizzie picked up the basics. Granted there were quite a few comical moments when we tumbled over, especially when I was coming off the surface lift, but it wasn't quite like the visions I had of my legs going in opposite directions and not having any control of where I was going. Having spoken to quite a few people, the general consensus is that skiing is often easier to pick up than snowboarding, although there's obviously less equipment involved with snowboarding. As to whether it looks cooler, it's debatable, especially if you're spending a lot of time on your arse in the snow - not that I wouldn't want to give it a try!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HLaNWSAusCo/UKrmR3BO3yI/AAAAAAAACg4/e7fKV4odrxI/s1600/P1040974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HLaNWSAusCo/UKrmR3BO3yI/AAAAAAAACg4/e7fKV4odrxI/s400/P1040974.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie on a successful descent down the beginner slope</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Once we got the technique sorted, we actually felt the group lessons were a little hard work, especially as there's no guaranteeing the people who you're put into a group with will pick it up as quickly. There was an Indian family we were stuck with who acted like money was no object, turning up to the first group lesson unfashionably late without their rental equipment and expecting the ski instructors to fetch it for them! They also held up the lesson as they had bought a load of ski gloves that wouldn't fit because no one bothered to try them on in the shop... What made this situation more of an omnishambles was that none of the family listened to the instructor and just did their own thing - at least they're weren't booked onto the afternoon lesson. The moral of the story is that it might be worth paying a little extra to do some private lessons for some one-to-one tuition, especially if you want to improve your technique quickly.<br />
<br />
The rest of the day was spent practicing our turning and stopping, which takes quite a lot out of you, especially if your leg muscles are not used to the action, but it was all good fun. According to the NZ Ski <a href="http://www.nzski.com/pdf/2010/AbilityGuide_A4.pdf" target="_blank">ability guide</a> we had reached Novice Level 2 on our first day and the ski instructor would have been happy for us to try the chairlift and an actual green (beginner) run, so with this in mind we wanted to try somewhere different and go to the Remarkables.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Rda8485CUo/UKrpHbA6UvI/AAAAAAAACg4/I3gumsFA58o/s1600/CPSK208272083776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Rda8485CUo/UKrpHbA6UvI/AAAAAAAACg4/I3gumsFA58o/s640/CPSK208272083776.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie and me practicing our "wedge" technique</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/View_from_Coronet_Peak_Panorama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="108" src="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/View_from_Coronet_Peak_Panorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View from Coronet Peak ski field - click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/8163572321/in/photostream/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Going it alone at the Remarkables, we were aiming to boost our confidence before heading onto an actual beginner run, so we spent a fair proportion of our first day there on the surface lifts practising what we had learnt at Coronet Peak, before plucking up the courage to try the Alta Green run. Admittedly, it was a little intimidating on the first attempt as some people can be a little less forgiving when they weave in and out of your path, or in contrast when there's also another beginner nearby and you're not sure where they're going next. Even though there was a lot of falling over (especially down by the Sugar Bowl chairlift as it felt quite steep heading down the slope), it give us the desire to keep improving so we could try the Casterway and Turquoise runs on our next trip to the Remarkables.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TVItw80Rwn0/UKrqQHx7yBI/AAAAAAAACg4/Kq7jmrlw5tY/s1600/WP_000070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TVItw80Rwn0/UKrqQHx7yBI/AAAAAAAACg4/Kq7jmrlw5tY/s640/WP_000070.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie going up the surface lift at the Remarkables</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnFEEi-SfoDA45zL-c-AIb5tX_H9Ro4MYz-34AHYWufFc1b_Zy69z9uGIkEzqtKXwHKKvuNLIaNqdHRwEticweCIeZO7MrvsKyCMapuTWIq6jk7J4r_xhAfDbGCfXKKWmhTRuiLZQjm3C/s1600/WP_000127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnFEEi-SfoDA45zL-c-AIb5tX_H9Ro4MYz-34AHYWufFc1b_Zy69z9uGIkEzqtKXwHKKvuNLIaNqdHRwEticweCIeZO7MrvsKyCMapuTWIq6jk7J4r_xhAfDbGCfXKKWmhTRuiLZQjm3C/s400/WP_000127.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Riding the Alta Chair looking up towards Double Cone</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3aeaml6Xxe8/UKrq3hhmMFI/AAAAAAAACg4/f-L858o0dRc/s1600/WP_000130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3aeaml6Xxe8/UKrq3hhmMFI/AAAAAAAACg4/f-L858o0dRc/s400/WP_000130.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie on the Alta Chair with the Sugar Bowl Chair in the background</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreOFMxsJb3hQTl_uGiu0exeagjiHCNBJiQg4PKJxhDa3k8BpLtFbrNH4gjG3i9_v-IdgPbXwNnf_Vgk594BdilSWX-ELO4UF718Zq_4EkDyMpTTTF1pl1FUFE_CG0p6OVXJ9kDc99sziC/s1600/WP_000134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreOFMxsJb3hQTl_uGiu0exeagjiHCNBJiQg4PKJxhDa3k8BpLtFbrNH4gjG3i9_v-IdgPbXwNnf_Vgk594BdilSWX-ELO4UF718Zq_4EkDyMpTTTF1pl1FUFE_CG0p6OVXJ9kDc99sziC/s400/WP_000134.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Casterway run looks steeper than it really is</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LEgAFcpP27Q/UKrrBU_23eI/AAAAAAAACg4/RjX2wIGHbFE/s1600/WP_000138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LEgAFcpP27Q/UKrrBU_23eI/AAAAAAAACg4/RjX2wIGHbFE/s400/WP_000138.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the top of Casterway at least 1900m above sea level!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.snowreports.co.nz/content/plugins/SnowReports/SkiAreaMaps/TrailMap_Remarkables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="449" src="http://www.snowreports.co.nz/content/plugins/SnowReports/SkiAreaMaps/TrailMap_Remarkables.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The Remarkables ski trials</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
For the next couple of sessions we decided to stick with the Remarkables as the ski area gets the better share of the snow falling in the Wakatipu Basin, partly because it's higher and better positioned. As a result Coronet Peak is often considered inferior (although in my opinion it has better facilities) and at one point a storm towards the end of the season virtually stripped all the snow from Coronet Peak. It was lucky that an unusually late wintery blast brought more snow to Queenstown in the middle of September and saved Coronet Peak from premature closure!<br />
<br />
On the second occasion that we went up the Remarkables the visibility was pretty poor and it even snowed quite hard so we ending up getting quite wet, even though our clothes were supposed to be waterproof. However, we didn't have the luxury of being able to pick and choose which days we could go skiing due to work so we just made the most of the time we had.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-cDxDXwmFI/UKrqlp4bONI/AAAAAAAACg4/dASNQuL5-qE/s1600/WP_000103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-cDxDXwmFI/UKrqlp4bONI/AAAAAAAACg4/dASNQuL5-qE/s400/WP_000103.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ok, but where!?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_GhqWxQdPbA/UKrqTE0LGwI/AAAAAAAACg4/RABez1YmUR0/s1600/WP_000074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_GhqWxQdPbA/UKrqTE0LGwI/AAAAAAAACg4/RABez1YmUR0/s400/WP_000074.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking down the Alta Green run on a cloudy day</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1sHdqmXJT0c/UKrq7ORI_-I/AAAAAAAACg4/bc0xOujWle0/s1600/WP_000132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1sHdqmXJT0c/UKrq7ORI_-I/AAAAAAAACg4/bc0xOujWle0/s400/WP_000132.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The same view on a clearer day</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The general opinion has been that this ski season and the one before have been pretty poor due to a lack of consistent fresh snow from Mother Nature, especially at Coronet Peak where there are over 200 snow machines to make up the short fall, compared to the 58 at the Remarkables. However, my view is that Coronet Peak is a perfectly good place to start learning skiing, possibly better than the Remarkables as there's more space for those who want to practice before venturing onto the chairlifts. For those who are more advanced there's also the option of doing twilight and night skiing at Coronet Peak at the weekends (weather and snow-conditions permitting) where the trails are lit up by floodlights!<br />
<div>
<br />
Coronet Peak is also a more little accessible for those with their own transport as the road up the mountain is at least sealed unlike the gravel 4x4 only road up to the Remarkables, which takes 20 minutes to drive (45 mins in total if starting from town).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bdO2sDwU6n0/UKrqrUW5lKI/AAAAAAAACg4/nR_eiCo0Yvg/s1600/WP_000114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bdO2sDwU6n0/UKrqrUW5lKI/AAAAAAAACg4/nR_eiCo0Yvg/s400/WP_000114.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You get some amazing views on the road up to the Remarkables</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
However, if its snowing up on the mountains you're advised to fit your vehicle with snow chains for the road conditions or alternatively you can catch a dedicated bus up to the slopes. If you're really unlucky you could have the bus ride from hell coming back down the Remarkables ski field...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://0.gvt0.com/vi/WX0x_Q3fcDg/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WX0x_Q3fcDg&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WX0x_Q3fcDg&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
For our last run on the slopes following the late snow flurry, NZ Ski were offering half price lift passes for one weekend towards the end of the season, possibly as a way to make up for the terrible ski season. This would be the last time that we would be able to go skiing in Queenstown as the season was coming to an end and the spring snow was becoming more slushy revealing the tussock and rocks beneath (even compared to the previous week), plus there were other things that we wanted to see outside of Queenstown with our time off work. It was fun while it lasted and it has given us the confidence to build our now found skills in the future and opened up the possibility of going skiing in some other countries in the future!<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cTb7zEN1mwY/UKrpU486bwI/AAAAAAAACg4/L2SKJOobHJU/s1600/P1050064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cTb7zEN1mwY/UKrpU486bwI/AAAAAAAACg4/L2SKJOobHJU/s320/P1050064.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A beautiful day for our last time skiing</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iuhIMgXA-84/UKrpXreeJpI/AAAAAAAACg4/lAozOJw6nVA/s1600/P1050067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iuhIMgXA-84/UKrpXreeJpI/AAAAAAAACg4/lAozOJw6nVA/s320/P1050067.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This tunnel is pretty fun to ski through!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com3Queenstown, New Zealand-45.0311622 168.6626435-45.0760497 168.5836795 -44.986274699999996 168.74160750000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-31977797602477264322012-11-27T13:33:00.000-08:002013-04-01T04:58:12.021-07:00The adventure capital of the worldSince we arrived in Dunedin, the time we spent there and in the Catlins wasn't as enjoyable as we hoped for and now we have the added pressure of trying to find a job again having looked at how quickly our funds have run away since leaving <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/07/from-to-b-via-l.html" target="_blank">Kerikeri</a> - ideally we'll be able to find something that's not beneath most Kiwis but that equally stretches our skills!<br />
<br />
But for now, Queenstown is our next destination on the South Island and possibly the one I've been relishing the most since we've arrived in New Zealand. Set in an idyllic spot, Queenstown is surrounded by the soaring peaks of the Remarkables, Ben Lomond and Coronet Peak, and is framed by the endless Lake Wakatipu. It is undoubtedly New Zealand's most popular year-round destination and proudly bears the title of "<b>the adventure capital of the world"</b>.<br />
<br />
I forgot how much I liked Queenstown and in a way I was hoping that it wouldn't be a case of remembering somewhere with rose-tinted glasses. There's something about the vibe of a small town that has the energy of a big city, where you can tick so many things off your "bucket list". The only slight disappointment has been the amount of rain we've had since the start of our stay.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6m96D3mHNc/UJOWOX4J_lI/AAAAAAAACK4/1ggZk-dPHN8/s1600/_DSC3236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L6m96D3mHNc/UJOWOX4J_lI/AAAAAAAACK4/1ggZk-dPHN8/s400/_DSC3236.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">The mountains of Mordor in Lord of the Rings a.k.a. the Remarkables</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VusasLS6nbc/UJOXKRfYgUI/AAAAAAAACN4/CBft5yavGZA/s1600/_CSC3099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VusasLS6nbc/UJOXKRfYgUI/AAAAAAAACN4/CBft5yavGZA/s400/_CSC3099.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">William Gilbert Rees, founder of Queenstown</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rXjx_lnCGac/UJOXMtUXNFI/AAAAAAAACOA/In3Alu-G2xQ/s1600/_CSC3102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rXjx_lnCGac/UJOXMtUXNFI/AAAAAAAACOA/In3Alu-G2xQ/s400/_CSC3102.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The place where my camera broke 5 years ago!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Lake Wakatipu is the longest lake in New Zealand (at approx. 75km) and the third largest overall in the country. It is also one of the country's deepest lakes, having been carved by a series of glaciers over hundreds and thousands of years - the last of the glaciers began retreating 18,000 years ago. Lake Wakatipu is bordered on all sides by glaciated mountains, the highest of which is Mt Earnslaw (2,830m) near the head of the lake where the Rees and Dart Rivers feed into the lake. Queenstown itself is built on the gravel deposits that the rivers and streams carried along the lake shore.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/Lake_Wakatipu_Panorama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="139" src="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/Lake_Wakatipu_Panorama.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lake Wakatipu with the Remarkables, Bayonet Peaks, Cecil Peak and Walter Peak - click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/8153246511/in/photostream/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Wakatipu is thought to be a shortened form of “Wakatipuwaimaori”, although the meaning is unknown. One of the unique features of Lake Wakatipu is that the water level fluctuates by up to 20cm several times during the day. It is thought that it's caused by variations in temperature and atmospheric pressure, which is a unique feature amongst New Zealand lakes.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jDaofQGBFk0/UJOVry8eoRI/AAAAAAAACJI/Oz1ffxqt31A/s1600/_CSC3256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jDaofQGBFk0/UJOVry8eoRI/AAAAAAAACJI/Oz1ffxqt31A/s400/_CSC3256.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunrise over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikstPSwaexYTevcP4Ab1PVL4kKoMJ8QMesNgO8eXFxeF-5cohXdYkZf1KsHxtQUFry0aKuX49CldlYyaERAFKwaPaSYfACeEQIdSop4_gnh3Rtr_x63XVWCfQXFpHE6n14kgeKq_0kixY5/s1600/_DSC3095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikstPSwaexYTevcP4Ab1PVL4kKoMJ8QMesNgO8eXFxeF-5cohXdYkZf1KsHxtQUFry0aKuX49CldlYyaERAFKwaPaSYfACeEQIdSop4_gnh3Rtr_x63XVWCfQXFpHE6n14kgeKq_0kixY5/s400/_DSC3095.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">The steamship TSS Earnshaw has been in service for 100 years</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtkRf-PfWHmFFk4GyEuAzmwSakRKKLpj-mn-avNV0Ns_TFZcQeCfpGC9R9HQ_j4F7vQx5MlJFtKASB-FAg596K67QrshVzgUyMSBWzNboDuRBMs2KQ-HY6r4ZsgBumlaWlju4C0ffal15/s1600/_DSC5070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtkRf-PfWHmFFk4GyEuAzmwSakRKKLpj-mn-avNV0Ns_TFZcQeCfpGC9R9HQ_j4F7vQx5MlJFtKASB-FAg596K67QrshVzgUyMSBWzNboDuRBMs2KQ-HY6r4ZsgBumlaWlju4C0ffal15/s400/_DSC5070.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"> On 18</span><sup style="text-align: start;">th</sup><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"> October 2012 the</span><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"> Earnslaw will c</span><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">elebrate it's centenary</span><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
For our first proper foray in Queenstown, we took a gondola ride up to Bob's Peak (790m above sea level and 456m above Queenstown), which commands fantastic views over Queenstown, the lake and the Remarkables. The cable car is reputed to be the steepest in the Southern Hemisphere! However, it is possible to walk to the summit of Bob's Peak via the <b>Tiki Trail</b> at the base of the gondola, this takes roughly an hour zig-zagging up through a pine forest and native bush.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RVBXIVy447BOqorO14H1B9c9R8DqXg0mrEJ-A-gslwE2Naf1vjpfXUw2FLM4pQ9af1P47cpGz9C4dokVSoV5Se07YWlmaTgFdY8EDLoZUJMglTrNNbeQBsHdAVfFpVE9TYnIUWx5xoQx/s1600/_DSC3453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0RVBXIVy447BOqorO14H1B9c9R8DqXg0mrEJ-A-gslwE2Naf1vjpfXUw2FLM4pQ9af1P47cpGz9C4dokVSoV5Se07YWlmaTgFdY8EDLoZUJMglTrNNbeQBsHdAVfFpVE9TYnIUWx5xoQx/s320/_DSC3453.JPG" width="210" /></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlAqrygtzQtSQcSV6Yk9aFTZhFrDWwqiJVRRvn-W7f-DJAmjE4EIZbk-7NlYrFULhzZFB2YFLMS-uyKRcRiFjgMg3j1jeroNehAxLqPIZZP2O3ce-cDBTFOxmmRFF0lfh5nQZoH2Ici4x/s1600/_DSC3089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlAqrygtzQtSQcSV6Yk9aFTZhFrDWwqiJVRRvn-W7f-DJAmjE4EIZbk-7NlYrFULhzZFB2YFLMS-uyKRcRiFjgMg3j1jeroNehAxLqPIZZP2O3ce-cDBTFOxmmRFF0lfh5nQZoH2Ici4x/s320/_DSC3089.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Morning mist drifting over Bob's Peak</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yv9cI2uF_2A/UJOWrU2c05I/AAAAAAAACMw/fI383WrY768/s1600/_DSC3574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yv9cI2uF_2A/UJOWrU2c05I/AAAAAAAACMw/fI383WrY768/s320/_DSC3574.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The night sky above Bob's Peak</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
At the top of the gondola there is a viewing deck where you can get 220<sup>o</sup> degree panoramic views across the Wakatipu basin. Across the eastern shore of the lake the jagged peaks of the Remarkables steeply rise, with the highest point of the range being Double Cone at 2,319m.<br />
<br />
If you fancy taking an alternative journey back to the centre of town you can take a tandem paraglide from the top of Bob's Peak. As it was such a nice day, there was a steady stream of people slowly drifting back down to earth, soaking up the amazing views!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BchYUQzZPHQ/UJOV8bxrOLI/AAAAAAAACJ4/nx9zQNm7Htk/s1600/_DSC3121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BchYUQzZPHQ/UJOV8bxrOLI/AAAAAAAACJ4/nx9zQNm7Htk/s400/_DSC3121.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Remarkables rising dramatically above Queenstown</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5MV9ylBPzME/UJOV-YRVJBI/AAAAAAAACKA/dMqmMU2yad4/s1600/_DSC3155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5MV9ylBPzME/UJOV-YRVJBI/AAAAAAAACKA/dMqmMU2yad4/s400/_DSC3155.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Double Cone at the Remarkables</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9f38OFpWx10/UJOWAkCWZ8I/AAAAAAAACKI/fOgvccdgFes/s1600/_DSC3156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9f38OFpWx10/UJOWAkCWZ8I/AAAAAAAACKI/fOgvccdgFes/s400/_DSC3156.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coronet Peak (1,651m) is 18km northeast of Queenstown</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mn7UGg-8eOc/UJOWDbnrfoI/AAAAAAAACKQ/FboitVVG_Us/s1600/_DSC3162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mn7UGg-8eOc/UJOWDbnrfoI/AAAAAAAACKQ/FboitVVG_Us/s400/_DSC3162.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking down on Aspen Lodge where we've been staying</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/View_from_Bobs_Peak_Panorama1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="137" src="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/View_from_Bobs_Peak_Panorama1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A panoramic view of Queenstown, the Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu - click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/8153241455/in/photostream/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Bob's Peak is also the setting for the highest bungy in New Zealand, at 400m above Queenstown. We watched a couple of jumps from "The Ledge", but what makes this bungy a little different to the traditional jumps is that you're strapped into a special harness which fits around your waist, so you can twist, flip or dive as you plummet 47m.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr_fUBGlgoE/UJOXPIdxNDI/AAAAAAAACOI/lh-92XQxgGU/s1600/_DSC3174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr_fUBGlgoE/UJOXPIdxNDI/AAAAAAAACOI/lh-92XQxgGU/s640/_DSC3174.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">That moment when there's no turning back!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pgIV_ikuY7g/UJOXc2jKGaI/AAAAAAAACO4/LGc1D7B-5f4/s1600/_DSC5629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pgIV_ikuY7g/UJOXc2jKGaI/AAAAAAAACO4/LGc1D7B-5f4/s640/_DSC5629.JPG" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View at the Ben Lomond lookout on the Skyline loop track</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our main reason for coming up to Bob's Peak was to ride the Skyline Luge, which we did on <a href="http://www.skylineluge.com/luge-singapore/skyline-luge-sentosa/" target="_blank">Sentosa Island</a> at the Imbiah Lookout in Singapore (you can also do this in Rotorua at Mt Ngongotaha), as both luges are operated by the same company.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4hmlZboE4wA/UJOVxWFwaMI/AAAAAAAACJQ/SI2qxaeGXdQ/s1600/P1040921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4hmlZboE4wA/UJOVxWFwaMI/AAAAAAAACJQ/SI2qxaeGXdQ/s400/P1040921.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Skyline Luge chairlift base</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We had two rides on the luge, the first one was on the scenic route which I won by a country mile, but on the advanced route it was a closer affair with Lizzie taking the lead to begin with but I managed to force my way through, only for Lizzie to take it back again in the dying stages of the race...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l3bBfRDHYjU/UJOW0yT8XjI/AAAAAAAACNY/-39r4qEb5BA/s1600/_DSC5620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l3bBfRDHYjU/UJOW0yT8XjI/AAAAAAAACNY/-39r4qEb5BA/s400/_DSC5620.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gravity is your greatest friend in a luge race!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QBMtYhPGnz8/UJOWHLPV5oI/AAAAAAAACKg/kpWAvnZs9Ro/s1600/_DSC3200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QBMtYhPGnz8/UJOWHLPV5oI/AAAAAAAACKg/kpWAvnZs9Ro/s400/_DSC3200.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie on the viewing deck just before we headed back into town</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gu2OkPxkGUk/UJOWFA4VHxI/AAAAAAAACKY/Rw7YTDyLPz0/s1600/_DSC3198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gu2OkPxkGUk/UJOWFA4VHxI/AAAAAAAACKY/Rw7YTDyLPz0/s400/_DSC3198.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Twilight over Queenstown</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
As we didn't have a podium to celebrate our victories, we went to the <a href="http://www.belowzeroicebar.co.nz/" target="_blank">Below Zero</a> ice bar instead - the largest one in Australasia! Pretty much everything in the bar is made of ice; the walls, the bar, the sculptures, even the furniture and the glasses the cocktails are served in.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r4xX7NzSnOU/UJOXIU_ytXI/AAAAAAAACNw/9O-j1hGtrWo/s1600/P1040927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r4xX7NzSnOU/UJOXIU_ytXI/AAAAAAAACNw/9O-j1hGtrWo/s320/P1040927.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm sitting on what could be anything...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OfEpssJ9Goc/UJOXEZK1FKI/AAAAAAAACNo/wSgdqIpxrhA/s1600/P1040925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OfEpssJ9Goc/UJOXEZK1FKI/AAAAAAAACNo/wSgdqIpxrhA/s320/P1040925.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie with an ice penguin</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-36-ai_Tkh5s/UJOV0ZH0VxI/AAAAAAAACJY/4RE29XPWy3g/s1600/P1040926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-36-ai_Tkh5s/UJOV0ZH0VxI/AAAAAAAACJY/4RE29XPWy3g/s400/P1040926.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An ice sculpture of the jet boat synonymous with Queenstown</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dc8zBz7kYZo/UJOV2XLGRwI/AAAAAAAACJg/8JlF2xQo6HY/s1600/P1040934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dc8zBz7kYZo/UJOV2XLGRwI/AAAAAAAACJg/8JlF2xQo6HY/s400/P1040934.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">At a constant -5<sup style="text-align: start;">o</sup><span style="text-align: start;"> C we had to wear thick jackets and gloves!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The following day we decided to play a round of <a href="http://www.queenstowndiscgolf.co.nz/" target="_blank">disc golf </a>in Queenstown Gardens. The rules are simple (as it's played similarly to golf ), all you need are a couple of flying discs and a score card as this is the best way of finding your way round the course. Each "tee" has a par to reach the target in (chain baskets). To finish the hole the disc must end up in the basket or chains. A penalty stroke occurs is your disc lands in a flower bed or if the disc has to be retrieved from the pond or the lake! The game has been played in Queenstown Gardens since the early 1980s and 1996 the Queenstown course became the first permanently marked 18 basket course in New Zealand.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zCGMjJd4VHk/UJOWJjXsk0I/AAAAAAAACKo/S9DZVkKZr1Y/s1600/_DSC3206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zCGMjJd4VHk/UJOWJjXsk0I/AAAAAAAACKo/S9DZVkKZr1Y/s400/_DSC3206.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie by a sign of the Queenstown Gardens Course</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G6W9S6lzPno/UKrmFAGFbjI/AAAAAAAACg4/pDwEPwotDEM/s1600/DSC_0249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G6W9S6lzPno/UKrmFAGFbjI/AAAAAAAACg4/pDwEPwotDEM/s400/DSC_0249.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"> You need to be careful of people crossing the course </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It wasn't as easy to play as it initially sounds, as the golf discs are more difficult to throw than regular frisbees. They're less flexible and made of thicker plastic,which I found out the hard way when one hit me in the shin as we were practicing...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6GUXPM89lQ/UJOXUJ_EH2I/AAAAAAAACOY/ZrSlRVbzP_s/s1600/_DSC3217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6GUXPM89lQ/UJOXUJ_EH2I/AAAAAAAACOY/ZrSlRVbzP_s/s400/_DSC3217.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie teeing off from hole 4</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W0vosHYpzmk/UJOXZG8GR3I/AAAAAAAACOo/hHponWr5JzU/s1600/_DSC3220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W0vosHYpzmk/UJOXZG8GR3I/AAAAAAAACOo/hHponWr5JzU/s400/_DSC3220.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">It's hard to believe this is actually a sport</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The guy in the shop we rented the discs from mentioned that the flight path of the disc will curve through the air. If thrown backhanded from your right hand the disc will eventually curve to the left, and if you flick your wrist forward it will curve right in the air. I couldn't flick the disc forward with my right hand so I hand to throw the disc backhanded with the left - physics can be very confusing as we also had to take wind speed and direction into account as well!<br />
<br />
Rain called a temporary halt to play on the <span style="font-size: small;">15</span><sup>th</sup><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> target, but I eventually went on to win the round, which made up for throwing away the lead in the luge race.<br />
<br />
Every time we've walked past Fergburger, no matter the time of day, we've seen queues out the door - it's open for 21 hours of the day if you need a midnight fix. There's even the Fergbakery next door that only opened last year which mainly sell pies, pastries, sandwiches and cakes. The first thing anyone asks if you mention that you've been to Queenstown is "did you go to Fergburger?", so to indulge our desire for another taste of Ferg's finest (as we'd already been there once before, and saw some of the stars from the Chronicles of Narnia films 5 years ago), Lizzie had the <b>Bun Laden</b> burger (falafel patties dressed with lemon yoghurt and chipolte chilli sauce, lettuce, tomato, red onion, cucumber, avocado and aioli), whilst I had the <b>Cookadoodle Oink</b> (butterflied and crumbed chicken breast, American streaky bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, red onion, aioli and tomato relish). It was so busy in the restaurant that we had to eat the burgers back at the hostel. They were burgers of epic proportions, so huge that we were absolutely stuffed when we finished them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxcNgJEgjke-7ZxEAVBadBFqcvEQWwGQ6Z6dNIVXzGh0uPHHouoc3z6cxH-wTPSafWJpR0G6quzyHAzAvk-Jro-msn5MjUUQpl6hdL7d9NTOBiCOJ9ed1z2VuU9HXICN0F4Q-L3WdwC6B/s1600/_DSC3227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxcNgJEgjke-7ZxEAVBadBFqcvEQWwGQ6Z6dNIVXzGh0uPHHouoc3z6cxH-wTPSafWJpR0G6quzyHAzAvk-Jro-msn5MjUUQpl6hdL7d9NTOBiCOJ9ed1z2VuU9HXICN0F4Q-L3WdwC6B/s400/_DSC3227.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
For our first full day where it hadn't chucked it down with rain, we booked a jet boating trip on a great discount website called <a href="http://www.bookme.co.nz/bookings/queenstown/home" target="_blank">bookme.co.nz</a>, where we got a half price jet boat ride with <b>Kawarau Jet </b>(KJet)! Commercial jet boating started off in Queenstown back in the 1970s with the Shotover Jet and today there are at least four commercial operators in the area.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WG396ZJMpM0/UKrmAMVuDnI/AAAAAAAACg4/hfC1ZoH-qDE/s1600/DSC_0235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WG396ZJMpM0/UKrmAMVuDnI/AAAAAAAACg4/hfC1ZoH-qDE/s400/DSC_0235.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The KJet zooming through Queenstown Bay</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Arriving at the KJet office on the Main Town Pier, we were given an enormous spray jacket to wear and a life jacket. In a stroke of luck we managed to bagsy some seats right at the front of the boat and the handrail was even heated! After a quick safety talk we were under way as the boat thudded over the waves of the crystal clear Lake Wakatipu, with an occasional 360<sup>o</sup> or a "Hamilton turn" as they're also known. Taking in the majestic mountains and stunning scenery we headed up towards the Frankton Arm of the lake before zooming under the Kawarau Falls Dam. As we went haring up the Kawarau River (the birthplace of the bungy) the driver made some precariously close shaves with the canyon walls, rocks and low lying tree branches with a couple more 360<sup>o</sup> spins.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAzeQFphcGkFP989awj4wef9lMqQGbWKoVaDed7ctPyoIgQI1WYDRp4DEUE4LHLjrBymYivFzVZAnRlF524srGsRRl2iHw-_thE6TtBjxN38X2l7uD-mVs6rTujCsGCEhy0SuAzykTQ4c/s1600/DSC_0224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAzeQFphcGkFP989awj4wef9lMqQGbWKoVaDed7ctPyoIgQI1WYDRp4DEUE4LHLjrBymYivFzVZAnRlF524srGsRRl2iHw-_thE6TtBjxN38X2l7uD-mVs6rTujCsGCEhy0SuAzykTQ4c/s400/DSC_0224.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The jet boat spinning part way through a Hamilton Turn</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Next the driver took us down the Shotover River, reaching speeds of up to 80km/ hour down a narrow braided river, which is so shallow it reaches less than 10cm deep in places. Because of the way jet boats are propelled, they're able to suck water into the boat and force it out at high pressure so they can operate in really shallow water. <br />
<br />
At the end of the ride we got free admission to the Underwater Observatory beneath the jetty. It has six giant windows showcasing life in the lake, including New Zealand finned eels, brown and rainbow trout, and scaup (New Zealand's only true diving ducks) which dive down to collect the food released from a feeder!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-74NVloYqKho/UKrmCtlUsuI/AAAAAAAACg4/nCjTBcZIP4E/s1600/DSC_0236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-74NVloYqKho/UKrmCtlUsuI/AAAAAAAACg4/nCjTBcZIP4E/s400/DSC_0236.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">New Zealand scaup </span><span style="font-size: small;">(<i>Aythya novaeseelandiae</i>)</span><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"> or a black teal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
There a number of nice walks you can do in and around Queenstown, especially when the hard-sell on adventure activities gets a bit oppressive, so we opted to do the Queenstown Hill/ Te Tapu-nui (Māori for mountain of intense sacredness) Time Trail, as there are supposed to be fantastic panoramic views from the 907m summit.<br />
<br />
Before we even reached the start of track, it was a really steep climb to Belfast Terrace - we were completely shattered before starting the walk! Once we were actually on our way, it was more relentless uphill sections through a cool and dark Douglas fir forest before reaching a lookout over the Frankton section of the lake and the Basket of Dreams sculpture, which was built to commemorate the millennium. From here we had superb views across the lake including the Frankton Arm, the Remarkables range, upper Kawarau River, Cecil Peak,Walter Peak and Queenstown Bay (Tahuna).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZA2Vr3jnzrRZbLg-w8aMbY-J8N0FZUS9GvN_uf73WwtOtiIwKenG3kba16rSjoRWtevPZn-tpLkoIorXs_CSxsaMbfvMNrb3YAzVcTPRE5bbW8J_eMRAJU-FOZXJCB74Q6vJ5UlHaM3O/s1600/_DSC3280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZA2Vr3jnzrRZbLg-w8aMbY-J8N0FZUS9GvN_uf73WwtOtiIwKenG3kba16rSjoRWtevPZn-tpLkoIorXs_CSxsaMbfvMNrb3YAzVcTPRE5bbW8J_eMRAJU-FOZXJCB74Q6vJ5UlHaM3O/s400/_DSC3280.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie by the Basket of Dreams by Caroline Robinson</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9y_9hVkurvk/UJOWWUdkmJI/AAAAAAAACLY/8SX9yOnTACY/s1600/_DSC3284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9y_9hVkurvk/UJOWWUdkmJI/AAAAAAAACLY/8SX9yOnTACY/s400/_DSC3284.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">Cecil Peak and Walter Peak across Lake Wakatipu</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A little further up is a track to the actual summit, not by the Basket of Dreams! It wasn't much further and it couldn't have taken us more than 15-20 minutes to reach, but it was well worth the views. The whole walk took us just under two and half hours but I think that the local i-SITE should do a better job promoting all the fantastic walks on their doorstep, as their staff hadn't a clue what to recommend...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn3iaNuEoRivBp6DKoqt1BjCpdWl9N2l1l4s3b10JDNrNer0Nv24u3AjV5mcS5IQm2O0LJzivoPK3-wMJd5ha5ltAhHwilmaymVvVx5mKjR0RnQIMVCn9OBBQ0mA-z-ttshi_0VbGJzyH/s1600/_DSC3291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFn3iaNuEoRivBp6DKoqt1BjCpdWl9N2l1l4s3b10JDNrNer0Nv24u3AjV5mcS5IQm2O0LJzivoPK3-wMJd5ha5ltAhHwilmaymVvVx5mKjR0RnQIMVCn9OBBQ0mA-z-ttshi_0VbGJzyH/s400/_DSC3291.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not much further to the top, I promise!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8_kUDK_dj-U/UJOWazMY03I/AAAAAAAACLo/ma67qT1EdkA/s1600/_DSC3294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8_kUDK_dj-U/UJOWazMY03I/AAAAAAAACLo/ma67qT1EdkA/s400/_DSC3294.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A large rock pile which could be mistaken for a shallow grave!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nTPEjjumTbk/UJOWcy3LoKI/AAAAAAAACLw/JcYLQnviXII/s1600/_DSC3298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nTPEjjumTbk/UJOWcy3LoKI/AAAAAAAACLw/JcYLQnviXII/s400/_DSC3298.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie pointing our towards the Remarkables and Deer Park Heights</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yenwx9LxsgQ/UJOWe_t1j1I/AAAAAAAACL4/qoXmxP9__x4/s1600/_DSC3301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Yenwx9LxsgQ/UJOWe_t1j1I/AAAAAAAACL4/qoXmxP9__x4/s400/_DSC3301.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The South Harris Mountain range</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pXqsfJiZl9c/UJOWgnr-IMI/AAAAAAAACMA/qiI9JRA1r48/s1600/_DSC3302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pXqsfJiZl9c/UJOWgnr-IMI/AAAAAAAACMA/qiI9JRA1r48/s400/_DSC3302.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: start;"> Snow covered mountains as far as the eye could see </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Other views in and around Queenstown:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BclW4ZQA6Bk/UJOWQeP4zEI/AAAAAAAACLA/EItxaRZVzmA/s1600/_DSC3238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BclW4ZQA6Bk/UJOWQeP4zEI/AAAAAAAACLA/EItxaRZVzmA/s400/_DSC3238.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking west up Lake Wakatipu up to Mt Nicholas</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kiEbvagTUoM/UJOWS_4X-wI/AAAAAAAACLI/f7eRIjX9vwM/s1600/_DSC3242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kiEbvagTUoM/UJOWS_4X-wI/AAAAAAAACLI/f7eRIjX9vwM/s400/_DSC3242.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Queenstown Bay with Bob's Peak and Bowen Peak</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vrCKwH2ye4c/UJOWs6yqtHI/AAAAAAAACM4/WgaY6e1QFds/s1600/_DSC3681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vrCKwH2ye4c/UJOWs6yqtHI/AAAAAAAACM4/WgaY6e1QFds/s400/_DSC3681.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Evening mists descending over Lake Wakatipu</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VhakL1CSurA/UJOWieNnWhI/AAAAAAAACMI/1MrlrL5ONkg/s1600/_DSC3430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VhakL1CSurA/UJOWieNnWhI/AAAAAAAACMI/1MrlrL5ONkg/s400/_DSC3430.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A juvenile Little Pied Cormorant (</span><i style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">Microcarbo melanoleucos</i><span style="font-size: small;">) </span><span style="font-size: small;">drying it's feathers by the lake</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FfgVNLcGmeU/UJOWwcAhkXI/AAAAAAAACNI/NxDeK8LDPdE/s1600/_DSC5068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FfgVNLcGmeU/UJOWwcAhkXI/AAAAAAAACNI/NxDeK8LDPdE/s400/_DSC5068.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunset over the Remarkables</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_9XTuxjtkrM/UJOWnnMiQGI/AAAAAAAACMg/cw16tqkksi4/s1600/_DSC3511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_9XTuxjtkrM/UJOWnnMiQGI/AAAAAAAACMg/cw16tqkksi4/s400/_DSC3511.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Starry night over Cecil Peak</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0Queenstown, New Zealand-45.0311622 168.6626435-45.0760497 168.5836795 -44.986274699999996 168.74160750000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-37688341316233883612012-10-29T04:23:00.000-07:002012-10-29T04:23:40.512-07:00On the road to nowhereThe Catlins is considered a dramatic and beautiful part of the South Island, which we never explored on our last trip here mainly because there are a limited number of services that connect with the area, as it's so far off the beaten track. Not even the Intercity/ Newmans coaches venture into this far corner of the South Island, so getting around the Catlins to see its unique features isn't particularly easy without your own transport.<br />
<br />
Starting our journey from Dunedin, we drove along State Highway 1 until we reached Balclutha, which is nicknamed "big river town" as it is nestled on the banks of the Clutha river and is renowned for it's famous six-arch bridge. We stopped here as it's the gateway to the famous <b>Southern Scenic Route</b>,<b> </b>which runs through the rugged Catlins Coast and it seemed like a good place to get some information from the i-SITE on tide times for Jacks Blowhole and the Cathedral Caves. However, to our disappointment the Cathedral Caves were closed at this time of year, so we decided not go out of our way to visit Jacks Blowhole, but to head over to Nugget Point instead.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Driving along the coast road towards Kaka Point, we then carried on along a gravel road that went on for ages until we reached a car park at the top of the Nugget Point (Tokatā) reserve - a steep windswept headland, rising 133m above the sea.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdO1d9k9ifZ12AOgTEa_6XRriMaiGu1wNBJROoFWyQCsOfrldvA-roq3k6TxqMzy_A6Np1WgRQg3pdI9to9UvuWSoia-UvyKzLtYbjWaInkOEFDF3NQVSwqDd3GR1eXb47erMajoMdrqwj/s1600/_DSC2815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdO1d9k9ifZ12AOgTEa_6XRriMaiGu1wNBJROoFWyQCsOfrldvA-roq3k6TxqMzy_A6Np1WgRQg3pdI9to9UvuWSoia-UvyKzLtYbjWaInkOEFDF3NQVSwqDd3GR1eXb47erMajoMdrqwj/s400/_DSC2815.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking back towards Kaka Point from the Nugget Point lookout</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3hcwRch6zJAHgFzy5JADNS1qEiDAl2UeS5gnNSafww0iezRZbnxyJa2tG-qdbMEg_xPnmt9Xc5UhI1AN1iP8_2M124IqaDcAKKfX90GlwLbc_XT-9BgiDuavgcmuUbSOrGP-_LkogCrC/s1600/P1040836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3hcwRch6zJAHgFzy5JADNS1qEiDAl2UeS5gnNSafww0iezRZbnxyJa2tG-qdbMEg_xPnmt9Xc5UhI1AN1iP8_2M124IqaDcAKKfX90GlwLbc_XT-9BgiDuavgcmuUbSOrGP-_LkogCrC/s400/P1040836.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Welcome to Nugget Point"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Just offshore are "The Nuggets", which are several jagged stacks of rock, a bit like the Needles at the Isle of Wight. These wave-eroded rocks can be seen from the viewing platform at the Nugget Point Lighthouse. A short cliff side track leads to the 1870 lighthouse on the tip of the headland, which still functions today.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UMwhHAwJiiM/UHee11YTLtI/AAAAAAAAB-s/YCgPjNkq-fk/s1600/_DSC2819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UMwhHAwJiiM/UHee11YTLtI/AAAAAAAAB-s/YCgPjNkq-fk/s400/_DSC2819.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Nuggets can be seen just beyond the lighthouse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VjMrV96ndDg/UHee5Hytt0I/AAAAAAAAB-0/_eD9VDkwMPs/s1600/_DSC2829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VjMrV96ndDg/UHee5Hytt0I/AAAAAAAAB-0/_eD9VDkwMPs/s400/_DSC2829.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"> You get some amazing views of The Nuggets from the lighthouse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EaQyKHSdEhE/UHee-ncnyoI/AAAAAAAAB-8/uhK6ZFnK56g/s1600/_DSC2838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EaQyKHSdEhE/UHee-ncnyoI/AAAAAAAAB-8/uhK6ZFnK56g/s400/_DSC2838.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are approx. 20 of these rocks, each with a <span style="text-align: left;">Māori name</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MysEaQeUFUA/UHefEQV93uI/AAAAAAAAB_E/qUsp6VdT62w/s1600/_DSC2840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MysEaQeUFUA/UHefEQV93uI/AAAAAAAAB_E/qUsp6VdT62w/s400/_DSC2840.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
At the base of the cliffs we could just about see some New Zealand fur seals, but it was more the sound of their cries that let us know they were around! Nearby is a viewing hide at Roaring Bay (which is on the road to Nugget Point) so you can observe yellow-eyed penguins (<i>Megadyptes antipodes</i>) when they come ashore in the late afternoon, however, we were there at the wrong time of day.<br />
<br />
Taking a scenic drive down to Cannibal Bay, we hoped to see some Hooker's sea lions (<i>Phocarctos hookeri</i>) as apparently this small and sheltered bay is a regular haul out site, as is Surat Bay. The drive to Cannibal Bay was a pretty pointless 8km stretch of gravel track that seemed to go on forever, a bit like the one at Nugget Point. Pretty much all the side roads off along the Catlins Coast are unsealed gravel roads. The beach was nice and secluded but that was about it - no sea lions, no birds, nothing, apart from a couple of New Zealand's 40 million sheep on the hills!<br />
<br />
The Catlins is touted as one of the most remotest parts of New Zealand, and we learnt this the hard way when we tried to check into our hostel (<a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g1450267-d1071377-r135505980-Split_Level_Backpacker_Accommodation-Owaka_The_Catlins_South_Island.html" target="_blank">Split Level Backpackers</a>) in Owaka, where we found a note on the door asking us to call the owner because we had been double booked and had nowhere to stay... This was particularly frustrating as there's no mobile phone coverage down in this part of the country (unless you're on Vodaphone) as we found out, but that's another story.<br />
<br />
After a lot of chasing our tails we eventually finished the day off at Surat Bay (which owes it's name to the ship Surat, wrecked on a sand bar, New Year's Day 1874) in an attempt to see some sea lions. Crossing a bridge over a small creek, we followed a poled route through some sand dunes but surprise, surprise the beach was deserted.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5Vzh7W0A54nj6-mifROlnI6P4gfuzRye5Y9idxe0l-U4KN265HsgiPI4ItpK5yKBuATsNOA32tPiTwV_Fs2B6gHbz0YGkCiX8Ok5qXgQt1FCoIS11-96zoubs6s7f4CSq2yxyhAnxGen/s1600/_DSC2848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5Vzh7W0A54nj6-mifROlnI6P4gfuzRye5Y9idxe0l-U4KN265HsgiPI4ItpK5yKBuATsNOA32tPiTwV_Fs2B6gHbz0YGkCiX8Ok5qXgQt1FCoIS11-96zoubs6s7f4CSq2yxyhAnxGen/s400/_DSC2848.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Reflections in the Catlins River on the way to Surat Bay</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYgOy4T5MrI/UHemkMDGc_I/AAAAAAAACGM/opUFTXhrQbI/s1600/_DSC2850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZYgOy4T5MrI/UHemkMDGc_I/AAAAAAAACGM/opUFTXhrQbI/s640/_DSC2850.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shoe tree at Surat Bay</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is a really infuriating aspect of New Zealand, as what it offers in spectacular scenery, it seriously lacks in wildlife compared to somewhere like Australia. It's especially annoying when you go out of your way to visit the Catlins because the guide books hype up the area as a prominent place to see "nature at its best".<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v3-rfAPgXVc/UHefRZCrSMI/AAAAAAAAB_k/CJbnkuRDl-Q/s1600/_DSC2863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v3-rfAPgXVc/UHefRZCrSMI/AAAAAAAAB_k/CJbnkuRDl-Q/s400/_DSC2863.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sand dunes looking out towards False Island</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-elobW4xfChQ/UHefNDn1ztI/AAAAAAAAB_U/IuJJlyudj0U/s1600/_DSC2853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-elobW4xfChQ/UHefNDn1ztI/AAAAAAAAB_U/IuJJlyudj0U/s400/_DSC2853.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjt63TsJ7oyaNLrJQOeWHUpwgVyEAUpTZG-36fcUp8AFE9sq6G1arghWoD_GHUvNYk7b5OXbuGra90_D-TsunU_giAPeyKR5P07ybcCNMFz4S-B7tEw7IMcjxFBuVSlNqUEsnP7bSdlm4L/s1600/_DSC2859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjt63TsJ7oyaNLrJQOeWHUpwgVyEAUpTZG-36fcUp8AFE9sq6G1arghWoD_GHUvNYk7b5OXbuGra90_D-TsunU_giAPeyKR5P07ybcCNMFz4S-B7tEw7IMcjxFBuVSlNqUEsnP7bSdlm4L/s400/_DSC2859.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DfJvy8fs43M/UHefWH3Sz7I/AAAAAAAAB_0/1pzf1Jw1WH8/s1600/_DSC2870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DfJvy8fs43M/UHefWH3Sz7I/AAAAAAAAB_0/1pzf1Jw1WH8/s400/_DSC2870.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The day wasn't a complete disaster though, as there was a beautiful sunset and we did spot a sea lion swimming in the bay and it even came over to the shallows to catch a breath. It was a really cool experience especially as it swum all the way over to us, but it was also a little intimidating as the sea lion was huge!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aASJxDdIE_I/UHeerScFVOI/AAAAAAAAB-M/glHk6hLpSA4/s1600/P1040866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aASJxDdIE_I/UHeerScFVOI/AAAAAAAAB-M/glHk6hLpSA4/s400/P1040866.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">That tiny dot on the shore is the only proof that we saw a sea lion!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
On our our second day, the weather changed from wonderful blue skies to overcast and threatening to rain. We were on a bit of a schedule as Lizzie had planned an itinery so that we would arrive in Curio Bay for low tide around 3.20pm, so we could see the site of the one of the world's most extensive Jurassic-era petrified forests. Heading off from Pounawea it was a short drive to Pūrākaunui Falls, a small three-tiered waterfall. The falls lie in a scenic reserve of silver beech trees and podocarp forests (trees that can be traced back to when New Zealand was part of the supercontinent, Gondwana).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cdLGnLC1GkE/UHemnttxM2I/AAAAAAAACGU/nEC_dPHHLNo/s1600/_DSC2887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cdLGnLC1GkE/UHemnttxM2I/AAAAAAAACGU/nEC_dPHHLNo/s400/_DSC2887.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The podocarp forest on the way to the falls</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fDIQVkcosSI/UHemqaVZxHI/AAAAAAAACGc/Nv4DS6n3_3Q/s1600/_DSC2897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fDIQVkcosSI/UHemqaVZxHI/AAAAAAAACGc/Nv4DS6n3_3Q/s400/_DSC2897.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Pūrākaunui</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Falls cascade over 20m</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vEehLJtVlCk/UHefZYCclTI/AAAAAAAAB_8/T_GU_jQQCSo/s1600/_DSC2904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vEehLJtVlCk/UHefZYCclTI/AAAAAAAAB_8/T_GU_jQQCSo/s400/_DSC2904.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Continuing along the Southern Scenic Route we stopped at the Table Hill Scenic Reserve, 5km south of the Pūrākaunui turn off to do a short 15-20 minute walk to Matai Falls and Horseshoe Falls. The trail itself was nice enough, as we were walking through native tree fuchsias (known as Kōtukutuku), which can be identified by their peeling pinkish bark when they're not in flower.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uZ3LrmU-L7I/UHefceS5wlI/AAAAAAAACAE/W06bYvWUxCk/s1600/_DSC2913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uZ3LrmU-L7I/UHefceS5wlI/AAAAAAAACAE/W06bYvWUxCk/s400/_DSC2913.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Me and Lizzie on the platform overlooking Matai Falls</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oNasBm4mz2U/UHefjmxwQZI/AAAAAAAACAU/VaswdnllJW0/s1600/_DSC2918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oNasBm4mz2U/UHefjmxwQZI/AAAAAAAACAU/VaswdnllJW0/s400/_DSC2918.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Horseshoe Falls is further upstream and best seen when the river is high</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8YzPmiLgfw/UHemtx2Nq-I/AAAAAAAACGk/0WgI4o4kBlk/s1600/_DSC2933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q8YzPmiLgfw/UHemtx2Nq-I/AAAAAAAACGk/0WgI4o4kBlk/s400/_DSC2933.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Kōtukutuku is the largest fuchsia in the world</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PxoidDkqRw8/UHemyPZHafI/AAAAAAAACGs/IM-pk7SsnI4/s1600/_DSC2934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PxoidDkqRw8/UHemyPZHafI/AAAAAAAACGs/IM-pk7SsnI4/s400/_DSC2934.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Fuchsia excorticata</i>, is known as the NZ fuchsia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Z74YuBQIZo/UHefm5ZkTxI/AAAAAAAACAc/A2XAW6aUrrg/s1600/_DSC2946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Z74YuBQIZo/UHefm5ZkTxI/AAAAAAAACAc/A2XAW6aUrrg/s400/_DSC2946.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Moody skies over Tautuku Bay from the Florence Hill lookout</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Further along the main road, a small side road runs 3km to McLean Falls, which is a picturesque 30 min return walk through a variety of forest and shrubs. It was easily the best bush walk we've done in the Catlins. It was lush, with moisture hanging in the air and green vegetation everywhere as there were mosses growing on the tree ferns and rimu. The falls themselves were nice but not as impressive as Pūrākaunui Falls but I think this was because we weren't able to get to the higher section of the falls as part of the track was closed due to rock fall.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jAmIeC9tMpY/UHefqXFx9FI/AAAAAAAACAk/kLF_5_Erf7I/s1600/_DSC2950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jAmIeC9tMpY/UHefqXFx9FI/AAAAAAAACAk/kLF_5_Erf7I/s400/_DSC2950.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie standing under an enormous K</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: right;">ōtukutuku fuchsia tree</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZ0Zhfy2dNM/UHem1Bn9M_I/AAAAAAAACG0/tt_Qhc3XfNE/s1600/_DSC2948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZ0Zhfy2dNM/UHem1Bn9M_I/AAAAAAAACG0/tt_Qhc3XfNE/s640/_DSC2948.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mosses thrives in the moist conditions of the temperate rainforests</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v9B1o7LwggI/UHefxk-X8-I/AAAAAAAACA0/zKFiJ-9UXLw/s1600/_DSC2957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v9B1o7LwggI/UHefxk-X8-I/AAAAAAAACA0/zKFiJ-9UXLw/s400/_DSC2957.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The 22-metre McLean Falls are upstream on the Tautuku River</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KVc_BYxAKYo/UHef5trDJJI/AAAAAAAACBE/p9ESAY6Hbtg/s1600/_DSC2964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KVc_BYxAKYo/UHef5trDJJI/AAAAAAAACBE/p9ESAY6Hbtg/s400/_DSC2964.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The lower tiers of McLean Falls</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Once we reached Curio Bay we headed straight to the petrified fossil forest, which lies on a wave-cut platform. Over 160-180 million years ago when most of New Zealand lay beneath the sea, this area would have been a broad forest of tree ferns, cycads and cone-bearing trees that was part of Gondwana. Some of the fossil trees are related to the modern kauri and the Norfolk Island pine. It is believed that massive sheet floods of volcanic debris, perhaps triggered by heavy rain on a barren volcanic mountain, destroyed the forest. Today, the seashore is littered with fossilised tree stumps and logs that were submerged in blankets of volcanic mud and ash. After years of pounding by the sea, waves have worn away the soil to reveal the fossilised trees.<br />
<br />
Unlike fossils, petrified wood is incredibly rare. Entire logs and tree stumps have been preserved in floodwater rich in silica, which impregnated the standing trees and turned them literally into stone within a matter of months before decay was able to set in - this process is known as "silicification".<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EprvrPsrazE/UHef_3QB7QI/AAAAAAAACBU/O7Iegh1sBhc/s1600/_DSC2969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EprvrPsrazE/UHef_3QB7QI/AAAAAAAACBU/O7Iegh1sBhc/s400/_DSC2969.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The tree stumps are visible for four hours either side of low tide</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bVh_MNJxFPU/UHegNk5AeDI/AAAAAAAACB8/MnHQeqAw3Rw/s1600/_DSC2976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bVh_MNJxFPU/UHegNk5AeDI/AAAAAAAACB8/MnHQeqAw3Rw/s400/_DSC2976.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of the many rock pools on the tidal rock shelf</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g4pLL7l9nwo/UHegQm0NJ_I/AAAAAAAACCE/_DXtQe3a8Xk/s1600/_DSC2983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g4pLL7l9nwo/UHegQm0NJ_I/AAAAAAAACCE/_DXtQe3a8Xk/s400/_DSC2983.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Logs were carried in the flood, which killed the rest of the forest</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JLf1rSiaLNg/UHem4LNRqUI/AAAAAAAACG8/rj7TeY56Jaw/s1600/_DSC2978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JLf1rSiaLNg/UHem4LNRqUI/AAAAAAAACG8/rj7TeY56Jaw/s640/_DSC2978.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">You can still see the grain texture of the petrified wood in the rock</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, over time people have been slowly breaking off bits of the forest and removing rare fossils to keep them as souvenirs, however, this practice is discouraged as this is an internationally important site and the fossil forest needs to be preserved for others to enjoy in the future.<br />
<br />
Following a tip from the local backpackers we were staying at, we were told that the petrified forest was a good place to see yellow-eyed penguins. Having tried on three separate occasions (once in Oamaru and twice on the Otago Peninsula) to see them, we were sceptical as to whether we would actually see the elusive little hōiho.<br />
<br />
As we sat on on the rocks an hour before sunset, sure enough one penguin after the other came ashore as the late afternoon drew to a close. We were advised to stay at least 10m away from the penguins to avoid disturbing them as they make their way back to their nests in the flax bushes. Hōiho nest where they can find a cool, shady and moist place to avoid overheating.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpo1XJAUpsSEmpwXnQwSzkZ_R4Z6iHCtvWWmQpGL23jH3NoKGvYAoAL_sai-G2p87fDDE0EKdZUTcSWWNlDhINm04hrzUNuMLhWO_YcWxRXT5zazOKxUHperpfHob9PCN9UxKcRlMPmi9W/s1600/_DSC2985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpo1XJAUpsSEmpwXnQwSzkZ_R4Z6iHCtvWWmQpGL23jH3NoKGvYAoAL_sai-G2p87fDDE0EKdZUTcSWWNlDhINm04hrzUNuMLhWO_YcWxRXT5zazOKxUHperpfHob9PCN9UxKcRlMPmi9W/s400/_DSC2985.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">I spy with my little eye, something beginning with P!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lEVvlS8_bs8/UHegYQfVCoI/AAAAAAAACCc/NMoU9fYNB7g/s1600/_DSC3001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lEVvlS8_bs8/UHegYQfVCoI/AAAAAAAACCc/NMoU9fYNB7g/s400/_DSC3001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f3x_7tZSlbw/UHegiVLrO9I/AAAAAAAACC8/pw52AbY6HNo/s1600/_DSC3011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f3x_7tZSlbw/UHegiVLrO9I/AAAAAAAACC8/pw52AbY6HNo/s400/_DSC3011.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's almost comical watching the penguins return back to their hides</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TzSgLbAQZVo/UHegf8_-O2I/AAAAAAAACC0/2yyit4eMFg0/s1600/_DSC3010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TzSgLbAQZVo/UHegf8_-O2I/AAAAAAAACC0/2yyit4eMFg0/s400/_DSC3010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Hi honey, I'm home!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We were really spoilt by one penguin who came towards where we were sitting quietly (we were virtually the only people there), it couldn't have been further than 10m away at it's closest point, stopping every now and again to stretch it's wings and have a good look around or give an exuberant trill - thus living up to it's name as the "noisy shouter". Yellow-eyed penguins are a taonga (treasured) species which recognises in law their importance to Ngāi Tahu - the Māori tribe of much of the South Island.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/bP2xTEwwqoM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
We must have seen around 10 penguins come ashore, but we could only stay for so long before we were being bitten to death by sandflies and we had to call it day. We were down there for a good hour or so and felt it was definitely a good time to quit while we were ahead!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dFUiawK6vVU/UHegnEegmvI/AAAAAAAACDE/KnAPVqkGgE8/s1600/_DSC3018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dFUiawK6vVU/UHegnEegmvI/AAAAAAAACDE/KnAPVqkGgE8/s400/_DSC3018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our very own "March of the Penguins"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
For our final day in the Catlins we wanted to make our way round to Slope Point, which is supposed to be the most southerly point of the South Island (not mainland New Zealand though as you'd need to go to the third largest island, Stewart Island/ Rakiura for that). It was another epic and bumpy drive along 16km of unsealed roads just to reach the walking track to reach the rugged area. Apart from a sign pointing the distances to the Equator and the South Pole, there isn't much to see here aside from some farm land and the view across the Foveaux Strait (Te Ara a Kewa). It really wasn't anything nothing special, except for being able to faintly see Stewart Island, which is a shame as its complete contrast to when we went to <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/fruits-of-our-labour.html" target="_blank">Cape Rēinga</a>. The only real significance of Slope Point for us is that this is the furthest from home we've ever been at 11,860 miles (19,085 km)!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yGtsOAQ--2Y/UHegpe_U4PI/AAAAAAAACDM/jEGrZDwpqDY/s1600/_DSC3033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yGtsOAQ--2Y/UHegpe_U4PI/AAAAAAAACDM/jEGrZDwpqDY/s400/_DSC3033.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Another obligatory photograph by the signpost!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MsWYcItAEIc/UHegrt9vxvI/AAAAAAAACDU/nhx-DDpHj7c/s1600/_DSC3035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MsWYcItAEIc/UHegrt9vxvI/AAAAAAAACDU/nhx-DDpHj7c/s400/_DSC3035.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you look hard enough you might spot Stewart Island</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cC8fOrqdLBs/UHegt_nZ1yI/AAAAAAAACDc/ASjWC1K2-XM/s1600/_DSC3040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cC8fOrqdLBs/UHegt_nZ1yI/AAAAAAAACDc/ASjWC1K2-XM/s400/_DSC3040.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Windswept macrocarpa trees at Slope Point</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The last stop on our journey through the Catlins was Waipapā Point. This was the site of New Zealand's worst civilian shipwreck, when on 29<sup>th</sup> April 1881 the steamship, SS Tararua struck the treacherous Ōtara Reef - as a result 131 lives were lost. The lighthouse that now stands on the point was erected three years after the shipwreck and it was as we were walking through the scenic reserve that we finally stumbled upon some Hooker's sea lions!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gGAZtZRHnKs/UHegxFZhi2I/AAAAAAAACDk/CgpGNC79i44/s1600/_DSC3044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gGAZtZRHnKs/UHegxFZhi2I/AAAAAAAACDk/CgpGNC79i44/s400/_DSC3044.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Waipapā Point guards the eastern entrance of the Foveaux Strait</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AIwelHE5zq2X0aNjqoi7gL32fAfX_g31wW-M5WKA5BoejA8UyYpMZ2z1cerAiiSgXvDFY5Hl2HB6hg3RXZDa6N49CIbIfvDLmvqXFSrnrGi1mnRPVu5xsPuZc50Sw0GvYoGHmJGmKiZo/s1600/_DSC3073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AIwelHE5zq2X0aNjqoi7gL32fAfX_g31wW-M5WKA5BoejA8UyYpMZ2z1cerAiiSgXvDFY5Hl2HB6hg3RXZDa6N49CIbIfvDLmvqXFSrnrGi1mnRPVu5xsPuZc50Sw0GvYoGHmJGmKiZo/s640/_DSC3073.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The tower is clad in kauri and t</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">ōtara</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"> wood</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Waipapā Point was one of the last Foveaux Strait lighthouses to be erecetd, although it became one of the first to be connected to the national electricity grid.<br />
<br />
The New Zealand/ Hooker's sea lion (Pakake) is possibly the rarest of the world's five species of sea lion and is only found in New Zealand. They once lived all around the coast but today they mostly live around the sub-Antartic Auckland Islands as well as breeding in the Otago Peninsula, along the Catlins and around Stewart Island after they were nearly hunted to extinction over 200 years ago.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XXnmcDRCza4/UHeg2eiA-7I/AAAAAAAACD0/gVBhtHWfD3M/s1600/_DSC3058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XXnmcDRCza4/UHeg2eiA-7I/AAAAAAAACD0/gVBhtHWfD3M/s400/_DSC3058.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sea lions are a lot larger than fur seals and have distinctive blunt noses</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCnJt9k3Qisas5thlwqs6CHETMwAxVdLHDlBXs5LQCyor2BQMLrRNMMY2_hds5j922R0f7OG0m18wtjntos8JIFgdTTxBPrU2no289ks6DBLWD0ufGuCGddMbT8kBcnfoumJ4jzlsE0nA/s1600/_DSC3066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCnJt9k3Qisas5thlwqs6CHETMwAxVdLHDlBXs5LQCyor2BQMLrRNMMY2_hds5j922R0f7OG0m18wtjntos8JIFgdTTxBPrU2no289ks6DBLWD0ufGuCGddMbT8kBcnfoumJ4jzlsE0nA/s400/_DSC3066.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Sea lions prefer to laze about on sandy beaches unlike fur seals.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pk_BbY5uk0c/UHegzhtR7bI/AAAAAAAACDs/qsIl8RzvUx0/s1600/_DSC3049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pk_BbY5uk0c/UHegzhtR7bI/AAAAAAAACDs/qsIl8RzvUx0/s400/_DSC3049.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sea lions are able to move faster on the sand than humans can, so you have to be careful around them as the biggest adult males can weigh up to 400kg and are not afraid of people. Finally seeing the wildlife that we tried to see on so many different occasions round the South Island was a fitting way to finish our time in the Catlins!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6wVF8y1bDnM/UHehIAOF3PI/AAAAAAAACEc/pWXIuPBd2Zo/s1600/_DSC3087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6wVF8y1bDnM/UHehIAOF3PI/AAAAAAAACEc/pWXIuPBd2Zo/s400/_DSC3087.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">A couple of boisterous sea lion pups play fighting</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-86480111979078006762012-10-29T00:25:00.001-07:002012-10-29T00:26:25.092-07:00The Otago PeninsulaWhen we visited Dunedin five years ago we arranged to do a wildlife tour on the Otago Peninsula with the renowned <a href="http://www.elmwildlifetours.co.nz/" target="_blank">Elm Wildlife Tours</a>. This time round we wanted to explore the peninsula and see some wildlife on our own, as we have a car to take us to places off the beaten track.<br />
<br />
Dunedin is nestled at the head of Otago Harbour and sits on the doorstep of the peninsula. The harbour was formed around 10 million years ago by volcanic eruptions and is virtually surrounded by rugged hills. The Otago Peninsula separates the harbour from the Pacific Ocean and has long been acclaimed for its beauty, abundant marine wildlife and eco-tourism. <br />
<br />
Although the Otago Peninsula is a short drive from Dunedin, we filled up our car with petrol before venturing on to the peninsula as there is nowhere else to fill up whilst you're on there. There are two main roads round the headland, <b>Highcliff Road</b> and <b>Portbello Road</b> each taking very different, but equally spectacular routes, offering sweeping views of the harbour on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other.<br />
<br />
Driving up Highcliff Road we decided to head over to Sandfly Bay on the eastern side of the peninsula to see a colony of yellow-eyed penguins (<i>Megadyptes antipodes</i>) that are resident in the area and which is also a popular site for spotting Hooker's sea lions (<i>Phocarctos hookeri</i>). Having already seen Little Blue Penguins (kororā) at the <a href="http://www.penguins.co.nz/" target="_blank">Blue Penguin Colony</a> in our fleeting visit to Oamaru (and we also saw them at <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/exploring-victoria-melbourne-to-phillip.html" target="_blank">Phillip Island</a> in Australia), we were unlucky not to see yellow-eyed penguins at the Bushy Beach colony (in the Waitaki District) - but I guess they're not known as New Zealand's rarest penguin for nothing!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jAKuqknbg-s/UBOBFThjymI/AAAAAAAABqw/912_0HfstRg/s1600/_DSC2626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jAKuqknbg-s/UBOBFThjymI/AAAAAAAABqw/912_0HfstRg/s400/_DSC2626.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking across Sandfly Bay and Lion Rock from Seal Point Road</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sDUivApIhIA/UBOBG0ZP6qI/AAAAAAAABq4/z3jauErkaO4/s1600/_DSC2628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sDUivApIhIA/UBOBG0ZP6qI/AAAAAAAABq4/z3jauErkaO4/s400/_DSC2628.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Somewhere in these sand dunes live some yellow-eyed penguins</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ClHOVFHhNUY/UBOBIHlmVuI/AAAAAAAABrA/sgvCSMia-vw/s1600/_DSC2633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ClHOVFHhNUY/UBOBIHlmVuI/AAAAAAAABrA/sgvCSMia-vw/s400/_DSC2633.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of the many beautifully sculpted sand dunes</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Yellow-eyed penguins are unique to New Zealand and are the largest species of penguin living in a temperate region. They might also be the rarest penguin species in the world with a population of between 6,000-7,000 individuals. Known as hōiho (the Māori word for "noise shouter") they're easily distinguished from other penguins by their yellow iris and yellow band of feathers across the back of their heads. Hōiho are only found on the south-east coast of the South Island in mainland New Zealand and on the islands off Stewart Island, Stewart Island itself, the Auckland Islands and Campbell Island. Yellow-eyed penguins are considered such a national treasure (taonga) that they're on the reverse side of the $5 note, with Sir Edmund Hillary - the first person to climb Mt. Everest with Tenzing Norgay - on the other side.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BEMQVZ40RHA/UHNpgBCTSzI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/thV1qeEq0ss/s1600/$5+note+reverse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BEMQVZ40RHA/UHNpgBCTSzI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/thV1qeEq0ss/s400/$5+note+reverse.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Reverse-side of a $5 note depicting a scene on Campbell Island with a <span style="text-align: start;">hōiho</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aD9OvnZWsGs/UHNpZwdqWPI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/2UoxGGMg7Gw/s1600/%25245+note+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aD9OvnZWsGs/UHNpZwdqWPI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/2UoxGGMg7Gw/s400/%25245+note+front.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Front-side </span><span style="font-size: small;">of $5 note</span><span style="font-size: small;"> with Sir Edmund Hillary and Aoraki/ Mt Cook</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Heading down a relatively steep sand dune to reach the beach, we then walked a kilometre along the beach to the southern end where a marked track lead us up to a hide to view the penguins. When we reached the hide there was a notice saying that the best time to see penguins is two hours before dusk and unfortunately we were there in the middle of the day! Although the bay itself was very picturesque and dramatic, it was pretty pointless going down to the beach for spotting wildlife, as all we saw was one sleeping sea lion and a couple of variable oystercatchers.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cZlXRBd6sxU/UBOBJGXqgiI/AAAAAAAABrE/ogIwQcRoQwo/s1600/_DSC2641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cZlXRBd6sxU/UBOBJGXqgiI/AAAAAAAABrE/ogIwQcRoQwo/s400/_DSC2641.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A variable oystercatcher and Lion Rock in the background</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-35n7NmIlPfs/UHPiYSF6uYI/AAAAAAAAB8k/83-4n9vJ1yQ/s1600/P1040778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-35n7NmIlPfs/UHPiYSF6uYI/AAAAAAAAB8k/83-4n9vJ1yQ/s640/P1040778.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">And I thought </span><a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/the-edinburgh-of-south.html" style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;" target="_blank">Baldwin St</a><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"> was bad! The climb back up the dune was a bit epic</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
In conclusion, Sandfly Bay is possibly is best saved as the last stop on your way out of the peninsula. The only saving grace was that we weren't being bitten by the blood sucking insects that the bay is thought to be named after - in fact the name actually refers to the sand flying off the top of the giant dunes.<br />
<br />
Next stop along the peninsula was <b>Taiaroa Head</b> (originally known as Pukekura) at the very tip of the headland to see the Royal Albatross Centre via the small village of Portobello. Driving out towards the north eastern point of the peninsula, we straddled alongside the scenic Portobello Bay where the tide had gone out a long way leaving behind mudflats.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.albatross.org.nz/" target="_blank">Royal Albatross Centre</a> is the only mainland breeding colony in the world for the Northern Royal Albatross (<i>Diomedea sanfordi</i>). Along with the Wandering Albatross, the Royal Albatross are the largest seabirds in the world, spending at least 85% of their lives at sea. Inside there are some interesting displays on the Royal Albatross as well as other local wildlife and history, however, a 45 minute guided tour of the centre costs $40 each so we decided to give it a skip. Despite opting to save our pennies, we were a little bit fortunate to see a couple of albatrosses majestically soaring on the thermals from the café area whilst we were having a cup of tea.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vJxL7QOh92o/UBN9YZOY49I/AAAAAAAABRA/7JCoqJxofGk/s1600/P1040787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vJxL7QOh92o/UBN9YZOY49I/AAAAAAAABRA/7JCoqJxofGk/s400/P1040787.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An "albatross" we spotted nestled in the bushes!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The centre is also the starting point for tours round the historic Fort Taiaroa, a warren of tunnels and gun emplacements originally built in 1886 to counter the potential threat of a Tsarist Russian invasion in the late 1880s and later used for training and defence during the First World War and World War II. However, the main attraction is the Armstrong 6-inch disappearing gun, which is actually a massive canon operated by hydraulics. Apparently, it is the only one still in working condition remaining in the world!<br />
<br />
Before Taiaroa Head was established as a Fort over 100 years ago, it was originally a significant fortified Māori pā site for the Kāi Tahu tribe when it was first built around 1650.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GClErvw3EpE/UBOBKH6-VCI/AAAAAAAABrI/gOAN_jchE9E/s1600/_DSC2644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GClErvw3EpE/UBOBKH6-VCI/AAAAAAAABrI/gOAN_jchE9E/s400/_DSC2644.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View to Aramoana Spit and </span><span style="font-size: small;">Portobello Bay</span><span style="font-size: small;"> from </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Taiaroa Head</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Next we headed over to Allans Beach via some some narrow unsealed roads taking us right down to the water's edge at <b>Papanui </b>and <b>Hoopers Inlets</b>. I wouldn't have liked to have seen these roads once they flooded as it didn't look like it would take much to do so!<br />
<br />
Taking a short 5 minute walk down to the beach, there wasn't much in the way of wildlife around, especially as it was a dog-friendly beach, which I thought was a bit strange considering there were plenty of signs warning you to watch out for sea lions and making sure that you keep your distance. The weather also took a turn for the worse with the skies clouding over and threatening to rain so we decided to give up for the day.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LyeTYyxx7iM/UBOBK3DZ13I/AAAAAAAABrY/49cxKJqe2Qc/s1600/_DSC2660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LyeTYyxx7iM/UBOBK3DZ13I/AAAAAAAABrY/49cxKJqe2Qc/s400/_DSC2660.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wharekakahu is a steep-sided stack that you see from Allans Beach</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIHJzMeDPLw/UBOBMhOfioI/AAAAAAAABrg/dkxdwQxMCRQ/s1600/_DSC2662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIHJzMeDPLw/UBOBMhOfioI/AAAAAAAABrg/dkxdwQxMCRQ/s400/_DSC2662.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">A white-headed stilt (</span><i style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;">Himantopus leucocephalus</i><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">) on the beach</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Overall, it was a bit of disappointing day, which is a shame as the Otago Peninsula is a beautiful area, but we had expectations to see some penguins and sea lions as we had an unforgettable wildlife encounter when we were here last. I think the moral of the story is that it might be better to go on an organised wildlife tour as they know the best viewing spots (which are usually on private land) so you can see fur seals, sea lions and penguins in the best way possible to avoid disturbing the wildlife.<br />
<br />
*** Following our underwhelming day at the peninsula, we had another crack at spotting some yellow-eyed penguins back at Sandfly Bay on a different day via a scenic walk at the Sandymount track to Lovers Leap and The Chasm. From here it's possible to walk back to Sandfly Bay in about 45 minutes.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/Hoppers_Inlet_across_to_Mt_Charles_and_Allans_Beach_Otago_Peninsula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="88" src="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/Hoppers_Inlet_across_to_Mt_Charles_and_Allans_Beach_Otago_Peninsula.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A panorama of the Mt Charles and Hoopers Inlet from Sandymount Road- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/7779411704/in/photostream/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The track gives spectacular views of the Otago Peninsula's coastline and cliff tops, and leads to a couple of unfenced sheer cliff drops of at least 200m down to the sea - Lovers Leap in particular is part of a collapsed sea cave. Standing on the view platform next to The Chasm renewed my healthy respect for heights as I got a sense of vertigo having a peak over the edge...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNgj87-lZ_W5ptHCLCKBJIpb2LkBG620opI5dbaMw3mZN7RUN8loUT2w_dw4-OK73LTPcb9nPfSd9MHS2oAyInK3p46TDaLhVRvnTg-3b-C7wXrepbhrQpRx6L5XDjOWusdn-Y1xasI1M/s1600/_DSC2731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNgj87-lZ_W5ptHCLCKBJIpb2LkBG620opI5dbaMw3mZN7RUN8loUT2w_dw4-OK73LTPcb9nPfSd9MHS2oAyInK3p46TDaLhVRvnTg-3b-C7wXrepbhrQpRx6L5XDjOWusdn-Y1xasI1M/s400/_DSC2731.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The sign isn't kidding about an unprotected edge!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPEdpSbDJeFJXs87l6E4Tjr3SbLe_Lu0WqTVH8XY0cQNx6qcRJDvfq-z1qXFrHGxfiMGR-3R1TbFR58YuMAkV3XpcbC3Mw96BAUsf85u9lz8nt7tmWogBngWSiMVuvexNHphyphenhyphenm3c0J7JP/s1600/_DSC2730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioPEdpSbDJeFJXs87l6E4Tjr3SbLe_Lu0WqTVH8XY0cQNx6qcRJDvfq-z1qXFrHGxfiMGR-3R1TbFR58YuMAkV3XpcbC3Mw96BAUsf85u9lz8nt7tmWogBngWSiMVuvexNHphyphenhyphenm3c0J7JP/s400/_DSC2730.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Chasm is so steep that I couldn't get a shot of the bottom!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x4XuxS6xKdg/UBOBYiqHFFI/AAAAAAAABsg/IEmPsPKX-jk/s1600/_DSC2735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x4XuxS6xKdg/UBOBYiqHFFI/AAAAAAAABsg/IEmPsPKX-jk/s400/_DSC2735.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lovers Leap and the cliffs at Sandymount are remnants of a volcano</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Despite timing our return to Sandfly Bay an hour and half before dusk we still had no joy with seeing the penguins returning from their day at sea. It would be worth the Department of Conservation putting a proviso on their notice boards that you can only see these animals at certain times of the year, but generally I got the impression that spotting yellow-eyed penguins was a year-round activity.***</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-21217378200943810272012-09-29T03:57:00.000-07:002012-09-29T03:57:31.772-07:00The Edinburgh of the SouthAs we continue our tour of the South Island, we move back towards the coast passing through Twizel and Oamaru both for one night before arriving in Dunedin, the second largest city on the South Island. It wasn't a good start to our drive as I broke the tail light on our beloved Lancer reversing into a barrier which was below my line of sight in a car park...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tto2H8ongDE/UFwotBfi0mI/AAAAAAAAB3g/NLdPe7GdKuc/s1600/p20120706-162139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Tto2H8ongDE/UFwotBfi0mI/AAAAAAAAB3g/NLdPe7GdKuc/s400/p20120706-162139.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The car did get fixed in the end after a lot of chasing around</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Dunedin was originally founded by Scottish settlers in 1848, taking it's name from the Gaelic word of it's Scottish counterpart - as a result it is affectionately known as the "Edinburgh of the South". In the centre of the city is a statue of Scottish poet Robert Burns, many of the streets and suburbs carry the same names as the Scottish capital and the city even has it's own tartan. To be honest that's pretty much where the similarities end, but what Dunedin lacks in similarities to Edinburgh, it make certainly makes up for with steep hills boasting the steepest residential street in the world - Baldwin St.<br />
<br />
At the heart of this historic city is the Octagon, which believe it or not is an octagonal shaped public space. Laid out in 1846, The Octagon holds together modern and historic buildings with some green spaces and trees. Robert Burns' statue presides over the area (although his head is mainly covered in bird crap!), symbolising the city's Scottish origins. The Municipal Chambers building dominates the Octagon, built in 1880 it is the handiwork of renowned Scottish-born architect <b>Robert A. Lawson</b>, whose work can be seen across the city. Beside the clock tower of the Municipal Chambers rise the twin spires of St Paul's Cathedral. This impressive Gothic Revival structure is entirely constructed from Oamaru stone (local limestone) and was consecrated in 1919. The twenty-metre high stone-vaulted ceiling is the only one of its kind in New Zealand.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oazTgRYCZdQ/UBOBS-SUCHI/AAAAAAAABr4/VJaaMteN7jE/s1600/_DSC2690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oazTgRYCZdQ/UBOBS-SUCHI/AAAAAAAABr4/VJaaMteN7jE/s400/_DSC2690.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">St Paul's Cathedral and the Municipal Chambers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Not far away stands the 54-metre stone spire of the First Church of Otago. The church is recognised as one of the most impressive nineteenth-century churches in New Zealand, also designed by Robert A. Lawson. The neo-Gothic style church opened on 23<sup>rd</sup> November 1873, just 25 years after the first settlers arrived in Dunedin, and is built entirely from Oamaru stone. The spire, being the most dominant feature of the First Church, had an interesting construction history. Just before the opening in 1873 Lawson realised that the spire was 15ft (4.5 m) too short, and had a slight lean. As a result it had to be dismantled and rebuilt to the correct specifications and was finally completed in 1875. In all, the church remains both a memorial to Thomas Burns's mission (the nephew of Robert Burns) – who was the first minister – and a significant landmark of Dunedin.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yKKlgy38Kuw/UBOB1dBX_6I/AAAAAAAABug/xKaDZQ-5ITE/s1600/_DSC2805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yKKlgy38Kuw/UBOB1dBX_6I/AAAAAAAABug/xKaDZQ-5ITE/s400/_DSC2805.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The graceful spire can be seen across the city</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AIu5_9EAYYI/UBOBCZGNMRI/AAAAAAAABqo/G34CUq6K5Lo/s1600/_DSC2622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AIu5_9EAYYI/UBOBCZGNMRI/AAAAAAAABqo/G34CUq6K5Lo/s400/_DSC2622.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is regarded as Lawson's masterpiece </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Scottish influence can also be seen in other fine churches such as Knox Church and there are plenty of Victorian and Edwardian buildings dotted throughout the city, fashioned from volcanic bluestone and pale limestone.<br />
<br />
South of the Octagon is the stunning Dunedin Railway Station built in 1906, it is considered to be one of the most photographed buildings in New Zealand. Designed in the fashionable, Edwardian Baroque style, the architect George A. Troup (nicknamed "Gingerbread George") experimented with a collaboration of Classical and Neo-Gothic imagery, to create a grandiose building with a mixture of towers, turrets and minarets made from dark basalt and Oamaru limestone.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oo94PbV5ay0/UBOBauGckxI/AAAAAAAABss/8vWGGnKyn1U/s1600/_DSC2774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oo94PbV5ay0/UBOBauGckxI/AAAAAAAABss/8vWGGnKyn1U/s400/_DSC2774.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The 37-metre high Italianate clock tower at the south end of the station</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFydW1_Ps1kEjXywvox3PQ6P8Zqw9nD0mCREb_PeisA3ZfcCFmyzBB57PLgGaAE0wZMj6rZbFZWEgIg2mc3CuBoXVEhm92azzhHonIGrDIhTR4EOfBE3m_5PZrnH3NWOHVXqmzfDPKxgh/s1600/_DSC2611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFydW1_Ps1kEjXywvox3PQ6P8Zqw9nD0mCREb_PeisA3ZfcCFmyzBB57PLgGaAE0wZMj6rZbFZWEgIg2mc3CuBoXVEhm92azzhHonIGrDIhTR4EOfBE3m_5PZrnH3NWOHVXqmzfDPKxgh/s400/_DSC2611.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The station platform for the Taieri Gorge Railway</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Inside the main foyer of the station is a huge mosaic floor made up of almost 750,000 Minton tiles that celebrates steam engines. The majolica (tin-glazed pottery) on the foyer walls was made especially for the New Zealand Railway by the internationally renowned Royal Doulton stoneware and ceramic company.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qRSMTLgupwY/UBOA9Ovm9eI/AAAAAAAABqA/00Fe9A58e24/s1600/_DSC2600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qRSMTLgupwY/UBOA9Ovm9eI/AAAAAAAABqA/00Fe9A58e24/s400/_DSC2600.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An ornate Royal Doulton frieze runs around the ticket booths</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z79NhEOOOcg/UBOA-d2QsJI/AAAAAAAABqI/IT8O9aDxj3Y/s1600/_DSC2602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z79NhEOOOcg/UBOA-d2QsJI/AAAAAAAABqI/IT8O9aDxj3Y/s400/_DSC2602.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This mosaic design portrays a locomotive on train tracks</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
On the upstairs balcony at both ends of the station there is a stained glass window that depicts an approaching train whose headlights beam from all angles.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4vj8Hho0bgg/UBOA_tACMaI/AAAAAAAABqQ/2oHq-ri9cmg/s1600/_DSC2607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4vj8Hho0bgg/UBOA_tACMaI/AAAAAAAABqQ/2oHq-ri9cmg/s640/_DSC2607.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The stained glass window celebrates the glory of steam trains</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YGybr_q-n9g/UBOBUdxqd4I/AAAAAAAABsA/u3W5T6lCp1U/s1600/_DSC2703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YGybr_q-n9g/UBOBUdxqd4I/AAAAAAAABsA/u3W5T6lCp1U/s400/_DSC2703.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dunedin Railway Station and ANZAC Square at night</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Standing downwind of Rattray St you get an occasional waft of yeast from the historic Speight's Brewery, which is one of New Zealand's oldest breweries, occupying the same site since 1876. Beside the entrance is a water spigot fed by the same artisan water used to brew the beer. More often that not there were locals filling up several water bottles and containers, although the brewery asks you to make a small donation (see the photo below). Adjoining the brewery is the <a href="http://www.thealehouse.co.nz/" target="_blank">Speight's Ale House</a>, which serves up excellent meals with its brews all within a relaxed pub setting.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EtSPe7erCtc/UBOBdzlpWCI/AAAAAAAABtA/-HOhT99U3Eo/s1600/_DSC2783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EtSPe7erCtc/UBOBdzlpWCI/AAAAAAAABtA/-HOhT99U3Eo/s320/_DSC2783.JPG" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If only it was beer!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7aHCkxSOwVc/UGFcy51uoYI/AAAAAAAAB4w/Gt0OqhVyfhQ/s1600/p20120710-150202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7aHCkxSOwVc/UGFcy51uoYI/AAAAAAAAB4w/Gt0OqhVyfhQ/s320/p20120710-150202.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">All proceeds from the tap go to charity </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VfNOooP9rNE/UBOBPVj2BkI/AAAAAAAABro/7D8OkM0jINI/s1600/_DSC2669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VfNOooP9rNE/UBOBPVj2BkI/AAAAAAAABro/7D8OkM0jINI/s640/_DSC2669.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A copper dome schist fireplace is similar to the kettles in the brewery</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HkTLi2v4QdE/UBOBRHCCzdI/AAAAAAAABrw/WZ6SqJ150-Y/s1600/_DSC2677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HkTLi2v4QdE/UBOBRHCCzdI/AAAAAAAABrw/WZ6SqJ150-Y/s400/_DSC2677.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Ale House is an iconic venue within a unique historic brewery setting</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As it happens we are in Dunedin for the <a href="http://www.chocolatecarnival.co.nz/" target="_blank">Cadbury Chocolate Carnival</a> where there are a series of chocolate themed events being held across the city over the week. At the Wall Street Mall there were chocolate portraits of former New Zealand Olympic athletes as part of the build up to the London 2012 Olympic Games.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDd0_is1GbT39Q49HNXxt-NEuROyTRhdOPdrMy7g15CgQYiUpbnWB4hV4jElfgKKKAAEu8NWQZzJk8-jmro5gdiWMU6nXXMgsg7nEmx25itR3251_BmUNX-VCBNKb2qNXuGHlX4B4l0zIP/s1600/P1040750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDd0_is1GbT39Q49HNXxt-NEuROyTRhdOPdrMy7g15CgQYiUpbnWB4hV4jElfgKKKAAEu8NWQZzJk8-jmro5gdiWMU6nXXMgsg7nEmx25itR3251_BmUNX-VCBNKb2qNXuGHlX4B4l0zIP/s400/P1040750.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The chocolate Olympic Hall of fame!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ravC3WyXy1Y/UBN9V3b7t_I/AAAAAAAABQw/yDE1GQoSxKc/s1600/P1040753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ravC3WyXy1Y/UBN9V3b7t_I/AAAAAAAABQw/yDE1GQoSxKc/s400/P1040753.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">No one's going to mind if we broke a piece of chocolate off, are they?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Seeing as it's a week of chocolate related activities it would have been rude not to have taken a tour of Cadbury World. The Dunedin site is home to where all the New Zealand favourite chocolates are made: Pinky bars, Pineapple Lumps, Moro bars, Pebbles, Jaffas, etc - it's a chocaholics dream!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYJ9PfJCeNs/UBOBb62q2eI/AAAAAAAABs4/mwpoWrkKO4c/s1600/_DSC2781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wYJ9PfJCeNs/UBOBb62q2eI/AAAAAAAABs4/mwpoWrkKO4c/s400/_DSC2781.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The entrance to Cadbury World on Cumberland Street</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1qiOrKs4sww/UBOBr2iWpwI/AAAAAAAABuA/fGHQpWXkbVA/s1600/_DSC2799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E90ecOgKsm8/UBOBuVpqAxI/AAAAAAAABuI/6LRTWmdjarc/s1600/_DSC2800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E90ecOgKsm8/UBOBuVpqAxI/AAAAAAAABuI/6LRTWmdjarc/s200/_DSC2800.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Moro Gold or <b>Boost</b> in the UK</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dDWku9PZ9QE/UBOBpQ4JX2I/AAAAAAAABt4/9b0pWXm-LHQ/s1600/_DSC2796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dDWku9PZ9QE/UBOBpQ4JX2I/AAAAAAAABt4/9b0pWXm-LHQ/s400/_DSC2796.JPG" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Most chocolate made in Dunedin is only available in NZ</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rFZmgILXRwU/UBOBv3E2nvI/AAAAAAAABuQ/mblmlOw4k4U/s1600/_DSC2801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rFZmgILXRwU/UBOBv3E2nvI/AAAAAAAABuQ/mblmlOw4k4U/s200/_DSC2801.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Might Perky Nana!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1qiOrKs4sww/UBOBr2iWpwI/AAAAAAAABuA/fGHQpWXkbVA/s1600/_DSC2799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1qiOrKs4sww/UBOBr2iWpwI/AAAAAAAABuA/fGHQpWXkbVA/s200/_DSC2799.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pinky</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OmaRboL_fdI/UBOBx03xzHI/AAAAAAAABuY/aPu812iYNn4/s1600/_DSC2802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OmaRboL_fdI/UBOBx03xzHI/AAAAAAAABuY/aPu812iYNn4/s200/_DSC2802.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Unlike Cadbury World in Birmingham, which is more of an educational experience, you can go on a guided tour of the manufacturing area of the Dunedin factory. Donning a hairnet (it felt like being back at the kiwifruit packhouse in <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/fruits-of-our-labour.html" target="_blank">Kerikeri</a>) we were given a 75-minute tour of the factory by an over-enthusiastic tour guide in his purple overalls. Following the scent of chocolate round the factory, we watched some videos on the history of the company and the production of certain products such as Jaffas, Roses and madly enough easter eggs for next year! Apparently, the colour purple they use (<b>Pantone 2865c</b>) for their packaging and branding is a registered trademark, which Cadbury has been using on it's chocolate wrappers for over 100 years!<br />
<br />
At various stages we were given free samples of the chocolates only available in New Zealand. Once we reached the end of tour we saw a one-of-a-kind waterfall located in one of the old storage silos - the world's largest chocolate waterfall dumping a whopping tonne of liquid chocolate!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lEmX3UPgy8s/UBN9XL9xPbI/AAAAAAAABQ4/9a3i1vf2fIA/s1600/P1040755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lEmX3UPgy8s/UBN9XL9xPbI/AAAAAAAABQ4/9a3i1vf2fIA/s400/P1040755.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie at Crunchie mountain!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Xx_6Th0IQY/UBN9ZQgJs-I/AAAAAAAABRI/3BwxwJbRDxg/s1600/P1040795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Xx_6Th0IQY/UBN9ZQgJs-I/AAAAAAAABRI/3BwxwJbRDxg/s400/P1040795.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vintage 1919 Model TT C-Cab Ford delivery truck</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5wWb6egn0o/UBN9aVfsiPI/AAAAAAAABRQ/jdua6RUW0NQ/s1600/P1040796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5wWb6egn0o/UBN9aVfsiPI/AAAAAAAABRQ/jdua6RUW0NQ/s640/P1040796.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Stop poking me!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Located in the suburb of North East Valley 3.5 km from the city centre, Baldwin St is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the steepest street in the world. The street runs up the northern side of Signal Hill and is just 350 metres long but rises from 30m above sea level to 100m at the top. At it's maximum, the slope is approx. 19 degrees or 35% - so for every 2.86 metres travelled horizontally, the elevation rises by a metre. It is so steep that the steepest part of the road cannot be sealed with asphalt as tar would flow down the slope on a hot day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KSKm4iNCGlM/UBOBfWb4O2I/AAAAAAAABtI/v9Z8Bt0J8gE/s1600/_DSC2785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KSKm4iNCGlM/UBOBfWb4O2I/AAAAAAAABtI/v9Z8Bt0J8gE/s400/_DSC2785.JPG" width="263" /></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0V6dCBZZhpg/UBOBmxlNzcI/AAAAAAAABtw/USAwovyntpA/s1600/_DSC2794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0V6dCBZZhpg/UBOBmxlNzcI/AAAAAAAABtw/USAwovyntpA/s400/_DSC2794.JPG" width="263" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">I wonder if it bothers the local residents when people stop to take photos of their homes or if they just find it amusing?</span>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dQnKFXuoDzg/UBOBltREh3I/AAAAAAAABto/X1dr5eWQLa0/s1600/_DSC2793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dQnKFXuoDzg/UBOBltREh3I/AAAAAAAABto/X1dr5eWQLa0/s400/_DSC2793.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-stIlF7YybAQ/UGGB6kOyeQI/AAAAAAAAB58/3GWdPk4aXvU/s1600/_DSC2793.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-stIlF7YybAQ/UGGB6kOyeQI/AAAAAAAAB58/3GWdPk4aXvU/s400/_DSC2793.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The same view with the horizon straightened - now the house is slanted!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHyWUxbvU6g/UBN9brX7sYI/AAAAAAAABRY/4NmlhoQPig4/s1600/P1040834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MHyWUxbvU6g/UBN9brX7sYI/AAAAAAAABRY/4NmlhoQPig4/s400/P1040834.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lying flat in the road demonstrates how steep the street is!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q2LcbrJb7tA/UBOBi8l4qGI/AAAAAAAABtg/ymuLq9pT1DU/s1600/_DSC2791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q2LcbrJb7tA/UBOBi8l4qGI/AAAAAAAABtg/ymuLq9pT1DU/s640/_DSC2791.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's hard work getting to the top...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
The walk to the top was fairly forgiving and only took 5-7 minutes, there's even a drinking fountain at the top if you get thirsty! You can get an official certificate to say that you either ran, walked or even crawled this testing incline, however, the tourist shop was closed by the time we got back down to the bottom.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFK1vGLCQ9nMJnQ-16OJH47RB0Nk9H1OPMlh-p8M3Z8ZnbJekLr_9dDvW26c9ALtad0m-jOLDUDVPn8Ps45YALCVU0DGYOQWiIQvMTcvzUpen1qfff8pLErrAjhIk6PHiPcXh3BN-F1cdA/s1600/_DSC2790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFK1vGLCQ9nMJnQ-16OJH47RB0Nk9H1OPMlh-p8M3Z8ZnbJekLr_9dDvW26c9ALtad0m-jOLDUDVPn8Ps45YALCVU0DGYOQWiIQvMTcvzUpen1qfff8pLErrAjhIk6PHiPcXh3BN-F1cdA/s640/_DSC2790.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The dramatic view looking back down Baldwin St</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Apparently the record for running to the top of the street and back down again is 1 minute 56 secs! This was set in 1994, during the annual "<b>Gutbuster</b>" footrace - the name speaks for itself! I was tempted to have a try to see how quickly I could do it but when I saw how steep the street was, I had second thoughts... I wasn't even sure how easy it would be to get back down without losing your balance and doing a faceplant!<br />
<br />
Every year Baldwin St is the venue for an annual charity event where over 30,000 giant Cadbury's Jaffas (spherical orange candy coated chocolates) each printed with a number are released from the top of street and first one to the bottom is the winner! Unfortunately, the Jaffa race is at the very end of the chocolate carnvial and we'll be moving on to the Catlins before the end of the week.<br />
<br />
On a completely different note, I was pleased to find out that my Persian cat friend "Puffy" (or George, as I've finally found what he's properly called and that he's also a lad) who we met at <a href="http://www.elmlodge.co.nz/" target="_blank">Elm Lodge Backpackers</a> is still the resident cat living at the hostel with his friend "Socks" or his more sinister name, Killer!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UNzQTl5UMdI/UBN9Tw0y_5I/AAAAAAAABQg/DKQdYPuPwIU/s1600/P1040748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UNzQTl5UMdI/UBN9Tw0y_5I/AAAAAAAABQg/DKQdYPuPwIU/s640/P1040748.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Mr Bond, I've been expecting you!" - Blofeld with George or "Puffy"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-26561325192676896072012-09-29T02:23:00.002-07:002012-09-29T02:23:18.072-07:00Cloud PiercerIt was an early start for our drive to Aoraki/ Mt Cook and the prospects of it being a clear day weren't looking good as there was still a lot of the low lying cloud hanging around from the previous, but we thought we should persevere as the weather forecast for the following day wasn't much better. The reason why it's important for us to see Aoraki/ Mt Cook was that we never got to see it first time round in New Zealand and it's also the highest peak in Australasia at 3,754m (however, I think this depends on the political definition of Australasia as Mt Wilhelm in Papua New Guinea is higher at 4,509m).<br />
<br />
Driving out along State Highway 8, southwest towards Twizel we eventually reached Lake Pukaki, which is similar to <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/09/lake-tekapo.html" target="_blank">Lake Takepo</a>, in that its a glacier fed lake (sourced by the Tasman River) with pale-turquoise-blue water due to the "rock flour" suspended in the lake. At one point we were up so high in the mountains that we were driving through the clouds along the lakeside. Stopping off at the southern shore we tried to take some photos north towards Aoraki/ Mt Cook but the tops of the mountains were still hidden among the clouds - we weren't even sure if we were going to see the top of Mt Cook at all today....<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8GLQSOiXpy4KBln782cLmRgX434tz2sieglmR9rfbAks0ebm5abKEQ1XQCjVlL0xT9hkRxjLfGLyWopInqwlERWNI6dmW3xfe4Y0qaOxmVhF4nxMuniAq4v8KqTeFiNxYWIYf05Pmcud/s1600/_DSC2374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm8GLQSOiXpy4KBln782cLmRgX434tz2sieglmR9rfbAks0ebm5abKEQ1XQCjVlL0xT9hkRxjLfGLyWopInqwlERWNI6dmW3xfe4Y0qaOxmVhF4nxMuniAq4v8KqTeFiNxYWIYf05Pmcud/s400/_DSC2374.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is possible to see Mt Cook 70km north from here, but not today...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3sTELcqKs4o/UBOAPikIKkI/AAAAAAAABlw/kf19XZ7jBic/s1600/_DSC2375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3sTELcqKs4o/UBOAPikIKkI/AAAAAAAABlw/kf19XZ7jBic/s400/_DSC2375.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Somewhere behind the bank of clouds is the Ben Ohau Range</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><br /><br />Trying not to get too disheartened by the weather, we continued along State Highway 80 (Mount Cook Road) to get to Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, driving along the opposite side of Lake Pukaki. Before we knew it we reached a sea of white, but this wasn't snow - it was a flock of sheep! I wondered at what point we might come across a flock on our travels as I would have been disappointed not to have seen any in the rural areas!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoaqd5Mt-Xn77QxPgSBMed79xqaghUIrqH2GPN-fsvICsfsV1CcuKIri2LUWEd5Vj0RJrcpQO38Zb8iQyT56EIzS891WCx7FhGD30AYGta_X-tF7XArB3wxTlXPbsTIMgFRDzc5hEuAs_/s1600/_DSC2379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoaqd5Mt-Xn77QxPgSBMed79xqaghUIrqH2GPN-fsvICsfsV1CcuKIri2LUWEd5Vj0RJrcpQO38Zb8iQyT56EIzS891WCx7FhGD30AYGta_X-tF7XArB3wxTlXPbsTIMgFRDzc5hEuAs_/s400/_DSC2379.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A small number of New Zealand's 40 million sheep!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DGEGeraVSWc/UBOARJq964I/AAAAAAAABmA/NbOihd3uR8A/s1600/_DSC2380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DGEGeraVSWc/UBOARJq964I/AAAAAAAABmA/NbOihd3uR8A/s400/_DSC2380.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Insert your own sheep joke here or a "ewe-phemism"! Boom!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e_3Zltoo2dY/UBOASOCbikI/AAAAAAAABmI/sIaSL21bJkI/s1600/_DSC2384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e_3Zltoo2dY/UBOASOCbikI/AAAAAAAABmI/sIaSL21bJkI/s400/_DSC2384.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The sheep didn't want to stick around as the puns were so "baaad"!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<br /><br />The closer we got to Aoraki/Mt Cook the clearer the skies got and it seemed for once that our perseverance was going to pay off! Arriving in Aoraki/ Mt Cook village we noticed that the Hooker Valley and Tasman Valley roads were closed so we decided to get some more information at the <b>Department of Conservation</b> visitor centre. The visitor centre was very impressive as it had lots of informative displays and exhibits, as well as weather information and advice on walks and activities in the national park. Aoraki/ Mt Cook National Park is part of the <b>Southwest New Zealand</b> <b>World Heritage Area </b>(Te Wāhipounamu - the place of greenstone). Of the 27 mountains over 3,050m in New Zealand, 19 of them are in this park.<br />
<br />
Known as Aoraki to the Māori, or "Cloud Piercer" after an ancestral diety in Māori mythology, Mt Cook itself is more of a range of unimaginatively named peaks with the highest point being High Peak at 3,754m followed by Middle Peak at 3,742m and then Low Peak at 3,595m .<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BeJfQ4FnrO4/UBOATM66qmI/AAAAAAAABmQ/nOabp-_h4uI/s1600/_DSC2412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BeJfQ4FnrO4/UBOATM66qmI/AAAAAAAABmQ/nOabp-_h4uI/s400/_DSC2412.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">The visitor centre gives</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"> a spectacular axial view of Aoraki/ Mt Cook </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KdkZU-skcS0/UBN9wjQ-D1I/AAAAAAAABUQ/SBTybwRLf3c/s1600/_CSC2410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KdkZU-skcS0/UBN9wjQ-D1I/AAAAAAAABUQ/SBTybwRLf3c/s640/_CSC2410.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Stained glass window looking out towards the Sealy Range</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
We had hoped to do the Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier View trail, plus the Hooker Valley Track, however due to road closures (because of snow) we would have had to walk back out to the Tasman Valley road from the village and a further 8 km to the start of the track, so we opted to do just the Hooker Valley Track (roughly 2 hours one way) and if we had time the Kea Point Track (1 hour one way) as well, which was along the way.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyhco6yFbbHISmfxGSrOI3PAxijISFRujsrcqt8sxuJnbt8k_iK6RyGnnlzqRl6vqtjc0tWthyphenhyphenURMpo-fD4FwJOhU8PpyQHafc3O7BKBy92xGX8Lql6EXlqf-KJcKQX4fy2ItNY5wWWJD/s1600/P1040641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyhco6yFbbHISmfxGSrOI3PAxijISFRujsrcqt8sxuJnbt8k_iK6RyGnnlzqRl6vqtjc0tWthyphenhyphenURMpo-fD4FwJOhU8PpyQHafc3O7BKBy92xGX8Lql6EXlqf-KJcKQX4fy2ItNY5wWWJD/s640/P1040641.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the top right hand corner of the shot is Aoraki/ Mt Cook, 6.5km in the distance</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-__vKoEUjo-E/UBOAVd5A4oI/AAAAAAAABmg/EbrfYOXmr64/s1600/_DSC2422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-__vKoEUjo-E/UBOAVd5A4oI/AAAAAAAABmg/EbrfYOXmr64/s400/_DSC2422.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The view looking back in the direction of the village</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEVL3asJnVTwuR3hmMaxP8Fe6hFfqr8eIHqOPy9geZpVw9joCYhOsnG3-zkrLBrrE_Rqf8QxawzAJ63lDOkyagpIFmXrKrqx7W5KPfSUZuGnTwtO2C5Cs0TTxrI7t3mxkEx3tUU79Q1qm/s1600/_DSC2427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEVL3asJnVTwuR3hmMaxP8Fe6hFfqr8eIHqOPy9geZpVw9joCYhOsnG3-zkrLBrrE_Rqf8QxawzAJ63lDOkyagpIFmXrKrqx7W5KPfSUZuGnTwtO2C5Cs0TTxrI7t3mxkEx3tUU79Q1qm/s400/_DSC2427.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The ice crystals on the ground were absolutely huge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uKo1cZquotQ/UBOAXElBcuI/AAAAAAAABmw/90Y969ETioM/s1600/_DSC2431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uKo1cZquotQ/UBOAXElBcuI/AAAAAAAABmw/90Y969ETioM/s400/_DSC2431.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Deciding to do the Hooker Valley Track first as it's one of the most popular walks in the national park, we started off from the centre of the village walking the past the famous alpine hotel, The Hermitage. There's a bronze statue of a youthful Sir Edmund Hillary looking outwards to Aoraki/ Mt Cook, where he first climbed the South Ridge in 1948. Following the track past White Horse Hill campsite, Lizzie stumbled upon "<b>Freda's Rock</b>", which was the rock where self-taught Australian climber Freda du Faur posed for a photo whilst on her way to becoming the first woman to reach the summit of Aoraki/ Mt Cook on 3<sup>rd</sup> December 1910 with local guides Alec and Peter Graham<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">. </span></span>Their venture was the second successful ascent of the west ridge of Aoraki/ Mt Cook and was completed in a record time of 14 hours return – this not only made Freda the first female to reach the peak of New Zealand’s tallest mountain, but also the first Australian!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yATAO6GccKc/UBOAZKnrkHI/AAAAAAAABm4/eRIc94nqdRI/s1600/_DSC2434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yATAO6GccKc/UBOAZKnrkHI/AAAAAAAABm4/eRIc94nqdRI/s400/_DSC2434.JPG" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie posing at Freda's Rock </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Emmeline_Freda_du_Faur,_by_George_Edward_Mannering_(1862-1947).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Emmeline_Freda_du_Faur,_by_George_Edward_Mannering_(1862-1947).jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The first woman to conquer Mt Cook</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The photo of Emmeline Freda du Faur by George Edward Mannering is a New Zealand work available in the public domain.<br />
<br />
A little further along the path we reached the <b>Alpine Memorial</b>, which serves as a poignant reminder of how dangerous the mountains can be. There were numerous plaques in memory to people of all ages, nationalities and gender. The youngest person on the memorial was 18 years old and the most recent death was back in 2004.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7k2w4J5roDY/UBOAbSaXwCI/AAAAAAAABnI/Q2co-m5hz_U/s1600/_DSC2442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7k2w4J5roDY/UBOAbSaXwCI/AAAAAAAABnI/Q2co-m5hz_U/s400/_DSC2442.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many climbers have lost their lives in Aoraki/ Mount Cook National Park</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YhqcgD9mKlI/UBOAaEFNcSI/AAAAAAAABnA/dSOE-6u5Tv0/s1600/_DSC2440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YhqcgD9mKlI/UBOAaEFNcSI/AAAAAAAABnA/dSOE-6u5Tv0/s400/_DSC2440.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">The me</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">morial serves as a great viewpoint to Mt Cook, a fitting tribute</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
When we reached the Mueller Lake viewpoint we can could see three smaller glaciers on the <b>Main Divide</b>: the Huddleston Glacier, Stocking Glacier (Te Waewae) and obviously the Mueller Glacier.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rAntST0gu-I/UFmcTNQHdYI/AAAAAAAAB2U/tbrGUoNHT30/s1600/Hooker+Valley+illustration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rAntST0gu-I/UFmcTNQHdYI/AAAAAAAAB2U/tbrGUoNHT30/s640/Hooker+Valley+illustration.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It was here that we also reached our first swing bridge of the walk, although I couldn't figure out why it was called that as it looked more like a suspension bridge made of wood and steel cables, however, it didn't half sway as we crossed over the turbulent Hooker River.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w3-ZASvSFOo/UBOAfAPLaSI/AAAAAAAABng/lXFzQwUcanY/s1600/_DSC2449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w3-ZASvSFOo/UBOAfAPLaSI/AAAAAAAABng/lXFzQwUcanY/s400/_DSC2449.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The first swing bridge of the walk above the icy Hooker River</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5j5clwX0k21bd64RLrPDiwe6nGLHbg-aJEXeEFh137cnkE5ThiqM54vjNsZPhipBcCQUA_kkVvcxfKfFKG1IUBSwzfzEGZoTAeViwU3VlnQoPL8jUyvJWWftM96CI9sVCqvdkI87Cyyr/s1600/_DSC2452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5j5clwX0k21bd64RLrPDiwe6nGLHbg-aJEXeEFh137cnkE5ThiqM54vjNsZPhipBcCQUA_kkVvcxfKfFKG1IUBSwzfzEGZoTAeViwU3VlnQoPL8jUyvJWWftM96CI9sVCqvdkI87Cyyr/s400/_DSC2452.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie at the other end of the swing bridge with the Sealy Range behind</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Making our way northeast through the valley above the frozen Mueller Lake, it was so calm and silent you could hear the ice creaking and cracking as it was slowly moving in the lake below - it was quite an eerie experience especially when we hadn't seen anyone else on the walk.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/Mueller_Glacier_Lake_and_moraine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/Mueller_Glacier_Lake_and_moraine.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A panoramic view of the Mueller Glacier, Hooker River and moraine - click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/7779421212/in/photostream/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Continuing on the track there was a distant rumbling sound in the mountains like a stampede down a hill and before we knew it there was a small avalanche taking place on the top of Mt Sefton! It was quite exciting and scary at the same time as we weren't expecting anything like that to happen through the valley. It wasn't as dramatic as it sounds but it did put us on edge for a little while.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B8GCksmEdv8/UBN9yDaMTWI/AAAAAAAABUY/nQB6Vr-6250/s1600/_CSC2524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B8GCksmEdv8/UBN9yDaMTWI/AAAAAAAABUY/nQB6Vr-6250/s400/_CSC2524.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">AV-A-LANCHE!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Just before the second swing bridge, there were a couple of warning signs saying that the bluff section before the second bridge was icy and had dangerous drop offs! What we hadn't appreciated was how icy the path had become, and a couple of times we had to hold onto the hand rail with both hands just to pull ourselves up the stone steps without stopping in case of falling rocks! Lizzie wasn't impressed by this part of the trail but I don't think it was as bad as it looked - I thought the rickety second swing bridge was much worse...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mnmtAOTsIEs/UBOAhsbt4ZI/AAAAAAAABnw/FHOwEBiFhTU/s1600/_DSC2468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mnmtAOTsIEs/UBOAhsbt4ZI/AAAAAAAABnw/FHOwEBiFhTU/s400/_DSC2468.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There's a small warning on a sheet of paper about the icy bluff ahead!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N8EYMQGtem0/UBOAjgx2uOI/AAAAAAAABn4/4sLK-RjimVw/s1600/_DSC2469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N8EYMQGtem0/UBOAjgx2uOI/AAAAAAAABn4/4sLK-RjimVw/s400/_DSC2469.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">No stopping for photos round the bluff</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K7JU-160fNs/UBOAlUaXW3I/AAAAAAAABoA/SjPlHYibRCk/s1600/_DSC2471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K7JU-160fNs/UBOAlUaXW3I/AAAAAAAABoA/SjPlHYibRCk/s400/_DSC2471.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can just about make out the hand rail keeping us from the river below</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /><br />Shortly after crossing the second swing bridge we lost the path down by the river as all we could see were icy boulders. The DOC leaflet we picked up (<a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/canterbury/Aoraki/walks-around-aoraki-village.pdf" target="_blank">Walks around Aoraki/ Mount Cook village</a>) wasn't much help as it was a bit light on content and the map wasn't detailed enough - I guess the track at this point is more obvious during the summer.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbNzmsoftaA/UBOApMWSvaI/AAAAAAAABoQ/VNsySaMT8Ck/s1600/_DSC2484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lbNzmsoftaA/UBOApMWSvaI/AAAAAAAABoQ/VNsySaMT8Ck/s400/_DSC2484.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Where do we go now?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WK40UgUeqPU/UBN9y2DOGTI/AAAAAAAABUg/3c22VRaf6d4/s1600/_CSC2535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WK40UgUeqPU/UBN9y2DOGTI/AAAAAAAABUg/3c22VRaf6d4/s400/_CSC2535.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Wind blowing snow off the peak of Mt Sefton</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We were meant to continue beside the river but after quite a lot deliberating we found some stepping stones and the track became clear to us once again. Crossing over the frozen Stocking Stream to the shelter, it was another half an hour before we reached the terminal face of the glacier but when we reached the Hooker Lake it was a sight to behold. We were able to walk right up from the frozen lake edge 900m above sea level, looking up at the glacier and towards the peak of Aoraki/Mt Cook.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZsaYr9L5tJPPNums9rk4Sk2VeqA2D-HWABTLIM7-qtq7CBr7Jp0eMStIwxJMtMtTM1cSa8E21cPu5c4wQmUmDnIvHnS2w37C-AmmsqWYvh2IRs-OwGyak3tJRYA9E_bnvgvdP5yxKYtF/s1600/P1040690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZsaYr9L5tJPPNums9rk4Sk2VeqA2D-HWABTLIM7-qtq7CBr7Jp0eMStIwxJMtMtTM1cSa8E21cPu5c4wQmUmDnIvHnS2w37C-AmmsqWYvh2IRs-OwGyak3tJRYA9E_bnvgvdP5yxKYtF/s640/P1040690.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Avalanche warning? I laugh in the face of danger!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1JUgUOPe8t4/UBOArrjShyI/AAAAAAAABog/tNyGsYNaRYs/s1600/_DSC2499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1JUgUOPe8t4/UBOArrjShyI/AAAAAAAABog/tNyGsYNaRYs/s400/_DSC2499.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Hooker Glacier approx. 11km in length (6-7 miles)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qosxopHhQFI/UBOAtI2Uk1I/AAAAAAAABoo/FsoQnusq2mE/s1600/_DSC2503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qosxopHhQFI/UBOAtI2Uk1I/AAAAAAAABoo/FsoQnusq2mE/s400/_DSC2503.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Reflections in the frozen Hooker Lake</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PaOjy0wlAS4/UBOAvLIioYI/AAAAAAAABow/FT9lTQRF_VM/s1600/_DSC2510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PaOjy0wlAS4/UBOAvLIioYI/AAAAAAAABow/FT9lTQRF_VM/s400/_DSC2510.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The upper sections of the Hooker Glacier</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Edging as close to the terminal face as possible, we walked under a pretty steep slope with some precarious looking rocks. You also could hear the sheets of ice splintering by the lake edge and the occasional distant groaning noise which I reckon was from the glacier but it was really creepy and we decided it was a good time to head back to the village - it was wilderness at it's best as we'd only seen three people on the whole walk!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OhR6UBtNYdc/UBN9SlQp03I/AAAAAAAABQY/JXtWay7fXqo/s1600/P1040697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OhR6UBtNYdc/UBN9SlQp03I/AAAAAAAABQY/JXtWay7fXqo/s400/P1040697.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">By far the most impressive thing we've seen in New Zealand!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T3nzAmOdMtQ/UBOAx-ytTgI/AAAAAAAABpA/n4sjW3lggEY/s1600/_DSC2513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T3nzAmOdMtQ/UBOAx-ytTgI/AAAAAAAABpA/n4sjW3lggEY/s400/_DSC2513.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Down at the terminal face of the Hooker Glacier</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrUbwrRRpW1MMY5_Su2SWrPTIX1F8vodS4ss6KRf5-YyJGzTxc1wyhvy7Rbn7zDIQoezf8wvHKFErZpJnwqnxAM_idGg91VzLOuqQ8PiU0y55Q4x7vseNS1lKun4Ynw1_m0gYkMzYPJTk/s1600/_DSC2488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrUbwrRRpW1MMY5_Su2SWrPTIX1F8vodS4ss6KRf5-YyJGzTxc1wyhvy7Rbn7zDIQoezf8wvHKFErZpJnwqnxAM_idGg91VzLOuqQ8PiU0y55Q4x7vseNS1lKun4Ynw1_m0gYkMzYPJTk/s400/_DSC2488.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Walking back towards the swing bridge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
On the way back to the village we saw another avalanche off Mt Sefton but this time we were on the icy bluff after the swing bridge so I didn't have an opportunity to stop and take photos. By the time we reached the point where the Kea Point Track started, we decided not to bother as we had spent quite a lot of time on the Hooker Valley Track and we felt that Mueller Glacier wasn't that impressive - we weren't even sure if we had seen it...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wqz2L2CP9WE/UBOAwY6FpAI/AAAAAAAABo4/PqZL5WDmTLU/s1600/_DSC2512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wqz2L2CP9WE/UBOAwY6FpAI/AAAAAAAABo4/PqZL5WDmTLU/s400/_DSC2512.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Quite literally the indomitable face of Mt Cook</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OdQ0FRnUg1g/UBOAz6NPIeI/AAAAAAAABpI/0Q5PgYNsetQ/s1600/_DSC2525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OdQ0FRnUg1g/UBOAz6NPIeI/AAAAAAAABpI/0Q5PgYNsetQ/s400/_DSC2525.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The opposite end of Lake Pukaki from the Hooker Valley</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
On the whole, it was a much better day than we could have imagined, although possibly not the safest way to enjoy seeing Aoraki/ Mt Cook. The track in particular was really icy on large parts of the walk and it wouldn't have gone amiss to have worn crampons on certain parts, especially on the bluff when we walked above the river towards the second swing bridge. Well at least survived the walk without falling flat on our arses!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phoIfppBsrI/UBOA2V0fkiI/AAAAAAAABpY/4x6jdhVVfgk/s1600/_DSC2540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-phoIfppBsrI/UBOA2V0fkiI/AAAAAAAABpY/4x6jdhVVfgk/s400/_DSC2540.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Light-playing on the mountains during sunset</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KYWakVfwwmU/UBOA3YozAxI/AAAAAAAABpg/dWKlxF--S3M/s1600/_DSC2541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KYWakVfwwmU/UBOA3YozAxI/AAAAAAAABpg/dWKlxF--S3M/s400/_DSC2541.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwlk8FMSLqxWtukih594WMxRTdcqskqbwlE1PPneGwAhnEgNtK23cVMC3l2NxGn9WBdWglLWZlMNI2OklKdDVMx_qkSMw7e3YPqA7HtLlvXrDcL2gDBg3IQnTynsompj-HnO4i5hMCY2c/s1600/_DSC2545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwlk8FMSLqxWtukih594WMxRTdcqskqbwlE1PPneGwAhnEgNtK23cVMC3l2NxGn9WBdWglLWZlMNI2OklKdDVMx_qkSMw7e3YPqA7HtLlvXrDcL2gDBg3IQnTynsompj-HnO4i5hMCY2c/s400/_DSC2545.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-25248378126587731792012-09-14T03:35:00.003-07:002013-11-25T20:12:22.470-08:00Lake Tekapo<div>
It's been a hectic week since arriving in the South Island and now we're off to brave the Southern Alps and see Aoraki/Mt Cook. We'd been a bit apprehensive about driving up in the mountains as we had seen earlier in the week that the Lewis and Arthur's Passes had been closed due to heavy snow fall, which even reached as far down as Queenstown. The general advice for driving on the mountainous roads was to watch for ice and to carry snow chains! <br />
<br />
Not sure what to expect for the drive up to Lake Tekapo, we found a freephone number (0800 44 44 49) for the <strong><a href="http://www.nzta.govt.nz/" target="_blank">New Zealand Transport Agency</a></strong> which gives useful advice on the latest road conditions. As it turned out, all our fretting was for nothing as the roads weren't particuarly twisty and there was only a little ice on the side of the roads where the sun hadn't reached the shaded areas.<br />
<br />
Lake Tekapo is a small township (with a permanent population of just 318!) on the southern shore of it's namesake, 710 metres above sea level. The name derives from the Māori "taka" (sleeping mat) and "po" (night) suggesting that this place has been long used a stopover point in the heart of Mackenzie Country.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/Lake_Tekapo_at_dusk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="108" src="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/Lake_Tekapo_at_dusk.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A panoramic view at the southern shore of Lake Tekapo - click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/7780550308/in/set-72157626997092316/lightbox/" target="_blank">here</a> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SyCRUpfCTfo/UBN_1tm490I/AAAAAAAABig/oSPfDBOTadU/s1600/_DSC2193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SyCRUpfCTfo/UBN_1tm490I/AAAAAAAABig/oSPfDBOTadU/s400/_DSC2193.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A golden sunset over Lake Tekapo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tS0IuIh15zQ/UBN_2ViM9NI/AAAAAAAABio/cYnmv8pLALg/s1600/_DSC2197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tS0IuIh15zQ/UBN_2ViM9NI/AAAAAAAABio/cYnmv8pLALg/s400/_DSC2197.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The lake itself lies in a trough scoured by the Tekapo Glacier during the most recent ice age, approx. 15,000-25,000 years ago. As the climate warmed, the Tekapo Glacier retreated up the Godley Valley where it now exists as the Classen, Maud, Grey and Godley Glaciers, which are all the source of the Godley River that feeds into Lake Tekapo. It pretty hard to imagine that there was once a glacier in it's place but I think we'll get a pretty good idea when we head over to Aoraki/Mt Cook and if we see the glaciers on the West Coast.<br />
<br />
The turquoise-blue colour of the lake is created by "<b>rock flour</b>" - this when the glaciers in the headwaters of Tekapo grind rock into a fine dust on their journey down towards the lake. These microscopic rock particles give the ice-fed waters of the lake it's unique water colour when reflecting the sunlight.<br />
<br />
In all honesty I was a little disappointed that the lake wasn't more striking or as vibrant as some of the photos I have seen but this might be because we're looking at the wrong time of year or even that the photos we've seen have been overly photoshopped...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
As we heard that the walk to the Mt John lookout is one of the best in the area, we decided to give it a try for our first full day in Lake Tekapo. Starting off at the Winter Park complex off Lakeside Drive, we decided to walk up through the larch trees via the <b>Summit Circuit Track</b>, however, it was really slippery to begin with walking on the compacted snow and ice!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aESyqKwZj-w/UBN_9d8HkmI/AAAAAAAABjQ/0UYLj1Q386A/s1600/_DSC2245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aESyqKwZj-w/UBN_9d8HkmI/AAAAAAAABjQ/0UYLj1Q386A/s400/_DSC2245.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Crampons would have been useful for climbing this icy slope!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NsNSDgAU-5g/UBN_8NxK_nI/AAAAAAAABjI/IBt_9SOOclk/s1600/_DSC2243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NsNSDgAU-5g/UBN_8NxK_nI/AAAAAAAABjI/IBt_9SOOclk/s400/_DSC2243.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking over the lake through the tree line</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Mt John is 1031m above sea level and from what I read in a Department of Conservation leaflet, it's a <b>roche moutonnée </b>(small dome) formed by glacial ice flowing over it. The mountain was named after an early farmer in the district, John Hay, who used to run Tekapo Station, the first sheep farm in the Mackenzie Basin. Seeing as were already 710m above sea level to begin with it would only be another 321m to the top!<br />
<br />
It was hard work getting through the forest but once we reached the top it was definitely worth the effort as there's a viewing platform where you can get spectacular 360 degree panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, Lake Tekapo and Alexandrina, and across the Mackenzie Basin flats.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f1JO1QzJqVE/UBOAAZ_QORI/AAAAAAAABjo/XgA67QXP52M/s1600/_DSC2253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f1JO1QzJqVE/UBOAAZ_QORI/AAAAAAAABjo/XgA67QXP52M/s400/_DSC2253.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The observation point above the larches</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-87_nkgmWBk0/UBN9OXqE1II/AAAAAAAABP4/WkwXDxNYRHE/s1600/P1040487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-87_nkgmWBk0/UBN9OXqE1II/AAAAAAAABP4/WkwXDxNYRHE/s400/P1040487.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On the summit of Mt John</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/Lake_Tekapo_from_Mt_John.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="113" src="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/Lake_Tekapo_from_Mt_John.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View of Lake Tekapo from the top of Mt John - click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/7779440126/in/photostream/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/The_Southern_Alps_and_Mackensie_Basin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="74" src="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/The_Southern_Alps_and_Mackensie_Basin.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Panoramic view of the Southern Alps looking west- click </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/7779431676/in/set-72157626997092316/lightbox/" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-size: small;"> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DMLT9YfpMEM/UBOAB3H6n_I/AAAAAAAABjw/hmIbeVsaLCE/s1600/_DSC2258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DMLT9YfpMEM/UBOAB3H6n_I/AAAAAAAABjw/hmIbeVsaLCE/s400/_DSC2258.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Southern Alps extend as far as the eye can see</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
After soaking up the views, we then had a cup of tea and hot chocolate at the Astro Café by the Mt John <b>University Observatory</b>, which is operated by The University of Canterbury Department of Physics and Astronomy.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvHzrCUY5xDCAIaWsdcbHddBk9lTbtJ2fEMIsfhZw1mSZoEA36mJm3SA9XUtLAgLFDoKrG5D5zjMEZwYb6V6GLRgsvjgMTJF97fiZCN5H8EeE9oPYlytGHQD03yQOX_FZErKfxesemxL-/s1600/_DSC2305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvHzrCUY5xDCAIaWsdcbHddBk9lTbtJ2fEMIsfhZw1mSZoEA36mJm3SA9XUtLAgLFDoKrG5D5zjMEZwYb6V6GLRgsvjgMTJF97fiZCN5H8EeE9oPYlytGHQD03yQOX_FZErKfxesemxL-/s400/_DSC2305.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The internationally renowned Mt John University Observatory </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-32aenm65TeM/UBOAGWGF-nI/AAAAAAAABkY/rSKjBATM3Rw/s1600/_DSC2306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-32aenm65TeM/UBOAGWGF-nI/AAAAAAAABkY/rSKjBATM3Rw/s400/_DSC2306.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bit strange that the observatory doesn't want any aliens visitors!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7dkJHhp8aR4/UBOAHGyjzoI/AAAAAAAABkg/kkHb0nUF5bU/s1600/_DSC2309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7dkJHhp8aR4/UBOAHGyjzoI/AAAAAAAABkg/kkHb0nUF5bU/s640/_DSC2309.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie at the Mt John trig point</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Mt John was chosen as the best site for an observatory housing the largest telescope in New Zealand due to the latitudinal position of the Mackenzie Basin as the southern sky can be seen continously throughout the year. Lake Tekapo also has a uniquely dark sky due to the stability and transparency of the atmosphere. UNESCO World Heritage status is currently being sought for the area as the first starlight preservation reserve.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rURM7-UjDMk/UBOACzS73kI/AAAAAAAABj4/wOVYh-W_qik/s1600/_DSC2263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rURM7-UjDMk/UBOACzS73kI/AAAAAAAABj4/wOVYh-W_qik/s400/_DSC2263.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View across to Motuariki Island ("motu" - island & "ariki' - chief)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SozLHU3N6CvSPQfjKwKFRgdOpGjpsqXpsgWrXtifBTPCRwTUO-EDJbW6XrD3OL0VX3YXYGROsWw-qNdmGWl4jAUBNprV2bPpbOrHFc44psGlOgqLjvlwUaLS8EVQqivvgv8tB6pOwTOg/s1600/_DSC2304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SozLHU3N6CvSPQfjKwKFRgdOpGjpsqXpsgWrXtifBTPCRwTUO-EDJbW6XrD3OL0VX3YXYGROsWw-qNdmGWl4jAUBNprV2bPpbOrHFc44psGlOgqLjvlwUaLS8EVQqivvgv8tB6pOwTOg/s400/_DSC2304.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lake Alexandrina to the left and Lake Tekapo on the right</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Continuing on from the summit, we then followed the track back down the eastern face of Mt John to the lakeshore. The further we walked round the lake the more stunning it became with the light of the setting sun shining over the mountains on the western shore and the moon rising from behind Mt Hay - it was a great way to finish the walk.</div>
<div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tWlBXtBBfvs/UBOAI9G3mvI/AAAAAAAABkw/ht6eystANXI/s1600/_DSC2332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tWlBXtBBfvs/UBOAI9G3mvI/AAAAAAAABkw/ht6eystANXI/s400/_DSC2332.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Mt Hay dominates over the eastern shore at 1173m</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nLDHQrBE9Fo/UBOAH3xvt1I/AAAAAAAABko/r25AfPBolQc/s1600/_DSC2324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nLDHQrBE9Fo/UBOAH3xvt1I/AAAAAAAABko/r25AfPBolQc/s400/_DSC2324.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As mentioned previously, Lake Tekapo is one of the best places for observing the evening sky, party due to the consistently high ratio of clear nights, as well as being reputed to have the cleanest air in the southern hemisphere.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBC3Izw1Shoa8zE19XFzoaGeH9rQMauAfi8CA7RGYkFzQQ8O3ZecftmoiiBwiiuQFlcABfKxpwkahsOHGseRWSfb_XSU6ueu0wVul1Ec7xwDkmbmLLvlU7Cd0WVEdrbwLvLSnTzHv_1BZ/s1600/_DSC2229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBC3Izw1Shoa8zE19XFzoaGeH9rQMauAfi8CA7RGYkFzQQ8O3ZecftmoiiBwiiuQFlcABfKxpwkahsOHGseRWSfb_XSU6ueu0wVul1Ec7xwDkmbmLLvlU7Cd0WVEdrbwLvLSnTzHv_1BZ/s400/_DSC2229.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The night sky shot from Tailor-Made Backpackers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O0Ax3lOroV0/UBN_3MUMimI/AAAAAAAABiw/xZYji6asuE4/s1600/_DSC2225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O0Ax3lOroV0/UBN_3MUMimI/AAAAAAAABiw/xZYji6asuE4/s400/_DSC2225.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lake Tekapo is reputedly one of the best stargazing sites in NZ</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
So, that evening we had an <a href="http://www.astrophotography.co.nz/" target="_blank">astrophotography lesson</a> with renowned local photographer <a href="http://www.frasergunn.co.nz/index.html" target="_blank"><strong>Fraser Gunn</strong></a>. As the moon was almost in its full phase and it was a clear night we took some detailed shots of the moon's surface in particular of the crater <b>Copernicus</b>, as well as a "nearby" star cluster <b>M4</b> in the Scorpius constellation.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QVdSF7IuQME/UBN9Cnz_olI/AAAAAAAABOQ/-zr7-bCjZhY/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QVdSF7IuQME/UBN9Cnz_olI/AAAAAAAABOQ/-zr7-bCjZhY/s400/IMG_0001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A near perfect full moon shot through a Tele Vue-60is telescope</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BG6GX849jxMmaZmq_8CPGMtAOOFzXO4x4KA50EsSKD3V7xeokZmIoVSf3ZafYQts6a-AWhor3VxuUuNx7PWbzJp6f4CO64urDfg2Bj3wRl_ok1Jy5Za8pfEbUjRkDIpOlVPWP0ux1SQO/s1600/Group1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_BG6GX849jxMmaZmq_8CPGMtAOOFzXO4x4KA50EsSKD3V7xeokZmIoVSf3ZafYQts6a-AWhor3VxuUuNx7PWbzJp6f4CO64urDfg2Bj3wRl_ok1Jy5Za8pfEbUjRkDIpOlVPWP0ux1SQO/s400/Group1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Copernicus impact crater which can be viewed on <a href="http://www.google.com/moon/" target="_blank">Google Moon</a> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PQJy8pV8dI8/UBN9DmHQTVI/AAAAAAAABOY/PZDTzjH6Fig/s1600/Messier-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PQJy8pV8dI8/UBN9DmHQTVI/AAAAAAAABOY/PZDTzjH6Fig/s400/Messier-4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">M4 is one of the largest globular star clusters in our galaxy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As part of the lesson we were shown how to set up the camera attached to the telescope, align it and focus it on the moon or stars using some pretty nifty software, as well as processing several images on some photo editing software. It was massively geeky but very cool at the same time - I think I found my new expensive hobby!<br />
<br />
Fraser explained that through his portfolio of work he was noticed by Mt John Observatory and was offered a job to be an astrophotographer. He also showed us some of the time lapse animations he created to show how the stars move on the earth's axis throughout the night as well as some amazing videos of the <b>Aurora Australis</b> (Southern Lights) over Lake Tekapo.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/UOqDLFzsrCA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/y-wIWUia-zI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<br />
It was definitely the best two and half hours we spent and excellent value for money, as it was $40 for the first hour and then $20 per hour there after. If you ever stop through Lake Tekapo be sure to check if Fraser has availability as it's a much cheaper to way to do some star gazing than on one of the tours at the Mt John Observatory.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
On our last full day in Lake Tekapo, we had read that down by Pioneer Drive, there's a sheepdog memorial and small stone church called the <b>Church of the Good Shepherd</b> (although unrelated to each other), which are both significant to the area, so we went down to the lakefront to try and find out more. The border collie statue was created as a monument by the run-holders of Mackenzie Country as a tribute to the farm dogs who made it possible for grazing on the mountains to take place. </div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DFBGHnBqqm8/UBOAMJ3WA6I/AAAAAAAABlQ/IzwU-a2lChU/s1600/_DSC2357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DFBGHnBqqm8/UBOAMJ3WA6I/AAAAAAAABlQ/IzwU-a2lChU/s640/_DSC2357.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie with one of the best known public monuments in New Zealand</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1l61hJlJFTE/UBOAMhdJVoI/AAAAAAAABlY/VEPp0yRwgI4/s1600/_DSC2358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1l61hJlJFTE/UBOAMhdJVoI/AAAAAAAABlY/VEPp0yRwgI4/s400/_DSC2358.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A tribute to the farmer's best friend</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Church of the Good Shepherd is possibly one of the most photographed churches in New Zealand but trying to get a picture of the church without a hundred tourists in the shot was an absolute farce. Wave after wave of tour groups were being dropped off with people clambering to get a shot of the border collie statue, the lake and especially the church.<br />
<br />
It's a very nice church but I don't quite understand what makes it such an important place for everyone to stop and see as they arrive into Lake Tekapo - it couldn't be for religious reasons as there were quite a few Asian tourists posing in front of the altar. One girl even asked if she could pay for $6 worth of postcards by EFTPOS or credit card - bearing in mind that Lake Tekapo is so small it doesn't have any banking facilities in the village! <br />
<br />
One of the few shots of the church that I managed to get was of the view behind the altar, which perfectly frames the lake and the surround mountains. Giving up in frustration in trying to get a shot of the church without some random person photobombing it, we decided to do some snow tubing and check at the thermal pools at Tekapo Springs instead!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0PWHaAYwljk/UBOALee3onI/AAAAAAAABlI/R7BHOza0gU8/s1600/_DSC2351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0PWHaAYwljk/UBOALee3onI/AAAAAAAABlI/R7BHOza0gU8/s400/_DSC2351.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The alter at the Church of the Good Shepherd</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkrkB9Pkh4dlVSImhhnvQCwmrw-pr2hqbf1Kegc47H89hHfcgRMlhRpu0NslulWG5CbKA6RborQIL1Fj6ibDu77YcnSlJ9hnLvb7m-DzvaIuuiXBiZl30PJztyjQSrKVL8PxMKZCnPEC3/s1600/P1040523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkrkB9Pkh4dlVSImhhnvQCwmrw-pr2hqbf1Kegc47H89hHfcgRMlhRpu0NslulWG5CbKA6RborQIL1Fj6ibDu77YcnSlJ9hnLvb7m-DzvaIuuiXBiZl30PJztyjQSrKVL8PxMKZCnPEC3/s400/P1040523.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of the many consecutive coach loads of tourists at the church</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-31623397153865580562012-09-11T23:49:00.000-07:002012-09-11T23:49:52.283-07:00A journey through the red zonePicture the scene, you're in the middle of a city and it looks something out of an apocalypse film, empty derelict buildings, boarded up houses, barracades and warning signs everywhere. This is pretty much how central Christchurch looks 18 months on since the 6.3 magnitude earthquake which devastated the city on 22<sup>nd</sup> February 2011.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ku7ln8RueI/UBN9jGzIZsI/AAAAAAAABSY/jSt34ctJ_mo/s1600/_CSC2127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ku7ln8RueI/UBN9jGzIZsI/AAAAAAAABSY/jSt34ctJ_mo/s400/_CSC2127.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A poignant memorial by the Oxford Terrace Baptist Church</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hkhJoqFnr0U/UBN9hRBBMyI/AAAAAAAABSI/6qxvkTFln7Q/s1600/_CSC2121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hkhJoqFnr0U/UBN9hRBBMyI/AAAAAAAABSI/6qxvkTFln7Q/s400/_CSC2121.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r4dWa1VO-Vc/UBN_VytNCkI/AAAAAAAABfI/x9Fzns3Flok/s1600/_DSC2079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r4dWa1VO-Vc/UBN_VytNCkI/AAAAAAAABfI/x9Fzns3Flok/s400/_DSC2079.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Punting down the River Avon used to be one of the main tourist attractions, now, it's touring the borders of the red zone - these are the areas of the city which are off limit as they're too dangerous to walk through. There's a morbid curiousity which draws people to see how little has changed since the earthquake, which claimed 185 lives. Some people were even cruising around the red zone from the comfort of their cars where possible which makes the situation even more bizarre - more recently it was announced that <b>CERA</b> (the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority) were running <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5906234/Christchurch-red-zone-tours-set-to-begin" target="_blank">bus tours</a> through the red zone. It might seem hypocritical that we did our own tour round the infamous red zone but it was more of a way of reacquainting ourselves with the city we saw when we first arrived in New Zealand 5 years ago and seeing what remained of the Christchurch we used to know. Some of the photos that I took on our first trip can be viewed <a href="http://www.flickr.com//photos/auzmosis/sets/72157631463490610/show/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.rebuildchristchurch.co.nz/i/154318a02cebf31a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.rebuildchristchurch.co.nz/i/154318a02cebf31a.jpg" width="596" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Christchurch CDB red zone taken from the Rebuild Christchurch website</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It wasn't surprising that we hardly recognised where we were, empty plots of land lie where buildings used to be, certain main roads are fenced off and it's hard to tell what is earthquake damage and what is general reconstruction. More than half of the earthquake’s death toll (across 20 nationalities) occurred in the poorly constructed Canterbury TV building. Even the hostel we originally stayed at on Gloucester Street (<b>Stonehurst Accommodation),</b> no longer exists as it was too badly damaged to be salvaged.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01832/Hotel-Stonehurst_1832181i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01832/Hotel-Stonehurst_1832181i.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The defunct Stonehurst Accomodation - source telegraph.co.uk</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The worst affected area of the Central Business District is down by Cathdral Square which has been completely devestated. The once magnificent catherdral that stood on the square is now a shadow of it's former self. I have memories of taking photos on the Square whilst watching the "Wizard of Christchurch" giving a speech to a crowd of visitors, as a chess player pondered his next move whilst a vintage tram passed by. Christchurch is a very different place today, not quite the "vibrant city in transition" that the tourism collateral portrays it to be - sorry <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand/christchurch-and-canterbury/christchurch/travel-tips-and-articles/76985" target="_blank">Lonely Planet </a>but this just isn't the case. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uEN3LoCRU5Q/UBN_bN_lWkI/AAAAAAAABfo/gOv4gfH4x2U/s1600/_DSC2090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uEN3LoCRU5Q/UBN_bN_lWkI/AAAAAAAABfo/gOv4gfH4x2U/s400/_DSC2090.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The front of the cathedral where the spire used to stand and The Chalice</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eCf2aUAWhIM/UBN_cAGE5fI/AAAAAAAABfw/Hm9x9rPky1I/s1600/_DSC2092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eCf2aUAWhIM/UBN_cAGE5fI/AAAAAAAABfw/Hm9x9rPky1I/s400/_DSC2092.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Aftershocks degraded the building before the Rose Window could be saved</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xNhy-iRB8lc/UBN_dRdlBpI/AAAAAAAABf4/Sn4Kj-ZkAqE/s1600/_DSC2094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xNhy-iRB8lc/UBN_dRdlBpI/AAAAAAAABf4/Sn4Kj-ZkAqE/s640/_DSC2094.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Citizen's War Memorial in front of the Cathedral </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It's not all doom and gloom though, as there are signs of regeneration, but at a slow pace. Maybe it's because of the current economic climate, down to bureaucracy or even waiting for all the seismic activity to settle (apparently there have been some big aftershocks since the earthquake) but it's getting in the way of decisions about what to do with the rebuilding the city. We saw some graffiti down by the High Street showing the general disatisfaction at how long its taking to deal with the damaged buidlings and get back to a sense of normality. It has been estimated that the earthquake is the third most expensive natural disaster in history, potentially costing over $20 billion NZD to rebuild the city, which gives you a bit of perspective as to how big the task at hand is.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4dgTFlrqqN0/UBN9lOgrv-I/AAAAAAAABSo/9lh1fXIxQRQ/s1600/_CSC2130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4dgTFlrqqN0/UBN9lOgrv-I/AAAAAAAABSo/9lh1fXIxQRQ/s400/_CSC2130.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
In terms of the cathedral, the last I heard was that it had been deconsecrated on 9<sup>th</sup> November 2011 and that it will eventually be pulled down, however, another one won't be rebuilt in it's place. This caused a lot of public outcry and opposition from groups such as the UNESCO World Heritage Centre calling for the landmark cathedral to be saved as it would testify to history and continuity of cultural life, that a brand new building wouldn't be able to convey.<br />
<br />
Down by Cashel Street, near the Bridge of Remeberamce is a temporary "pop up village" called <b>Re:START</b>, which is next to where the old shopping precinct used to be. Opened at the end of October 2011, it's a novel idea as all the 29 retail units are based in vibrant colourful shipping containers designed to bring commercial life back to the CBD.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BG-x3cym2M4/UBN_fYc9_9I/AAAAAAAABgI/KN_K2cvYLoE/s1600/_DSC2101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BG-x3cym2M4/UBN_fYc9_9I/AAAAAAAABgI/KN_K2cvYLoE/s640/_DSC2101.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Bridge of Remembrance at the end of the Cashel Mall</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9xOA3F7wi0/UBN9mFJZY6I/AAAAAAAABSw/7qPSqqO3iHc/s1600/_CSC2164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_9xOA3F7wi0/UBN9mFJZY6I/AAAAAAAABSw/7qPSqqO3iHc/s400/_CSC2164.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cashel Street looking back towards the Bridge of Remembrance </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--x7wsdicH5c/UBN_hfr3NBI/AAAAAAAABgY/bUZoFulQOMc/s1600/_DSC2108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--x7wsdicH5c/UBN_hfr3NBI/AAAAAAAABgY/bUZoFulQOMc/s400/_DSC2108.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The precinct includes a variety of retailers to boost the local economy</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MAia8xVGN2Y/UBN9nU4WYcI/AAAAAAAABS4/CxJTs456Odo/s1600/_CSC2165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MAia8xVGN2Y/UBN9nU4WYcI/AAAAAAAABS4/CxJTs456Odo/s400/_CSC2165.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U0SsHwgPpU0/UBN_jYgxHsI/AAAAAAAABgo/9CZElp6_qUA/s1600/_DSC2115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U0SsHwgPpU0/UBN_jYgxHsI/AAAAAAAABgo/9CZElp6_qUA/s400/_DSC2115.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">There's plenty of outdoor space to enjoy a coffee at one of the cafés</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDP8vbCrT4X8FugQtMtp0RT3KpqItIcmolg2JYSiDOiYNSzUdDlfYp_pmSKhCVUO8hqamwALZcoy7B6nmc6pB-IVq4CzZLnKDxaH_HXdnZMLlaoIKaAHIae8HyKyosArA3na_Fa95bL3B/s1600/_CSC2124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDP8vbCrT4X8FugQtMtp0RT3KpqItIcmolg2JYSiDOiYNSzUdDlfYp_pmSKhCVUO8hqamwALZcoy7B6nmc6pB-IVq4CzZLnKDxaH_HXdnZMLlaoIKaAHIae8HyKyosArA3na_Fa95bL3B/s400/_CSC2124.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The earthquake devastated end of Cashel Street in the red zone</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tlU6F9UvCdU/UBN9qGmmaFI/AAAAAAAABTQ/PpEZTH8UrFI/s1600/_CSC2170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tlU6F9UvCdU/UBN9qGmmaFI/AAAAAAAABTQ/PpEZTH8UrFI/s400/_CSC2170.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Hawke's Bay and Christchurch both share both share a common and tragic bond, however, if any lessons from the <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/day-of-decodance.html" target="_blank">1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake</a> can be learnt, the rebuilding of Napier and Hastings presented unique opportunities for the replacement of the city centres. Architectural practices in Napier collaborated to share resources and ideas to design some of the most striking Art Deco and Spanish Mission style buildings of the time, in an era of economic depression where few insurance policies covered earthquakes. Truth be told, Christchurch wasn't really a city that appealed to my interests before the earthquake, but having seen what it is like now I feel a great sense of loss especially as it will be a long time before we see the new Christchurch, maybe even <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/5427734/Plan-to-build-a-city-in-a-garden" target="_blank">decades</a>...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AHfiClzHlE4/UBN_XmpWZdI/AAAAAAAABfQ/w043X01jc9o/s1600/_DSC2080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AHfiClzHlE4/UBN_XmpWZdI/AAAAAAAABfQ/w043X01jc9o/s400/_DSC2080.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">To the left, the Gothic Revival Trinity Church minus the collapsed tower</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aZ2KWve7M7c/UBN_Y8mThPI/AAAAAAAABfY/04YQZ1GqPU8/s1600/_DSC2083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aZ2KWve7M7c/UBN_Y8mThPI/AAAAAAAABfY/04YQZ1GqPU8/s400/_DSC2083.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The relatively unscathed Spanish Mission façades of New Regent Street</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vwco_Mo05nY/UBN_eWhDxII/AAAAAAAABgA/fXqhE9Dj-bM/s1600/_DSC2100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vwco_Mo05nY/UBN_eWhDxII/AAAAAAAABgA/fXqhE9Dj-bM/s400/_DSC2100.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OZ6rpsWTB0I/UBN_gZMpzZI/AAAAAAAABgQ/4bvYKGtxiCE/s1600/_DSC2103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OZ6rpsWTB0I/UBN_gZMpzZI/AAAAAAAABgQ/4bvYKGtxiCE/s400/_DSC2103.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The cordoned off area between Oxford Terrace and Hereford St</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NsNVzQ722Ms/UBN_lunqEmI/AAAAAAAABg4/0HapiyXEqpo/s1600/_DSC2133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NsNVzQ722Ms/UBN_lunqEmI/AAAAAAAABg4/0HapiyXEqpo/s400/_DSC2133.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DnCotZ-T0Tg/UBN_mWrgBwI/AAAAAAAABhA/noROTEj3Uoo/s1600/_DSC2135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DnCotZ-T0Tg/UBN_mWrgBwI/AAAAAAAABhA/noROTEj3Uoo/s400/_DSC2135.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x0pPkvsrIbk/UBN_nqq4ZUI/AAAAAAAABhI/_HS4CcjmrsY/s1600/_DSC2138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x0pPkvsrIbk/UBN_nqq4ZUI/AAAAAAAABhI/_HS4CcjmrsY/s400/_DSC2138.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Michael Parekowhai's bronze bull at a vacant plot on Madras Street</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6G5IZ_OIx6I/UBN_o7U7SMI/AAAAAAAABhQ/pL_kud6FbyY/s1600/_DSC2147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6G5IZ_OIx6I/UBN_o7U7SMI/AAAAAAAABhQ/pL_kud6FbyY/s400/_DSC2147.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's odd which buildings survived but generally the older ones fared better</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6QEJxcLeE0E/UBN_qGdB_LI/AAAAAAAABhY/HA-vonPPPkM/s1600/_DSC2148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6QEJxcLeE0E/UBN_qGdB_LI/AAAAAAAABhY/HA-vonPPPkM/s400/_DSC2148.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vd27eonZR1U/UBN_sD0V_DI/AAAAAAAABhg/C61BoWcbC_U/s1600/_DSC2151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vd27eonZR1U/UBN_sD0V_DI/AAAAAAAABhg/C61BoWcbC_U/s400/_DSC2151.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The remains of the Durham Street Methodist Mission offices </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5SNMHUE6bCw/UBN_tVJFVyI/AAAAAAAABho/4FXsXWhWIBU/s1600/_DSC2152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5SNMHUE6bCw/UBN_tVJFVyI/AAAAAAAABho/4FXsXWhWIBU/s400/_DSC2152.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KHyYFb95sAE/UBN_uscSCmI/AAAAAAAABhw/W0L6LUZkdE8/s1600/_DSC2156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KHyYFb95sAE/UBN_uscSCmI/AAAAAAAABhw/W0L6LUZkdE8/s400/_DSC2156.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A residential building which is clearly sinking on its foundations</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--5lKWAsN5EU/UBN_wa4HUqI/AAAAAAAABiA/aEJxb-mz2vk/s1600/_DSC2158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--5lKWAsN5EU/UBN_wa4HUqI/AAAAAAAABiA/aEJxb-mz2vk/s400/_DSC2158.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yellow placard declaring this home unsafe amongst hundreds of others</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h5pRoeNPd9A/UBN_xiHYPkI/AAAAAAAABiI/BxJqQGi7Aew/s1600/_DSC2160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h5pRoeNPd9A/UBN_xiHYPkI/AAAAAAAABiI/BxJqQGi7Aew/s400/_DSC2160.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vZS3w05h3Mc/UBN9rtbBGUI/AAAAAAAABTg/rTqB05WvsPU/s1600/_CSC2174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vZS3w05h3Mc/UBN9rtbBGUI/AAAAAAAABTg/rTqB05WvsPU/s400/_CSC2174.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CfS6F4XgH8A/UBN9vXY3QjI/AAAAAAAABUI/lJM2-JWENPs/s1600/_CSC2188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CfS6F4XgH8A/UBN9vXY3QjI/AAAAAAAABUI/lJM2-JWENPs/s400/_CSC2188.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zRT9H6qrUig/UBN9q-IA5FI/AAAAAAAABTY/OsG7SEyfQ-w/s1600/_CSC2173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zRT9H6qrUig/UBN9q-IA5FI/AAAAAAAABTY/OsG7SEyfQ-w/s400/_CSC2173.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wShfZkj1YFc/UBN9sSiklSI/AAAAAAAABTo/IsuR_3SF8CQ/s1600/_CSC2175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wShfZkj1YFc/UBN9sSiklSI/AAAAAAAABTo/IsuR_3SF8CQ/s400/_CSC2175.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EErkOyzBauQ/UBN9tBVf9YI/AAAAAAAABTw/AnM2kb3dOxs/s1600/_CSC2176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EErkOyzBauQ/UBN9tBVf9YI/AAAAAAAABTw/AnM2kb3dOxs/s400/_CSC2176.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNa9KgTWE4s/UBN9t3GbbgI/AAAAAAAABT4/02u4dGs_2uY/s1600/_CSC2183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fNa9KgTWE4s/UBN9t3GbbgI/AAAAAAAABT4/02u4dGs_2uY/s400/_CSC2183.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iu8Ojd8p4Is/UBN9ukAlgfI/AAAAAAAABUA/D25bxu0OUUo/s1600/_CSC2185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iu8Ojd8p4Is/UBN9ukAlgfI/AAAAAAAABUA/D25bxu0OUUo/s400/_CSC2185.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
On a more positive note, the main reason why we came to Christchurch was to see the Crusaders play the Hurricanes in their new home ground, the <b>AMI Stadium</b> in Addington, for the very first time. Lancaster Park, the original home ground of the Crusaders was badly damaged in the February 2011 earthquake and as a result all the games scheduled in Christchurch for the Rugby World Cup had to be relocated. The match was also a special occasion for the Hurricanes as it was the first time they played in Christchurch since 2009. Last year the teams only played one of their two scheduled matches, after the February earthquake caused the first game to be cancelled and declared a draw. For us this will be the second time we've seen the Crusaders play in New Zealand as we saw them play the Chiefs at <b>McLean Park</b> in Napier for their first "home" game of the season.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lb8LFpmPLxw/UBN9JEYXUwI/AAAAAAAABPI/MBdEj3mtp6g/s1600/P1040441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lb8LFpmPLxw/UBN9JEYXUwI/AAAAAAAABPI/MBdEj3mtp6g/s400/P1040441.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">As part of the pre-match building up a horseman circles the field whipping up the crowd!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OvXDwONhLVA/UBN9JolkQFI/AAAAAAAABPQ/uw5oCZhtz5c/s1600/P1040442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OvXDwONhLVA/UBN9JolkQFI/AAAAAAAABPQ/uw5oCZhtz5c/s400/P1040442.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">More "knights" on horseback coming out to <i>Conquest of Paradise </i>by Greek composer, Vangelis</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qHTXNgHbB3s/UBN9Hml_OaI/AAAAAAAABO4/et-y6ZXHMes/s1600/P1040430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qHTXNgHbB3s/UBN9Hml_OaI/AAAAAAAABO4/et-y6ZXHMes/s400/P1040430.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Us with our free foam swords!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a_j3Avehplg/UBN9IvHjz3I/AAAAAAAABPA/hbzcpfpKrik/s1600/P1040435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a_j3Avehplg/UBN9IvHjz3I/AAAAAAAABPA/hbzcpfpKrik/s400/P1040435.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View from the West Stand</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EWYDhpG6ijQ/UBN9KkjLaEI/AAAAAAAABPY/NQ_TvHJnjGQ/s1600/P1040447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EWYDhpG6ijQ/UBN9KkjLaEI/AAAAAAAABPY/NQ_TvHJnjGQ/s400/P1040447.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
It was a close game but the Hurricanes just edged the match on a penalty and won 23-22. We were absolutely freezing sitting in the open air West Stand for 80 minutes as the temperature dropped to <span style="line-height: 115%;">-3</span><sup style="line-height: 115%;">o</sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">C</span>!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-8029933273820384482012-08-31T05:22:00.003-07:002012-08-31T05:34:29.518-07:00Eat crayfishLocated on the rugged east coast of the South Island, Kaikōura is best known for its rich selection of marine life and stunning coastal scenery where the Kaikōura Ranges provide a fantastic backdrop. The place actually takes is name from the Māori words "kai" (food) and "koura" (crayfish) or "eat crayfish", which was the name given by the Māori explorer, Tama ki-te-Raki, when he stopped there to eat whilst in pursuit of his three runaway wives around the South Island! Kaikōura is also part of the <b>Alpine Pacific Triangle</b>, which is a touring route that takes you to Waipara and Hamner Springs.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yIegr3y7ZYE/UBN-gWd5syI/AAAAAAAABZw/r0jVxxO5k-s/s1600/_DSC1819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yIegr3y7ZYE/UBN-gWd5syI/AAAAAAAABZw/r0jVxxO5k-s/s400/_DSC1819.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Kaikōura </span><span style="font-size: small;">Ranges reflected in the Lyell Creek flood channel</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Visiting Kaikōura is a new experience for us as we didn't come this far northeast when we originally arrived in Christchurch 5 years ago, instead we went clockwise round the South Island and eventually headed to Picton to take the ferry across to the North Island. To make the most of our time, we decided to spend one of our days doing the <b>Kaikōura</b> <b>Peninsula Walkway</b>. The walkway was created to provide easy access to explore the peninsula (Taumanu o Te Waka a Maui). There's a useful Department of Conservation brochure that you can pick up in the i-SITE for $2 (also free from the <a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/nelson-marlborough/kaikoura-peninsula-brochure.pdf" target="_blank">DOC website</a>), which gives you information and interesting facts about the Kaikōura Peninsula. The walk ideally takes at least 3 hours to complete, as this gives you enough time to explore and enjoy the features of the walkway.<br />
<br />
Starting from the town centre, there's a footpath which follows the Esplanade round to Point Kean (Te Rae o Tawhiti). To be honest this was the least interesting part of the walk as it took you through quite a lot of residential area by the sea.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-htX0sUhSoY4/UBN-lLlBWzI/AAAAAAAABaQ/29gcX_Avl08/s1600/_DSC1839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-htX0sUhSoY4/UBN-lLlBWzI/AAAAAAAABaQ/29gcX_Avl08/s400/_DSC1839.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking back towards the </span><span style="font-size: small;">Kaikōura</span> <span style="font-size: small;">Ranges from the Esplanade </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1G9yPhCTPXc/UBN-l2EcClI/AAAAAAAABaY/XTk5TTHXYps/s1600/_DSC1840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1G9yPhCTPXc/UBN-l2EcClI/AAAAAAAABaY/XTk5TTHXYps/s400/_DSC1840.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Low lying clouds clinging onto the peaks </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wu9ydKxeqnE/UBN-kH-1JXI/AAAAAAAABaI/Xb5G6gdPHmQ/s1600/_DSC1836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wu9ydKxeqnE/UBN-kH-1JXI/AAAAAAAABaI/Xb5G6gdPHmQ/s640/_DSC1836.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie in the Garden of Memories with some whale bone arches</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fcSNzJZBSAc/UBN-m59B6hI/AAAAAAAABag/lLglaiy8B0k/s1600/_DSC1843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fcSNzJZBSAc/UBN-m59B6hI/AAAAAAAABag/lLglaiy8B0k/s400/_DSC1843.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Waves crashing against the Esplanade and the new wharf</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCP6NwC61gi-cTixKxx7x4UsT0VGJUnDWv2dvWsEY9hBCbYPaxcEn9CKougKCYtwi-moWLINTE9vjYgUue-oqDtk0A4ZlQPdahvw0MKKWjGbcC-QO_p6SGV6BOCOutJaReISpKS925xzQR/s1600/_DSC1847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCP6NwC61gi-cTixKxx7x4UsT0VGJUnDWv2dvWsEY9hBCbYPaxcEn9CKougKCYtwi-moWLINTE9vjYgUue-oqDtk0A4ZlQPdahvw0MKKWjGbcC-QO_p6SGV6BOCOutJaReISpKS925xzQR/s400/_DSC1847.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shags perched on the one of limestone formations around the peninsula</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k1Ztibo3YuE/UBN-ooIOUCI/AAAAAAAABaw/xGDgyqFw1Go/s1600/_DSC1855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k1Ztibo3YuE/UBN-ooIOUCI/AAAAAAAABaw/xGDgyqFw1Go/s400/_DSC1855.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Te Tai o Marokura (the ocean) claiming a fallen tree</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Once we reached Jimmy Armers Beach there was some interesting historical information on an interpretation sign about the whaling heritage of the area. Apparently, Waiopuka Beach (Jimmy Armers Beach) is a whale cemetery. Occasionally stormy seas and high tides flow into the Waiopuka Stream and uncover whale bones associated with the whaling station that was set up here over a century ago. There was a sign by the beach warning visitors that it is against the law to take whale bones from this beach partly due to the historical significance of the archaeological site.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Walking further round to Point Kean there was a boardwalk that we followed until we could go no further as there was an extremely large fur seal blocking the way and before we knew it we had reached the seal colony - it was a sight to behold!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ShTwUBZ0OSc/UBN-sCJRrMI/AAAAAAAABbI/AyDeah-nOZc/s1600/_DSC1870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ShTwUBZ0OSc/UBN-sCJRrMI/AAAAAAAABbI/AyDeah-nOZc/s400/_DSC1870.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Erm, excuse me you're blocking the path!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
There were seals all over the place, on the stony beach, in the car park and pups playing on the rocks. New Zealand fur seals (<i>Arctocephalus forsteri</i>) are widespread throughout the country and are known as Kekeno to the Māori.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeYzm0siXxI7hYlrDs97Lo8sC1tkIRz6kpUWM-YLRY_xSjzOxHx2LFyNuIofQqB5sxFNQkJyBx7LmPzY_F6NnDeBWBqWZVlQlmfoDDdF8xuLnyYWKRebswY-FTsyV-TSDGd7bJGpoJOxo/s1600/_DSC1873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeYzm0siXxI7hYlrDs97Lo8sC1tkIRz6kpUWM-YLRY_xSjzOxHx2LFyNuIofQqB5sxFNQkJyBx7LmPzY_F6NnDeBWBqWZVlQlmfoDDdF8xuLnyYWKRebswY-FTsyV-TSDGd7bJGpoJOxo/s400/_DSC1873.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cuter than its fishy smell would have you believe</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0vG7tCxEsGLnKfOlq9PQmERq-wnpAQBsr4sCnoCYxImYwSv3pIw_VBgchUUm-Z9pYIeiTLPyhwFOQYzRm_9sVE10fuIlOOeSzaBFCsVdayDGpVnhXmKYakWe5dRHTby9ifXNf13S5kwZ/s1600/_DSC1876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0vG7tCxEsGLnKfOlq9PQmERq-wnpAQBsr4sCnoCYxImYwSv3pIw_VBgchUUm-Z9pYIeiTLPyhwFOQYzRm_9sVE10fuIlOOeSzaBFCsVdayDGpVnhXmKYakWe5dRHTby9ifXNf13S5kwZ/s400/_DSC1876.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Seal pups relaxing on the rocks</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1fYkqe7NswI/UBN-u-pj3gI/AAAAAAAABbg/w_2QCW4NffI/s1600/_DSC1880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1fYkqe7NswI/UBN-u-pj3gI/AAAAAAAABbg/w_2QCW4NffI/s400/_DSC1880.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Basking in the sunshine</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AoI1PGnthIY/UBN-xGEhTuI/AAAAAAAABbw/04ugm3nS9kA/s1600/_DSC1885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AoI1PGnthIY/UBN-xGEhTuI/AAAAAAAABbw/04ugm3nS9kA/s400/_DSC1885.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The seals must wonder why everyone is so interested in them</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We read quite a few signs advising us saying stay at least 10 metres away from the seals as they can give a nasty bite, especially if they feel cornered or unable to get to the sea, which isn't surprising as they are wild animals. However, this didn't stop the occasional idiot from committing an act of stupidity - one guy was snarled at for getting too close, it was a shame he wasn't bitten for good measure!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A2vF07AUE_8/UBN-yFrECbI/AAAAAAAABb4/QjpLKUymET8/s1600/_DSC1886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A2vF07AUE_8/UBN-yFrECbI/AAAAAAAABb4/QjpLKUymET8/s400/_DSC1886.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">As nice as it is to watch the seals they're wild animals at heart</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
<span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
A really great place to see fur seal pups (dependent on the time of year) is at the Ohau Waterfall Track, which is a short distance from the seal colony at Ohau Point lookout, 17km north of <span style="text-align: center;">Kaikōura</span> off State Highway 1. If you're there at the right time of year its possible to see hundreds of seals pups playing in a pool underneath a spectacular 30m waterfall. The pups have no fear of people and some of them will even come over from the pool and have a sniff before heading off and putting on a show in the "nursery".<br />
<br />
It's a bit of an unusual sight to see the pups in a forested area, as they're an animal you would normally associate with the sea, but it obviously provides them with a safe haven whilst their mothers are off fishing.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8P9j_PR2l0/UBN_OIGD_GI/AAAAAAAABeg/Ga0LlL05BwI/s1600/_DSC1988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8P9j_PR2l0/UBN_OIGD_GI/AAAAAAAABeg/Ga0LlL05BwI/s400/_DSC1988.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Possibly the best free seal watching experience in New Zealand</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hac3l8PcxSs/UBN_QURoIPI/AAAAAAAABeo/GDsCzRg-vyw/s1600/_DSC1999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hac3l8PcxSs/UBN_QURoIPI/AAAAAAAABeo/GDsCzRg-vyw/s640/_DSC1999.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Carefree seal pups playing around in the pool underneath the waterfall</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_uhCOjNyYRI/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_uhCOjNyYRI?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_uhCOjNyYRI?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0LmhjXCh6IfpPDmIXld4vn1ZitJFjZQqTnDsc9u2so9hdYQnXce-En-UNc2r3h0yb4h0fMGuYEbvRVlAkcqIJdu6GSXI2QOfSctPIyly3Zm4p_ni3rOODhP2Qu5VXe0j3w8kO-lYgK6I/s1600/_DSC1816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0LmhjXCh6IfpPDmIXld4vn1ZitJFjZQqTnDsc9u2so9hdYQnXce-En-UNc2r3h0yb4h0fMGuYEbvRVlAkcqIJdu6GSXI2QOfSctPIyly3Zm4p_ni3rOODhP2Qu5VXe0j3w8kO-lYgK6I/s400/_DSC1816.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ohau Point is the largest breeding colony of fur seals around Kaikōura</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GtTyRzdPpdE/UBN-cuZBLfI/AAAAAAAABZQ/KZo5JuJFWwY/s1600/_DSC1799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GtTyRzdPpdE/UBN-cuZBLfI/AAAAAAAABZQ/KZo5JuJFWwY/s400/_DSC1799.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fur seals treat man-made objects as part of their habitat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YZdyxCv2mt8/UBN-ejhtrBI/AAAAAAAABZg/yCmsr63WWQk/s1600/_DSC1811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YZdyxCv2mt8/UBN-ejhtrBI/AAAAAAAABZg/yCmsr63WWQk/s400/_DSC1811.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fur seals are ‘eared’ (otariid) seals, named for their external earflaps</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2LedSRnhevlP-OP7H7G5Ccn7mil5HAkjh9j6BW4AHRhd2KxC-F3g5gxW6hjidurwpHo46ixkNusFjZ4c7Ekk8lsz7vlAPU_kCZPn4G8MMnDTgpC1GVynTzZrnwOii1ormPPuCsdyCbSw/s1600/_DSC1808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2LedSRnhevlP-OP7H7G5Ccn7mil5HAkjh9j6BW4AHRhd2KxC-F3g5gxW6hjidurwpHo46ixkNusFjZ4c7Ekk8lsz7vlAPU_kCZPn4G8MMnDTgpC1GVynTzZrnwOii1ormPPuCsdyCbSw/s400/_DSC1808.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Seal pups frolicking in the rock pools before the next big wave hits</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Coming back to the peninsula walk, there's a 5 minute walk uphill from the Point Kean car park which takes you to a lookout platform that provides a fantastic view of the mountains and the sea. Supposedly, it's possible to see the North Island on a clear day!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzQwOcF97tzg-4NZEzWajgwu9HywB8tcbqjwdO5VmXV3G2mF1VBoRDBsl22EE1IRsfyObQJapgV33Qft5DOhh6kpCLi_z9vtfH9V7gctDnTvNDu6S1rqDkdt3S3QQeUTCOUmVfOEqt71f/s1600/_DSC1895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzQwOcF97tzg-4NZEzWajgwu9HywB8tcbqjwdO5VmXV3G2mF1VBoRDBsl22EE1IRsfyObQJapgV33Qft5DOhh6kpCLi_z9vtfH9V7gctDnTvNDu6S1rqDkdt3S3QQeUTCOUmVfOEqt71f/s400/_DSC1895.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The snow-capped peaks of the Seaward Kaikōura Mountains</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TQxwpDL8KWo/UBN-0AUR9DI/AAAAAAAABcI/LjaUqHaymUM/s1600/_DSC1896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TQxwpDL8KWo/UBN-0AUR9DI/AAAAAAAABcI/LjaUqHaymUM/s400/_DSC1896.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking down the tidal platforms at high tide</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Beyond the lookout platform the track follows the cliff top giving excellent views of cliff formations, tidal platforms and the seaward Kaikōura Range. It was really windy up on the cliff tops and strong waves were battering the coastline - I don't think Lizzie enjoyed being blown around, but it all seriousness the peninsula is very exposed to coastal winds so wearing warm, windproof clothing is advisable.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wHybyGbNIEo/UBN-1QQrliI/AAAAAAAABcQ/4ZeysiYVLOQ/s1600/_DSC1906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wHybyGbNIEo/UBN-1QQrliI/AAAAAAAABcQ/4ZeysiYVLOQ/s400/_DSC1906.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Some parts of the shoreline walk are impassable at high tide</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx35GULd9Lqwm7kIuAHKBTWWr1JN4hr-x5h8AfzNFHFzFQSeS2SmNZnH9_0VQVD8gVdiVqy_jt0BZW9PtJStlQxMhFE43zoN4wECVDiQlFSCVrzf5ifTWiUrZZB_aO15M-oT5Ucl7jiEw4/s1600/_DSC1911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx35GULd9Lqwm7kIuAHKBTWWr1JN4hr-x5h8AfzNFHFzFQSeS2SmNZnH9_0VQVD8gVdiVqy_jt0BZW9PtJStlQxMhFE43zoN4wECVDiQlFSCVrzf5ifTWiUrZZB_aO15M-oT5Ucl7jiEw4/s400/_DSC1911.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It'd be interesting to see how big the waves get on a stormy day!</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As part of a detour from the main route we walked down a stairway to Whalers Bay, which used to be a former whalers' route down to the shoreline. Down by the shoreline was another colony of seals, although this time there was a sign warning that a colony of Hutton's Shearwaters was also nesting and that they shouldn't be disturbed. Apparently, Kaikōura is the only place in the world where the endangered Hutton Shearwaters breed!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KYnPzXCq3w-UM374pUhuDBBP9gXHQR_d0JyrwSbyKQt6iPuQiCG8N8ASegaRUth6Hwtsbn2gFtsvaSYCODQJ6FGh-ZKnSawYFusenXu31mYD3Uvs4aBRMK9UUElYUaBzCeVttthr820t/s1600/_DSC1913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KYnPzXCq3w-UM374pUhuDBBP9gXHQR_d0JyrwSbyKQt6iPuQiCG8N8ASegaRUth6Hwtsbn2gFtsvaSYCODQJ6FGh-ZKnSawYFusenXu31mYD3Uvs4aBRMK9UUElYUaBzCeVttthr820t/s400/_DSC1913.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"The Sugarloaf " is a prominent landmark you're not meant to climb</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lqt6olQxsKU/UBN--dLTtXI/AAAAAAAABdI/gX_ZE2wXBxg/s1600/_DSC1920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lqt6olQxsKU/UBN--dLTtXI/AAAAAAAABdI/gX_ZE2wXBxg/s400/_DSC1920.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The raw power of the ocean</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Keeping my distance from the seals it was a bit surreal to watch them relaxing and sleeping on the rocks with all the chaos of the ocean around them.<br />
<div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K49WM1ucot8/UBN-7GROv_I/AAAAAAAABc4/9XMpYWAYscI/s1600/_DSC1917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K49WM1ucot8/UBN-7GROv_I/AAAAAAAABc4/9XMpYWAYscI/s400/_DSC1917.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's a hard life being a seal!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQkbXB6svAlbaaFUOYibeCJfOI6TkDmmph0Ijqk4agGrz0NmR8Pa-fQV941_dYibrOoechzgnt8Ir8ACkAbPqnChGmczUAYjyDnTBWtmcbvRhFWtc9VTqgcCZEU6i6D5wtEVwuWg9eHP6/s1600/_DSC1918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQkbXB6svAlbaaFUOYibeCJfOI6TkDmmph0Ijqk4agGrz0NmR8Pa-fQV941_dYibrOoechzgnt8Ir8ACkAbPqnChGmczUAYjyDnTBWtmcbvRhFWtc9VTqgcCZEU6i6D5wtEVwuWg9eHP6/s400/_DSC1918.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Not even a care in the world</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-km-xbtVp1VU/UBN-_7DZTbI/AAAAAAAABdQ/Z55B2KORPY8/s1600/_DSC1938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-km-xbtVp1VU/UBN-_7DZTbI/AAAAAAAABdQ/Z55B2KORPY8/s400/_DSC1938.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Returning back to the clifftop walk via the same track, we headed round to the South Bay viewpoint where you can see the Seaward Kaikōura Ranges. Descending towards Atia Point (part of a historic pa site) the pathway was elevated above the tidal platforms at Limestone Bay, before we reached the archway at the South Bay carpark and headed back towards the town centre.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mRVoaKT-nCc/UBN_B-mRVNI/AAAAAAAABdY/_61bKrXSU6k/s1600/_DSC1947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mRVoaKT-nCc/UBN_B-mRVNI/AAAAAAAABdY/_61bKrXSU6k/s400/_DSC1947.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Looking across Limestone Bay to Atia Point (Te Rae o Atiu)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w2yaTyLr5no/UBN_DDroCiI/AAAAAAAABdg/00OWg465_mY/s1600/_DSC1948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w2yaTyLr5no/UBN_DDroCiI/AAAAAAAABdg/00OWg465_mY/s400/_DSC1948.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Out towards Goose Bay with the Kaikōura Ranges along the coast</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Kaikōura Peninsula is rich in over 800 years of Māori tradition and the ocean off the peninsula is named Te Tai o Marokura - the ocean of Marokura. This forms an important part of the cultural history and identity of the Ngati Kuri tribe. The archway powhenua as you walk up the entrance path at South Bay depicts the legend of <b>Māui </b>fishing in his canoe and pulling up the house of Tangaroa (the god of the sea). Legend has it that Maui also used the Kaikōura Peninsula as a foothold to brace himself when he fished the North Island out of the sea.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PimkAyj9yMI/UBN_F9hO85I/AAAAAAAABdw/YF8u8GUylPc/s1600/_DSC1958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PimkAyj9yMI/UBN_F9hO85I/AAAAAAAABdw/YF8u8GUylPc/s640/_DSC1958.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie standing underneath the South Bay archway powhenua</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rOsfn8_sukY/UBN_EccHERI/AAAAAAAABdo/pvxSUTvAtao/s1600/_DSC1955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rOsfn8_sukY/UBN_EccHERI/AAAAAAAABdo/pvxSUTvAtao/s400/_DSC1955.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another striking carving of the mythological hero M</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">ā</span><span style="font-size: small;">ui in his canoe</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SGjpALob0wo/UBN_H-XbJTI/AAAAAAAABd4/sa8Y6M0sEIw/s1600/_DSC1970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SGjpALob0wo/UBN_H-XbJTI/AAAAAAAABd4/sa8Y6M0sEIw/s400/_DSC1970.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tidal limestone platform</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MBtUxo1TN7s/UBN_KTvxuYI/AAAAAAAABeI/qSE3Hr_oC88/s1600/_DSC1978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MBtUxo1TN7s/UBN_KTvxuYI/AAAAAAAABeI/qSE3Hr_oC88/s400/_DSC1978.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Up above the whalebone arch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
On a separate day we drove out to Mt Fyffe (named after Scottish-born Robert Fyffe who established the first shore-whaling station in Kaikōura) and the Kowhai Valley, 15km from town. The drive to the Mt Fyffe car park wasn't particuarly forgiving on the car as it took ages along an unsealed road which was poorly signed. When we did arrive we had the option of walking the Hīnau Track a 45 min loop (1 km) through some native forest including hīnau trees, māhoe, putaputawētā, broadleaf, tree fuchsia and pigeonwood but we opted to try the Mt Fyffe walk. We knew but didn't have enough time to reach the top as it would take 5 hours to reach the 1602m summit so we thought we would try and at least reach the lookout which would take an hour to reach.<br />
<br />
The track was a bit hard going at first, with no let up in the steepness so Lizzie felt quite tired especially with all the walking we did round the peninsula. There were quite a few benches to stop and admire the vistas over Kaikōura and the Seaward Kaikōura mountains but not very good views of the summit.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MU8xFJlcg8c/UBN_ShQUtcI/AAAAAAAABe4/3gsTOD8BdL8/s1600/_DSC2048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MU8xFJlcg8c/UBN_ShQUtcI/AAAAAAAABe4/3gsTOD8BdL8/s400/_DSC2048.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Seaward </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Kaikōura Ranges from one of the lookouts</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f6zbZYcjTkA/UBN_UfFRxII/AAAAAAAABfA/q380sa79TyA/s1600/_DSC2051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f6zbZYcjTkA/UBN_UfFRxII/AAAAAAAABfA/q380sa79TyA/s400/_DSC2051.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking across the Kowhai </span><span style="font-size: small;">Valley east towards the ocean </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
It didn't take long for the daylight to run out for us and we were a bit conscious that we didn't want to be walking back down the mountain in the dark. Overall it was a bit of anti-climax, maybe we should have stuck to watching the sunset at Point Kean lookout.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wveVeQ6pAno/UBN9fug-wDI/AAAAAAAABR4/WdveeJR6dq8/s1600/_CSC2064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wveVeQ6pAno/UBN9fug-wDI/AAAAAAAABR4/WdveeJR6dq8/s400/_CSC2064.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mt Fyffe from Postmans Road</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />
Des<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;">pite the slight disappointment of the final day t</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;">he stunning </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;">Kaikōura</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"> Ranges are one of the most enduring memories of </span><span style="text-align: center;">Kaikōura</span><span style="text-align: center;"> for me...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKr7VgsoijcJu9wjtqBO4WdHGpYIIyu16VDQwKN0aYdRN77km60-APVWD4y6mGZ7Zzvr6P-MH0Vy8i6Vm3-czaD_x8gaI0SC-3PTlyNOfSPqWeUnQAb8ZMgN8hg5qjdNbUm8V5xT8UyfU/s1600/_DSC1823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKr7VgsoijcJu9wjtqBO4WdHGpYIIyu16VDQwKN0aYdRN77km60-APVWD4y6mGZ7Zzvr6P-MH0Vy8i6Vm3-czaD_x8gaI0SC-3PTlyNOfSPqWeUnQAb8ZMgN8hg5qjdNbUm8V5xT8UyfU/s400/_DSC1823.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XFla6y4KDoc/UBN-iML0STI/AAAAAAAABaA/Zcv3OUnRG7Y/s1600/_DSC1829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XFla6y4KDoc/UBN-iML0STI/AAAAAAAABaA/Zcv3OUnRG7Y/s400/_DSC1829.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cVceT9I1dL8/UBN_JFrBXcI/AAAAAAAABeA/UAQpWYxKTaE/s1600/_DSC1977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cVceT9I1dL8/UBN_JFrBXcI/AAAAAAAABeA/UAQpWYxKTaE/s400/_DSC1977.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkc-iGItFGf30BWJSWtRl-P1iB5_TpblR6XSCPVkyVWXoPo1X2i_h50NOUA00oIDYWz-tEaRbbtB6yTx6eihIQmR1cdztUFYjeR1VhXw4jN7aBZS3O0sgEmBTYchN0_uVnn6YEjAZnfhV/s1600/_DSC1982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkc-iGItFGf30BWJSWtRl-P1iB5_TpblR6XSCPVkyVWXoPo1X2i_h50NOUA00oIDYWz-tEaRbbtB6yTx6eihIQmR1cdztUFYjeR1VhXw4jN7aBZS3O0sgEmBTYchN0_uVnn6YEjAZnfhV/s400/_DSC1982.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-84104082913958706822012-08-28T05:19:00.000-07:002012-08-28T05:19:50.931-07:00The Queen Charlotte TrackHaving spent the best part of yesterday trying to second guess the weather, deciding whether or not to walk the Queen Charlotte Track, we woke up at 8am and it wasn't looking good as it had been raining the night before and looked really overcast. I was a bit gutted initially as I felt the cost of the water taxi was quite steep for a self-guided walk, so good weather was a definite requirement as the Queen Charlotte Track is reputed to be one of the top ten and finest coastal walking tracks in New Zealand.<br />
<br />
The plan for the day was to be dropped off at <a href="http://www.qctrack.co.nz/track/walk/section2.asp" target="_blank">Ship Cove</a> and walk along a section of the Queen Charlotte Track to Endeavour Inlet where we would be picked up again by the water taxi. The stretch of the track we're walking is approximately 15km long, although the entire track is 71km in length which can be done in 3-5 days of tramping (staying in overnight accommodation along the way).<br />
<br />
The Queen Charlotte Sound is the best known of the three Sounds (Pelorus Sound and Kenepuru Sound are the other two) and is a labyrinth of drowned valleys enclosed by moody picturesque bays, deserted sandy coves and islands. The journey up Queen Charlotte Sound (Totaranui) from Picton to Ship Cove (Meretoto) took roughly an hour, although the last 20 minutes of the trip were a little choppier as we were going through the swell.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QLUieFfdumw/UBN95CEhmdI/AAAAAAAABVY/gBm73Y8WtEc/s1600/_DSC1624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QLUieFfdumw/UBN95CEhmdI/AAAAAAAABVY/gBm73Y8WtEc/s400/_DSC1624.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking from Picton Habour towards the Queen Charlotte Sound</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9LpSR-MWgkE/UBN96zFTiEI/AAAAAAAABVo/oQCVxZEBDEY/s1600/_DSC1646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9LpSR-MWgkE/UBN96zFTiEI/AAAAAAAABVo/oQCVxZEBDEY/s400/_DSC1646.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The bush clad shoreline of the Queen Charlotte Sound</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x4tdGDB4hzc/UBN974dFz8I/AAAAAAAABVw/j6IRfviN_p4/s1600/_DSC1654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x4tdGDB4hzc/UBN974dFz8I/AAAAAAAABVw/j6IRfviN_p4/s400/_DSC1654.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The numerous bays, coves and islands of the Sound</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
On 16<sup>th</sup> January 1770, the Endeavour, under the command of the then Lieutenant James Cook, dropped anchor in the bay which he would name Ship Cove. This would be the first of several visits by ships under Cook's command on his three voyages. He spent more time here than anywhere else in New Zealand and it was the first place that sustained contact between the Māori and the British took place. The Māori were keen to trade for European goods while Cook's crew observed and engaged in the Māori culture and way of life. <br />
<br />
Captain Cook had explored more of the earth's surface than anyone else before him in history and became the first European to land in New Zealand and the east coast of Australia. However, it was Cook's travels that spurred on the colonisation of the Pacific, which brought with it missionaries, whalers, traders, settlers and even death, and ultimately impacted on Pacific Island cultures. As a result, many indigenous cultures detest Cook for his achievements as they view him as the villain who introduced disease, dispossession and other ills to the Pacific.<br />
<br />
Whatever view you hold, Captain James Cook remains one of the most significant figures in the shaping of the modern Pacific.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3R1I-ndzBw/UBN9-I_TrGI/AAAAAAAABWA/OwqUxjxnveI/s1600/_DSC1670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3R1I-ndzBw/UBN9-I_TrGI/AAAAAAAABWA/OwqUxjxnveI/s400/_DSC1670.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View of Motuara Island from Ship Cove</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LXoBhfLzneQ/UBN9_ZEMz5I/AAAAAAAABWI/7VTw05yKHXQ/s1600/_DSC1684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LXoBhfLzneQ/UBN9_ZEMz5I/AAAAAAAABWI/7VTw05yKHXQ/s400/_DSC1684.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A large concrete monument </span><span style="font-size: small;">commemorates</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Captain Cook's visits.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xNvz0aMDadg/UBN-A0OcE8I/AAAAAAAABWQ/Yl4uTqWMb34/s1600/_DSC1686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xNvz0aMDadg/UBN-A0OcE8I/AAAAAAAABWQ/Yl4uTqWMb34/s400/_DSC1686.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's easy to see why Ship Cove was one of Cook's favourite places</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9IpQL_iMIQZ5fSmRA_0Ghe9sMvnW3wztYj4khOwp9wFeOu_kOXn0w8seeqcW5_ngIR6qSRg2UByo_xs7lpsTzc4lmg3IOPWOnldPRehmqCJY_R2kXu07LGr-w13jOfwxGzqN_c7CmX8r/s1600/_DSC1689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9IpQL_iMIQZ5fSmRA_0Ghe9sMvnW3wztYj4khOwp9wFeOu_kOXn0w8seeqcW5_ngIR6qSRg2UByo_xs7lpsTzc4lmg3IOPWOnldPRehmqCJY_R2kXu07LGr-w13jOfwxGzqN_c7CmX8r/s640/_DSC1689.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Crossing the stream at Ship Cove</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6xtvFZ5J4bM/UBN9c7d33cI/AAAAAAAABRg/P01qnnPH5ck/s1600/_CSC1674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6xtvFZ5J4bM/UBN9c7d33cI/AAAAAAAABRg/P01qnnPH5ck/s640/_CSC1674.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Māori carvings welcome visitors to the cove</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
From here the reserve is the starting point for everyone walking the Queen Charlotte Track, which is actually part of <b><a href="http://www.teararoa.org.nz/index.cfm" target="_blank">Te Araroa</a> </b>(the long pathway) - a walking trail from <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/fruits-of-our-labour.html" target="_blank">Cape Rēinga</a> all the way down to Bluff, which opened on 3<sup>rd</sup> December 2011. Heading south from the Cook monument, the first couple of kilometers of the track were undulating with quite a steep initial climb. It must have rained a lot overnight as the track was quite boggy and damp underfoot, and the clay slopes were really slippery. At one point a fallen tree had completely blocked the path - it must have fallen quite recently as the branches looked freshly broken.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bw0hYibUOEQ/UBN-EBQdZyI/AAAAAAAABWg/7C_sanH_kXc/s1600/_DSC1693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bw0hYibUOEQ/UBN-EBQdZyI/AAAAAAAABWg/7C_sanH_kXc/s400/_DSC1693.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A deep canopy shades the profusion of tree ferns and other vegetation</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QjmpYxb2oOU/UBN-FXxa33I/AAAAAAAABWo/gE7Zc5Btw1I/s1600/_DSC1696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QjmpYxb2oOU/UBN-FXxa33I/AAAAAAAABWo/gE7Zc5Btw1I/s640/_DSC1696.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of the many streams crossing the track</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
After about 45 minutes of walking we reached a lookout that offered pleasant respite and good views of Motuara Island and the outer Queen Charlotte Sound. It was from Motuara Island that James Cook declared sovereignty over the South Island. Cook also renamed Totaranui the Queen Charlotte Sound in honour of King George III's consort. Today, Motuara Island is a bird sanctuary for the South Island robin and the South Island saddle back. It was also round by the lookout that we got our first view of an inquisitive Weka (<i>Gallirallus australis</i>) in the bushes!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVqv6yzgQyE/UBN-GNVEB9I/AAAAAAAABWw/fY9prCLa7BE/s1600/_DSC1702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVqv6yzgQyE/UBN-GNVEB9I/AAAAAAAABWw/fY9prCLa7BE/s400/_DSC1702.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Motuara Island on the left and Hippo Island on the right</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hWcwAx3Anfo/UBN-IPebglI/AAAAAAAABXA/F8esL2J3z7o/s1600/_DSC1710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hWcwAx3Anfo/UBN-IPebglI/AAAAAAAABXA/F8esL2J3z7o/s400/_DSC1710.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View over Resolution Bay with Tawa Bay Saddle on the far right</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1FRTmHAFg70/UBN-HFYmK6I/AAAAAAAABW4/pIlF7a3EVW8/s1600/_DSC1705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1FRTmHAFg70/UBN-HFYmK6I/AAAAAAAABW4/pIlF7a3EVW8/s400/_DSC1705.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You can just about make out the snowcapped </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Kaikōura</span> <span style="font-size: small;">Mountains </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
From here we climbed the Ship Cove/ Resolution Bay Saddle and descended towards <b>Resolution Bay</b>. However, it was a bit disappointing that we couldn't get down close to Resolution Bay itself as we unsure of where the trail would take us if we went off the beaten track, due to a lack of signage.<br />
<br />
From Resolution Bay the track followed an old bridle path ascending over a ridge, which would eventually lead down into Endeavour Inlet. The inclining track passed through stands of kamahi and then beech forest as we passed over another saddle. <br />
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rkHL6rWvxSg/UBN-Jk2rfLI/AAAAAAAABXI/5Kd-pQSpxk4/s1600/_DSC1715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rkHL6rWvxSg/UBN-Jk2rfLI/AAAAAAAABXI/5Kd-pQSpxk4/s400/_DSC1715.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some more of the native vegetation of the track</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BY5MKoZk_qo/UBN-LCDhlvI/AAAAAAAABXQ/ixMOpgr6VxU/s1600/_DSC1723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BY5MKoZk_qo/UBN-LCDhlvI/AAAAAAAABXQ/ixMOpgr6VxU/s400/_DSC1723.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Every now and again you get glimpse of the sea through the tree line</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--orvdmV2a8s/UBN-ME5clSI/AAAAAAAABXY/xOyK7BV0Hx4/s1600/_DSC1735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--orvdmV2a8s/UBN-ME5clSI/AAAAAAAABXY/xOyK7BV0Hx4/s400/_DSC1735.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Climbing up the ridge overlooking Resolution Bay</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We were literally the only people on the section of track we walked - in the middle of nowhere with no mobile phone coverage! We were surprised when we eventually saw someone walking their dogs. At times it was very tranquil and silent when you paused to take in the solitude of the surroundings, apart from the occasional chirp of a bird or when the trees swayed in the wind. This was shattered as at one point when Lizzie comically fell into a small stream we had to cross and got quite cold and wet in the process!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KV92cy804CY/UBN-NqxlYuI/AAAAAAAABXg/9Qu-tbmKbLo/s1600/_DSC1743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KV92cy804CY/UBN-NqxlYuI/AAAAAAAABXg/9Qu-tbmKbLo/s400/_DSC1743.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A sad Lizzie after she stumbled on a loose rock in the stream!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SJpB3Y9iLxw/UBN-O8FyzoI/AAAAAAAABXo/OKI7Kcx05gc/s1600/_DSC1746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SJpB3Y9iLxw/UBN-O8FyzoI/AAAAAAAABXo/OKI7Kcx05gc/s400/_DSC1746.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A crystal clear stream that eventually feeds into the Sound</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-56_v5iRs0cc/UBN-P4IQi7I/AAAAAAAABXw/DeeayGKiuBM/s1600/_DSC1750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-56_v5iRs0cc/UBN-P4IQi7I/AAAAAAAABXw/DeeayGKiuBM/s400/_DSC1750.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Resolution Bay looking back towards Ship Cove</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As mentioned previously, we saw quite a few Wekas (or woodhens) along the walk - they look like a cross between a moorhen and a duck. This flightless bird is a little like a kiwi but slimmer and far less shy. The one we saw was especially tame as it was foraging very close to us in the bush.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r7zzvuAJ4-I/UBN-VxkEHxI/AAAAAAAABYY/AbmJaF328J0/s1600/_DSC1768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r7zzvuAJ4-I/UBN-VxkEHxI/AAAAAAAABYY/AbmJaF328J0/s400/_DSC1768.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This bold Weka didn't have any problems with getting close to us</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EdV-gJwth_8/UBN-XKnhqHI/AAAAAAAABYg/BTkfFzMUlsk/s1600/_DSC1771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EdV-gJwth_8/UBN-XKnhqHI/AAAAAAAABYg/BTkfFzMUlsk/s400/_DSC1771.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wekas are famous for their feisty and curious personalities</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As nice a walk as the Queen Charlotte Track was to do, it was difficult to judge the progress we were making along the track as there were no markers and very few useful signs. Our final destination was Furneaux Lodge at the head of <b>Endeavour Inlet</b> on the eastern side of the bay. The last section of the walk involved us walking through a lots of regenerating native bush, with a predominance of manuka, kanuka and five finger vegetation.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoHOEB4RzeogiGfGB0qfF6WN-MXvRGXAU2_Wz0eOMgx57V0mtcMApcMBQt3r-uAGmVAYI1-S6N09rjttrxwOevHh-Q1fu53WKSzj401xfAgGGPjuT3KJU3epO1z8tON7OmmyHyb9oW0Un/s1600/_DSC1779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoHOEB4RzeogiGfGB0qfF6WN-MXvRGXAU2_Wz0eOMgx57V0mtcMApcMBQt3r-uAGmVAYI1-S6N09rjttrxwOevHh-Q1fu53WKSzj401xfAgGGPjuT3KJU3epO1z8tON7OmmyHyb9oW0Un/s400/_DSC1779.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Endeavour Inlet was one of Captain Cook's favourite anchorages</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5WUV69xzgd8/UBN-YK24rjI/AAAAAAAABYo/VfC40NdEn_0/s1600/_DSC1777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5WUV69xzgd8/UBN-YK24rjI/AAAAAAAABYo/VfC40NdEn_0/s400/_DSC1777.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is first time we'd been able to get to the shore since Ship Cove</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
On the whole I'm glad to have done the walk as it offered stunning views of the Marlborough Sounds but I wouldn't say it was an essential thing to go out of your way to do unless you happen to be in Picton or are passing through the Marlborough Region. In total, it took us 4 hours 50 minutes to do the walk from Ship Cove to Endeavour Inlet, including stops for lunch, climbing over a mini obstacle course and taking plenty of photos!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wjgb_zWl_sc/UBN-U9DfanI/AAAAAAAABYQ/Q81rq8t-vAs/s1600/_DSC1763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wjgb_zWl_sc/UBN-U9DfanI/AAAAAAAABYQ/Q81rq8t-vAs/s400/_DSC1763.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of several storm damaged trees blocking out path</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkVPfiaYLUA3Jqz_u70SY9qSu-ox74ZMa1Dx4_EmQ1ps3PrSTZUHgWJCcqtTE2OWHx_E5jrJtXXoB4DkYp9nLVIpU853C4-iHaujlUARD62wVdpzVUIlr0CACojPTjmYmqfQM5tK-XSWf/s1600/P1040355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitkVPfiaYLUA3Jqz_u70SY9qSu-ox74ZMa1Dx4_EmQ1ps3PrSTZUHgWJCcqtTE2OWHx_E5jrJtXXoB4DkYp9nLVIpU853C4-iHaujlUARD62wVdpzVUIlr0CACojPTjmYmqfQM5tK-XSWf/s400/P1040355.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There's no turning back now...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LPVmLoVgOrs/UBN-Z4GScdI/AAAAAAAABY4/OB89tTRzSGs/s1600/_DSC1781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LPVmLoVgOrs/UBN-Z4GScdI/AAAAAAAABY4/OB89tTRzSGs/s640/_DSC1781.JPG" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie having a well earned beer in Furneaux Lodge</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We were a little disappointed that we didn't see any dolphins in the Sounds on our journey via the water taxi, but at least we were able to walk the track in the first place, so I guess you can't have it all!<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-77006715512309048722012-08-27T05:10:00.002-07:002012-08-27T05:10:13.714-07:00Crossing the Cook StraitHaving spent almost four months on the North Island (Te Ika a Maui), it's time for us to move on and venture onto the larger but more sparsely populated South Island (Te Wai Pounamu), which is renowned for it's spectacular natural beauty including breathtaking mountains, numerous lakes and true wildernesses, as well as comparatively colder winters!<br />
<br />
However, before booking our ticket to catch the Interislander ferry from Wellington, there was time for us to quickly pass through Taupō to see Mt Ruapehu at the southern shore of the lake in all it's glory. When we were here in February we couldn't see the volcano, so it was quite a spectacular sight to behold with the snow on it's peaks.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLddlwxqKunAZYjbkJ-xJTKDXtv9jMCF2vud8vE0GBogYlkIXnw2MxQ66OBX058QnL7TzQ1qzfTzup9cPzt7DKeGj_Bls0uam0sx56zFC8RjXIAQ72_mcZYj6cH0evNRBSZV4QTl4PBUI/s1600/_DSC1420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRLddlwxqKunAZYjbkJ-xJTKDXtv9jMCF2vud8vE0GBogYlkIXnw2MxQ66OBX058QnL7TzQ1qzfTzup9cPzt7DKeGj_Bls0uam0sx56zFC8RjXIAQ72_mcZYj6cH0evNRBSZV4QTl4PBUI/s400/_DSC1420.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mt Ruapehu is the North Island's highest mountain</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TP4mdiQNR6Q/T-OWAK5ICCI/AAAAAAAABM0/ZWd_qSnl6K8/s1600/_DSC1423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TP4mdiQNR6Q/T-OWAK5ICCI/AAAAAAAABM0/ZWd_qSnl6K8/s400/_DSC1423.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The mountain is actually an active stratovolcano!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We also planned to drop into Napier to catch up with some friends and to do a small amount of work, as well as for Lizzie to do some volunteering at the <b><a href="http://napierspca.org.nz/" target="_blank">SPCA</a> </b>(Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).<br />
<br />
The drive from Napier down to the Interislander Ferry Terminal in Wellington is quite lengthy (over 300 km), so normally we would have stayed somewhere closer to Wellington or even in the capital itself, but it's more expensive to stay there than anywhere else in the country. If we did decide to stay in Wellington then we would have liked to have been there for a couple of nights so we could see some of the sights, but we're just keen to get onto the South Island now as we've spent more time on the North Island than we had in the whole of New Zealand the last time we were here.<br />
<br />
Starting off at 7am (yes, it's bloody early but we needed to be at the ferry terminal for 1.30pm) we drove through Hastings out towards the beautiful mountain ranges of Central Hawke's Bay at Ongaonga alongside the Ruahine Forest Park. Passing through Southern Hawke's Bay on State Highway 2 there were a relentless number of sheep and cattle stations but there was little of genuine interest. At Mangatainoka we drove past the famous Tui Brewery and the "Frank the Tank" grain silo at Mangatainoka.<br />
<br />
Continuing on our journey, we stopped off very briefly in Carterton in South Wairarapa, the namesake of the nearest town to us back at in home in Witney! Unfortunately, there's not much to write home about (a bit like back in England) for the self-proclaimed Daffodil capital of New Zealand but it's funny to think of friends back in Carterton, Oxfordshire 11,700 miles away.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b8SCugIjZGE/UBN90N2nj0I/AAAAAAAABUo/tyIQv6rtEzc/s1600/_DSC1583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b8SCugIjZGE/UBN90N2nj0I/AAAAAAAABUo/tyIQv6rtEzc/s640/_DSC1583.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is for Ben and Aaron back in Oxfordshire!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The most nerve-racking part of the drive journey was the section between Greytown and Upper Hutt at <b>Rimutaka Hill</b> as the road climbed (extremely) steeply through Tararua Forest Park - as Lizzie was the passenger she was hoping that I was concentrating on my driving, but for me the biggest concern was that the petrol gauge was hovering above empty. Being in the middle of nowhere I couldn't think of a worse place to run of out petrol but it wasn't all doom and gloom as the dregs of the petrol tank were giving a bit of a false reading on the steep inclines, so once we were back driving downhill the gauge looked a little healthier!<br />
<br />
Once we arrived at the ferry terminal we waited for over an hour and a half before the ferry finally left Wellington despite being warned to arrive in good time before the final check-in. We were so bored waiting to board the ferry I decided to go for a nap in the car but before long as I was being rudely awaken by Lizzie as the vehicles were boarding the ferry and we were holding up the queue!<br />
<br />
It's quite expensive to take a car on the ferry but we were able to get a discount through booking a non-refundable web saver fare and a additional 10% off using our <a href="http://www.bbh.co.nz/bbh_ClubCardDeals.aspx" target="_blank">BBH backpacker club cards</a>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyLZOD8_1_CrrJ9QqfD9kjbLpvJ67xf_XXfFHqMncR_ZbsGVIbKfp17YBiifIFaEBfDBAyLEQAirF0xkiIgjA35-QknTtCTdA_rqGcw1ODC-OMwv98LXcnJYXWuE3rNthMLi0pNd15vF3/s1600/_DSC1587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyLZOD8_1_CrrJ9QqfD9kjbLpvJ67xf_XXfFHqMncR_ZbsGVIbKfp17YBiifIFaEBfDBAyLEQAirF0xkiIgjA35-QknTtCTdA_rqGcw1ODC-OMwv98LXcnJYXWuE3rNthMLi0pNd15vF3/s400/_DSC1587.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie with the Lancer at the windy ferry terminal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Wellington Harbour (Te Whanganui-a-Tara or <b>Port Nicholson</b> as it's technically known) is a large natural harbour surrounded by hills and with a narrow entrance to the sea guarded by the Barrett Reef. In Māori tradition the explorer Kupe is said to be the first person to visit the harbour. Our ferry for sailing across the Cook Strait (Raukawakawa) was the Aratere (or Māori for "quick path") which was recently lengthened in Singapore in 2011:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5m6uvBsxLQs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
The Cook Strait connects the South Pacific Ocean and the Tasman Sea through the centre of the New Zealand land mass. Great oceanic currents sweep up the coast of the South Island and funnel through the channel between Cape Terawhiti on the North Island and Arapawa Island at the entrance to the South Island's Marlborough Sounds. As a result of the strong swells, the crossing is famous for being quite rough, although we must have been quite fortunate as it was a relatively smooth journey.<br />
<br />
Entering the drowned valleys of Marlborough Sounds through the Tory Channel, our final destination was the sleepy town of Picton in heart of the Marlborough Sounds. Unfortunately, it had got too dark for us to see any of the Queen Charlotte Sound, so we might have to save this for the return journey! Picton is a good base to tackle the Queen Charlottle Track - supposedly one of the best walks to do in New Zealand, however, it was something we never did when we were in the Marlborough region five years ago.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0bkTTWir7OM/UBN93fQs6mI/AAAAAAAABVI/-atX_MKcd0s/s1600/_DSC1605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0bkTTWir7OM/UBN93fQs6mI/AAAAAAAABVI/-atX_MKcd0s/s400/_DSC1605.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The bow of the Aratere heading for the Marlborough Sounds</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpfe1tU5U15ecXmC_RRoO2M2KV4na-BVw2w2No5tfucPfzFdDG8RySvnoJoO-DhfT9iaJhhk1ZF7j6OEt2UgfxFBu-h2oFithWvwf9QVgPcpCBsC0CQn166COxfLLfN9m7RiKoCxS66Lp/s1600/_DSC1602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpfe1tU5U15ecXmC_RRoO2M2KV4na-BVw2w2No5tfucPfzFdDG8RySvnoJoO-DhfT9iaJhhk1ZF7j6OEt2UgfxFBu-h2oFithWvwf9QVgPcpCBsC0CQn166COxfLLfN9m7RiKoCxS66Lp/s400/_DSC1602.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arapawa Island on the horizon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w5HmFCVZSNE/UBN94PCCAbI/AAAAAAAABVQ/dYhUzXKRUxI/s1600/_DSC1614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w5HmFCVZSNE/UBN94PCCAbI/AAAAAAAABVQ/dYhUzXKRUxI/s400/_DSC1614.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunset over the Marlborough Sounds</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The journey across the Cook Strait brings an end to our travels in North Island but the map below highlights all the places we've visited.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNwkYXMlGHNWeqHAZcHvaImlAKA5UvrEGbdEW8Vr81dfXlV25IwLAOd2F5W3jE6XytVnnWQeVgDwxbGH0W3MNOAH7mDw_7QAeH8s0jf9UPR-cghQPTclDTe2-SKZ3-8quKrlwCQGyNX5k/s1600/North+Island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbNwkYXMlGHNWeqHAZcHvaImlAKA5UvrEGbdEW8Vr81dfXlV25IwLAOd2F5W3jE6XytVnnWQeVgDwxbGH0W3MNOAH7mDw_7QAeH8s0jf9UPR-cghQPTclDTe2-SKZ3-8quKrlwCQGyNX5k/s640/North+Island.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: small;">The yellow dots represent all the places we've visited and the red dots the places stayed </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-27755662494380662912012-07-30T03:41:00.001-07:002012-09-18T01:39:46.849-07:00Geothermal wonderland<div>
When we originally visited Rotorua on our first trip to New Zealand, we were limited to the attractions that we could see because we didn't have our own transport and also by a lack of funds. This time round we're able to explore further outside of Rotorua even if we don't have all the money we need to see everything! However, this isn't necessarily a problem as it's quite a good thing that we're being more selective as the admissions to a lot of sights such as the Hell's Gate (Tikitere) Thermal Area, Waumangu Volcanic Valley and Te Wairoa (or the Buried Village) can cost from $30 each and we've only got so much money and time to spend in the region.<br />
<br />
Also competing for your hard-earned dollars are various Māori "cultural experiences and performances", which to be honest feel a bit contrived in the sense that the Māori groups in Rotorua are cashing in on their heritage more than anywhere we've been to on the North Island. Having already been to Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and Te Puia we decided just to try a different thermal area, <b>Wai-O-Tapu,</b> as it has some of the most unique and spectacular volcanic wonders in the region, especially as the area is associated with volcanic activity dating back about 160,000 years.<br />
<br />
Waiotapu, which means "sacred waters" in Māori,<span class="Apple-style-span"> is located 27km south of Rotoua, on the Thermal Explorer Highway (State Highway 5). It'</span>s an geothermal area at the southern end of the Okataina Volcanic Centre, on the edge of the largest volcanic caldera (depression), just north of the Reporoa caldera in the Taupō Volcanic Zone. Wai-O-Tapu is considered to be one of New Zealand’s most colourful and diverse geothermal attractions, as it is set within a natural bush setting. The barren landscapes give you an impression that only the hardiest of plant life can grow here.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-21kgv1JD-CE/T-OUu2viLnI/AAAAAAAABH8/6mIcp_jspNk/s1600/_DSC1105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-21kgv1JD-CE/T-OUu2viLnI/AAAAAAAABH8/6mIcp_jspNk/s400/_DSC1105.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The harsh landscape of Wai-O-Tapu reserve</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RYkq5JxObkE/T-J4Oq9ituI/AAAAAAAAA-I/sWiwYqlkt6Y/s1600/Satellite+of+Wai-O-Tapu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="381" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RYkq5JxObkE/T-J4Oq9ituI/AAAAAAAAA-I/sWiwYqlkt6Y/s400/Satellite+of+Wai-O-Tapu.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Satellite image of the Wai-O-Tapu thermal area</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Photo courtesy of <b>Google Maps </b>©2012 Google</div>
<div>
<br />
Starting off at the visitor centre, the first thermal attraction to see at Wai-O-Tapu was actually in a separate area towards the Lady Knox Geyser, which was a short drive back towards the way out. The geyser is named after Lady Constance Knox, the daughter of the then 15<sup>th </sup>Governer of New Zealand, Uchter Knox.</div>
<div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SxDqF9LWyAE/T-OUqkK3IPI/AAAAAAAABHs/25Fx7Vfb_5A/s1600/_DSC1080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SxDqF9LWyAE/T-OUqkK3IPI/AAAAAAAABHs/25Fx7Vfb_5A/s640/_DSC1080.JPG" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lizzie by Lady Knox before the big eruption </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The spout is made of rocks placed around the base of the spring to enhance the eruption, by the inmates from a nearby prison who first discovered the geyser in 1901. Over the years silica from the constant eruptions has built up to give a white cone-shaped appearance. Below the geyser are two chambers which hold 26,000 litres of water. At approx. 10.15am everyday a staff member pours a packet of surfactant into the vent so the geyser performs on cue. After about 5 mins, the surfactant eventually changes the surface tension of the two chambers, which releases the pressure of the geyser sending the water between 10 - 20 metres into the air during the initial eruption. The whole event seemed tad artificial especially since we've visited Old Faithful Geyser in <b>Yellowstone National Park</b> (home to half of the world's total number of geysers in its nine geyser basins) and waited patiently for Old Faithful to erupt, but I can understand if people want to see Lady Knox go off consistently as the natural cycle of the geyser is between 24 - 72 hours!<br />
<br />
The guide in the following video explains the whole process of geyser in more detail:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ukQOmVRfWUo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfHYY605_olEi7S7vMOylkLvxGgbN7YolaaU0GwZipPcvd1Edseu8VNcVY_fE5cmwnarda7N19jirfALXYg7gpX3WHVRIcEYQfs-VBoqKG3fl-d1HmFDg_wPQJu1AZECsmJ-EaNosJAKv/s1600/_DSC1088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfHYY605_olEi7S7vMOylkLvxGgbN7YolaaU0GwZipPcvd1Edseu8VNcVY_fE5cmwnarda7N19jirfALXYg7gpX3WHVRIcEYQfs-VBoqKG3fl-d1HmFDg_wPQJu1AZECsmJ-EaNosJAKv/s640/_DSC1088.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thar she blows!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Once we were finished at the Lady Knox Geyser we headed back to the visitor centre, to begin the walk round the grounds of Wai-O-Tapu. The first of the sights within the geothermal area were the Weather Pool and a series of collapsed craters. Some of the craters are up to 50 metres in diameter and 20 metres deep. Several of the craters contain hot water springs and most have sulphur deposits formed by volcanic gases. The most recent crater to be formed was the Thunder Crater, which collapsed in 1968.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ROzG5myBA4xqCb9tviYpy2TgRK_PKfKSE-i4UYvljV6v2gjYG-u4LXtTIrarM-v-Zips5If1la3ticor2uTUDRIlerdEPJglC2xH7K_VUzGgc2B_kEIxn17bnLeQ87o06dgdoTNmRD2s/s1600/_DSC1111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ROzG5myBA4xqCb9tviYpy2TgRK_PKfKSE-i4UYvljV6v2gjYG-u4LXtTIrarM-v-Zips5If1la3ticor2uTUDRIlerdEPJglC2xH7K_VUzGgc2B_kEIxn17bnLeQ87o06dgdoTNmRD2s/s640/_DSC1111.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Looking into the depths of the Thunder Crater</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vIC7TSwEx5M/T-OUze5wcRI/AAAAAAAABIM/mhWl38kMXMA/s1600/_DSC1112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vIC7TSwEx5M/T-OUze5wcRI/AAAAAAAABIM/mhWl38kMXMA/s400/_DSC1112.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The bubbling acidic spring of the Thunder Crater</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Down by the Devils-Ink Pots (a seris of bubbling mud pools of crude oil and graphite) we spotted the cat we met at the visitor centre and imaginatively named "Geothermal Cat"! He didn't have a care in the world as he was wondering through all hissing and rumbling silica mounds looking for a warm place to sit on!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXYKWRMOxQn-7mZnGs0QCE-9Jvn1XlSRQ8lAKoZF9-1cjfkirVqRPd2MQraTWU4Uu0rlIkqZ2tFsH9eNKnY41lTouZ08JHurI-0uGrqQg1BDJJXs8wvmXpm_-67L2qZ0qBZ7ov9NbhO4P/s1600/P1040091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXYKWRMOxQn-7mZnGs0QCE-9Jvn1XlSRQ8lAKoZF9-1cjfkirVqRPd2MQraTWU4Uu0rlIkqZ2tFsH9eNKnY41lTouZ08JHurI-0uGrqQg1BDJJXs8wvmXpm_-67L2qZ0qBZ7ov9NbhO4P/s640/P1040091.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Me with <b>Geothermal Cat </b>at the visitor's centre</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FXrCqE8sU5Q/T-OU2IAjbKI/AAAAAAAABIU/ktoBQxkGsaA/s1600/_DSC1117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FXrCqE8sU5Q/T-OU2IAjbKI/AAAAAAAABIU/ktoBQxkGsaA/s400/_DSC1117.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">With so many warm spots to pick, Geothermal Cat is spoilt for choice</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
Moving onto the Artist's Palette there was a lookout where you could look down on this pool where water overflowing from the Champagne Pool leaves mineral deposits in a variety of bold colours around the pool. As you walk down to the sinter terraces, there's a boardwalk which skirts the Artist's Palette on one side and on otherside the Primrose Terrace - the largest actively formed sinter terraces in New Zealand.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--VNQl4lx7Ic/T-OU4JEOGRI/AAAAAAAABIc/jnPPUPcvLZA/s1600/_DSC1121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--VNQl4lx7Ic/T-OU4JEOGRI/AAAAAAAABIc/jnPPUPcvLZA/s400/_DSC1121.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Artisit's Palette boardwalk and Primrose Terrace in the background</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLWf9Utwcw97ea0THFHcxDh08szAmcuVYYwKXdjTptTHJUGfzKpeWJjpxQpOfrMvEqWxMX9G8lLc76PkL7BMMQMb3hYZOU6mHHpk-jOWySl5sO93oxCYPt_aeDZ1kMex9SwEAa-6Uf4M9/s1600/_DSC1122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLWf9Utwcw97ea0THFHcxDh08szAmcuVYYwKXdjTptTHJUGfzKpeWJjpxQpOfrMvEqWxMX9G8lLc76PkL7BMMQMb3hYZOU6mHHpk-jOWySl5sO93oxCYPt_aeDZ1kMex9SwEAa-6Uf4M9/s400/_DSC1122.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The sulphur rich deposits of the Artist's Palette</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R-4VKgeu3yI/T-OVCmVjyAI/AAAAAAAABJE/XT0Q2iURZnw/s1600/_DSC1134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R-4VKgeu3yI/T-OVCmVjyAI/AAAAAAAABJE/XT0Q2iURZnw/s400/_DSC1134.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Primrose Terrace covers an area of approx. 3 acres</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwn6ea4QEtYmVq6JhWeM8KThMT5IJzRRqwzfAedMmhN1sRcHHGG-wZXOcWpMWl6d4ar0ekCelf1PzBl6oDYgcNv_w3RQYRXP2OmI6MjM8iVT94QLah0vkyFdaUbM8dD9-6Y6APLOg2eEE/s1600/_DSC1216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPwn6ea4QEtYmVq6JhWeM8KThMT5IJzRRqwzfAedMmhN1sRcHHGG-wZXOcWpMWl6d4ar0ekCelf1PzBl6oDYgcNv_w3RQYRXP2OmI6MjM8iVT94QLah0vkyFdaUbM8dD9-6Y6APLOg2eEE/s400/_DSC1216.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This fragile terrace has been formed over the last 700 years</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
The wide range of colours seen throughout the reserve are due to different mineral elements with the following colours consisting of:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Green</b> - Colloidal sulphur/ ferrous salts</li>
<li><b>Orange</b> - Antimony</li>
<li><b>White</b> - Silica</li>
<li><b>Yellow</b> - Sulphur</li>
<li><b>Red/ brown</b> - Iron oxide</li>
<li><b>Black</b> - Sulphur and carbon</li>
</ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwP5xg9h5QQUnGRTZ9jwtYZj3Z22dlq968NHFtqoPIGveiaD1gGfp5S346W4TaEMC_2i_W3qzO4ji4DdyDWS5xr-ElWcvAokNAaSDBwKwPjmOSFPPhUONB1XNx3l-ehYqEQYOjR4lZUdWH/s1600/_DSC1131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwP5xg9h5QQUnGRTZ9jwtYZj3Z22dlq968NHFtqoPIGveiaD1gGfp5S346W4TaEMC_2i_W3qzO4ji4DdyDWS5xr-ElWcvAokNAaSDBwKwPjmOSFPPhUONB1XNx3l-ehYqEQYOjR4lZUdWH/s640/_DSC1131.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The reddish-brown colour on the vegetation is known as Trentepohlia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Next was the multi-hued Champagne Pool, which is one of the most unique springs in the world. Formed by a hydrothermal eruption 700 years ago, it's 65 metres in diameter and 62 metres deep. The surface temperature of the bottle-green water fringed by an orange ledge is 74°C and contains numerous minerals such as gold, silver, mercury, sulphur, arsenic, thalliumm, antimony, amongst others, with bubbles of carbon dioxide breaking at the surface. The water discharged from the Champagne Pool flows across a sinter-encrusted flat, with a range of colours caused by mineral precipitation and microorganisms.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O1KaPpZbbHI/T-OU9NHbUrI/AAAAAAAABI0/zeyt3a8RNHA/s1600/_DSC1130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O1KaPpZbbHI/T-OU9NHbUrI/AAAAAAAABI0/zeyt3a8RNHA/s640/_DSC1130.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Champagne Pool is somewhere in the steam behind Lizzie</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OVCMPJfH0LE/T-OU7jxCwcI/AAAAAAAABIs/PJhRd2S4H_k/s1600/_DSC1127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OVCMPJfH0LE/T-OU7jxCwcI/AAAAAAAABIs/PJhRd2S4H_k/s400/_DSC1127.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">The orange hue is caused by orpiment and realgar - sulfides of arsenic</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xCkECFsHl1k/T-OVf62rStI/AAAAAAAABK0/mpDqRECyX-E/s1600/_DSC1223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xCkECFsHl1k/T-OVf62rStI/AAAAAAAABK0/mpDqRECyX-E/s400/_DSC1223.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thermophillic microorganisms live within the edge of the pool</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Walking between the Wai-O-Tapu Geyser and the Alum Cliffs there were several fantail birds (Pīwakawaka) flying around and chirping as we walked passed. Although, we've seen them quite a few times in the forests since we've been here, I've never seen so many flitting around from perch to perch in such a desolate place - it was almost like they thrived in the harsh environment. The fantails are one of our favourite birds in NZ as they're full of character, displaying their tails by constantly opening and closing them, and the noises they make remind me of a squeaky dog toy!<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hbTi_MbpiG0/T-OVFb8IqJI/AAAAAAAABJM/fRZr9Ia__Qo/s1600/_DSC1137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hbTi_MbpiG0/T-OVFb8IqJI/AAAAAAAABJM/fRZr9Ia__Qo/s400/_DSC1137.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">View towards the Wai-O-Tapu Geyser and Alum Cliffs</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KRFnQtjKtBo/T-OVHvodPhI/AAAAAAAABJU/XZ_Tl6-XyCQ/s1600/_DSC1158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KRFnQtjKtBo/T-OVHvodPhI/AAAAAAAABJU/XZ_Tl6-XyCQ/s400/_DSC1158.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Pīwakawaka </span><span style="font-size: small;">(<i>Rhipidura fuliginosa</i>)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYz4zo_HQkwHokOOgh4oR07_kizGDZXyA7niI7gwla_TqKo4SgmWV3aKtVWHxiQ_USSGeLF9QdTjMGjY1I5my4w-SDYRDJAwxTafcdr_lFssDXvQYoU0Ld2wu4xfgYWYHHu6VBRHHp9ckH/s1600/_DSC1167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYz4zo_HQkwHokOOgh4oR07_kizGDZXyA7niI7gwla_TqKo4SgmWV3aKtVWHxiQ_USSGeLF9QdTjMGjY1I5my4w-SDYRDJAwxTafcdr_lFssDXvQYoU0Ld2wu4xfgYWYHHu6VBRHHp9ckH/s400/_DSC1167.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fantails play prominent roles in </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Māori </span>legends</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TOtZDE6BWF4/T-OVN8nxeBI/AAAAAAAABJs/Ph9CsIsm-uE/s1600/_DSC1179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TOtZDE6BWF4/T-OVN8nxeBI/AAAAAAAABJs/Ph9CsIsm-uE/s400/_DSC1179.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Sulphur Cave - yes it did really smell that bad at times... </span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
\<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wNa3c8WpG2M/T-OVLTymLUI/AAAAAAAABJk/9Pc7W7mb0IE/s1600/_DSC1171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wNa3c8WpG2M/T-OVLTymLUI/AAAAAAAABJk/9Pc7W7mb0IE/s400/_DSC1171.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sulphur deposits in a geothermal spring</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
At the very end of the reserve you reach Lake Ngakoro (the grandfather) which covers 12 hectares and was formed after an eruption more than 700 years ago. The green lake looks like something out of Jurassic Park as it takes the water that flows across the Frying Pan Flat from the Champagne Pool before tumbling over a small waterfall.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyYHY47rx0wkbwJ3-IldfRPWuNUzwc3gkHMC3ZHmlHTZG5uKh-vjtKw1D3iz37YhunSNicfEZ5tu8FVGRTIGX6eSMBXyCRGDdZrSAjBZ46PpI-OuvHN-N8k_xkjO_nbZX2R2xigcioORt/s1600/_DSC1187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyYHY47rx0wkbwJ3-IldfRPWuNUzwc3gkHMC3ZHmlHTZG5uKh-vjtKw1D3iz37YhunSNicfEZ5tu8FVGRTIGX6eSMBXyCRGDdZrSAjBZ46PpI-OuvHN-N8k_xkjO_nbZX2R2xigcioORt/s400/_DSC1187.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Steam rising across the left shore shows the area is geothermally active!</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iIVCBnYqWFA/T-OVTkFandI/AAAAAAAABKE/NKkETQzr84w/s1600/_DSC1191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iIVCBnYqWFA/T-OVTkFandI/AAAAAAAABKE/NKkETQzr84w/s400/_DSC1191.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Lake Ngakoro waterfall</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Walking around the native bush walk we caught the first glimpse of a snow capped mountain looking over in the direction of Tongariro National Park, it's a pretty exciting thing for me as I've never see anything like this before...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lx7_lj8_eNA/T-OVXQY_J7I/AAAAAAAABKU/6qIkQJufRxw/s1600/_DSC1205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lx7_lj8_eNA/T-OVXQY_J7I/AAAAAAAABKU/6qIkQJufRxw/s400/_DSC1205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OYLAz_JDg9Y/T-OVZZWPDcI/AAAAAAAABKc/OBRy2nj68gs/s1600/_DSC1208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OYLAz_JDg9Y/T-OVZZWPDcI/AAAAAAAABKc/OBRy2nj68gs/s400/_DSC1208.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Overlooking the Oyster Pool and Frying Pan Flat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
One of our favourite parts of the reserve was right at the end where we saw a crater filled with luminous green water, called the "Devil's Bath"! It seemed unreal but this was the natural colour of the water as it has been stained by the excess water from the Champagne Pool mixing sulphur and ferrous salts.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnjmqdJG4Qg0aKgNOWR63TMDbs5dIxO6TXv10-wzgwmaJjyZFi8ybOqBkzlAPIw5zm5_Uj41ho-2SV5FZjWzHpsJw8j_nwoTtRZPfRI0NCW8qOY-xC-iFFldCOcGtdNt3z9CYHUjaxtGR/s1600/_DSC1235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnjmqdJG4Qg0aKgNOWR63TMDbs5dIxO6TXv10-wzgwmaJjyZFi8ybOqBkzlAPIw5zm5_Uj41ho-2SV5FZjWzHpsJw8j_nwoTtRZPfRI0NCW8qOY-xC-iFFldCOcGtdNt3z9CYHUjaxtGR/s400/_DSC1235.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This picture hasn't been photoshopped, this is how the pool really looks </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JZpfKaGKcuw/T-OVlL2r7FI/AAAAAAAABLE/ddoi2xSNSR4/s1600/_DSC1241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JZpfKaGKcuw/T-OVlL2r7FI/AAAAAAAABLE/ddoi2xSNSR4/s640/_DSC1241.JPG" width="422" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
As you drive back along the main road there is a short detour to huge boiling mud pool, which is possibly one of the most violent mud pools I've ever seen! This was the site of a large mud volcano which was destroyed through erosion in the 1920′s.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/e-RDGa39s0k?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Lying 24 kilometres southeast of Rotorua is Mt Tarawera, a curious-looking mountain, which holds major historical significance for the area in that it was responsible for New Zealand's largest dome volcano eruption and also the country's deadliest eruption. Early Māori and the Europeans who arrived in the 1800's did not realise that Mt Tarawera was an active volcano. At 1111m high, the jagged peaks of Mt Tarawera are made up three domes: <b>Wahanga</b> (bursting open), <b>Ruawahia</b> (the split cave or hole) and <b>Tarawera</b> (burnt cliffs or peaks). On 10<sup>th</sup> June 1886, the long-dormant Mount Tarawera erupted violently and beneath Lake Rotomahana, a deadly mixture of water, magma and gas exploded in a chain of eruptions, which created the Waimangu Volcanic Valley as well as destroying the famous Pink and White Terraces that used to cascade down to Lake Rotomahana. The spectacular terraces used to be the biggest sinter formation in New Zealand drawing in tourists to the region before their destruction.<br />
<br />
The lake was substantially affected by the eruption and the site where the Pink and White Terraces had once stood became a deep crater over a 100 metres deep. Over time this filled with water and formed a new Lake Rotomahana, much larger than the first. The eruption also formed many new geothermal features, including Waimangu Geyser, the largest in the world, and the largest hot spring in New Zealand, Frying Pan Lake.<br />
<br />
Surrounding Māori villages such as Te Wairoa (now known as the Burried Village) were also dramatically showered in tonnes of ash and mud. Although, the final death toll will never been known, it is estimated that between 108 - 120 people perished in what remains the largest eruption in New Zealand since European settlement.<br />
<br />
Today, Mt Tarawera is a very different place with a peaceful lake, which has natural hot pools that fringe the lake and even a hot water beach.<br />
<br />
To get to Lake Tarawera from Waiotapu, we had to drive all the way back to Rotorua and then back out via the Tarawera Road, past the rather the uninspiring Blue (Tikitapu) and Green (Rotokakahi) Lakes. Having been spoilt with all the tones and colours of Wai-O-Tapu , the lakes don't evoke images of the colours they're named after! To be honest, they're nothing more than recreational lakes, which might have been nice to do some walks from if we had the time but they were nothing special.<br />
<br />
Going down to the lake at Tarawera Landing, we were only able to get down to the lakefront, as the Tarawera Trail wasn't open to the public and no date had been set by the Tarawera Trail Trust. Instead, we drove back up to a roadside lookout which gave us spectacular views across the lake.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-km1pMiU_6MY/UBZVA9YLJ0I/AAAAAAAABvs/2tiXMr10SIM/s1600/p20120615-153354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-km1pMiU_6MY/UBZVA9YLJ0I/AAAAAAAABvs/2tiXMr10SIM/s400/p20120615-153354.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sr65hVDAeNM/T-OVoUOX9OI/AAAAAAAABLU/01voTSU0b2s/s1600/_DSC1263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sr65hVDAeNM/T-OVoUOX9OI/AAAAAAAABLU/01voTSU0b2s/s400/_DSC1263.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lake Tarawera and the mountain from Tarawera Landing</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtoa4pHunhqaZtpEVYnQnDuODeXLf8BWyxJJaTcTi7g3wTZRcakdevusyw0MKKBaZH47-jcaVV1Ya1p3qfX-f-F0xcSRa1PeLjAiJGrpIiLE9jcr0pMnlUj2fU1ULEUc45qZmog7X5I6W/s1600/_DSC1265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdtoa4pHunhqaZtpEVYnQnDuODeXLf8BWyxJJaTcTi7g3wTZRcakdevusyw0MKKBaZH47-jcaVV1Ya1p3qfX-f-F0xcSRa1PeLjAiJGrpIiLE9jcr0pMnlUj2fU1ULEUc45qZmog7X5I6W/s400/_DSC1265.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The distinctive Wahanga Dome of Mt Tarawera</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-32800004554104047412012-07-21T05:14:00.000-07:002012-07-21T05:14:11.108-07:00I love the smell of sulphur in the morning!I don't really, I was just paraphrasing a famous film (it's Apocalypse Now for the uneducated) - I actually can't stand it but hey this Rotorua, they don't call it "Sulphur City" for nothing! Rotorua is famous for all it's eggy smells due a huge amount of geothermal activity happening in the Taup<span style="text-align: center;">ō</span> Volanic Zone, as a result hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas is transported to the surface of the earth's crust causing the air to smell like rotten eggs, which from time to time can be a little overwhelming!<br />
<br />
Compared to the Bay of Islands, it definitely felt a lot colder down here than in Kerikeri, where we were spoilt with an extended run of warmer weather compared to the rest of New Zealand, but that wasn't going to stop us enjoying Rotorua as we've been hearing that the South Island is even colder still! <br />
<br />
<div>
To refamiliarise ourselves with the city centre we took a brief walk around the somewhat featureless grid system before heading over to the Government Gardens (originally known as Paepaekumana), east of the Central Business District. The CBD seemed a lot more run down than how I remembered it, however, I can't quite put my finger on it. I'm not sure if I'm just remembering Rotorua with rose tinted glasses or if we've been to some nicer places on our second time round in NZ...<br />
<br />
The Government Gardens is a site of legendary and historical importance to local Māori people, as numerous significant battles have taken place there. In the late 1800s, the Māori gifted 50 acres of this land to the British Crown from the Te Arawa tribe, however, the scrub-covered land was cleared and formal gardens planted in its place. Several large trees from those early days remain, including multi-trunked Japanese firs and an unusual Californian weeping redwood. The Government of the day also had a grand vision for the area. As early as the late 1870s it was viewed and developed by the Crown as an antipodean version of a great European spa town. Today, the centre piece of the Government Gardens is the grand mock-Tudor museum which was originally constructed as a spa retreat in 1908.<br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IICKhkeYnKc/T-OUPUdM_jI/AAAAAAAABGU/h4TapezQR-I/s1600/_DSC0991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IICKhkeYnKc/T-OUPUdM_jI/AAAAAAAABGU/h4TapezQR-I/s400/_DSC0991.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The ancestral tōtara carvings around the gardens were presented by the N</span><span style="font-size: small;">gāti</span><span style="font-size: small;"> Whakaue people</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AbdZj4t8DjU/T-OUI8wL55I/AAAAAAAABF8/nquNB42codE/s1600/_DSC0979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AbdZj4t8DjU/T-OUI8wL55I/AAAAAAAABF8/nquNB42codE/s400/_DSC0979.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The timber-framed Rotorua Museum used to be the old Bath House</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C0AMCZgAqQ0/T-OULOwaxZI/AAAAAAAABGE/vNRfhl4H9os/s1600/_DSC0981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C0AMCZgAqQ0/T-OULOwaxZI/AAAAAAAABGE/vNRfhl4H9os/s400/_DSC0981.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Blue Baths building is a rare example of a Spanish Mission-style bath house </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fmh_LekX1hU/T-OUNeu7NuI/AAAAAAAABGM/9exyUyOUdyA/s1600/_DSC0986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fmh_LekX1hU/T-OUNeu7NuI/AAAAAAAABGM/9exyUyOUdyA/s640/_DSC0986.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nice impression Lizzie!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of our favourite lakeside walks so far is down by the edge of Lake Rotorua, round to Motutara Point and Sulphur Bay. Unlike at Lake Taup<span style="text-align: center;">ō</span> you can actually get down to the water's edge. The lake is in fact a partially filled part of the volcano caldera, which was formed 230,000 years ago by a huge ignimbrite eruption! There's an island in the middle of the lake called Mokoia Island, which was the romantic setting for the Māori tale of Hinemoa and Tutanekai, an old local love story.</div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kLSOpYDT-js/T-OURmtlIRI/AAAAAAAABGc/PZa4JcKjYpQ/s1600/_DSC0997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kLSOpYDT-js/T-OURmtlIRI/AAAAAAAABGc/PZa4JcKjYpQ/s400/_DSC0997.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Lakeland Queen paddle steamer</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J__S4LnARvQ/T-OUTVt71DI/AAAAAAAABGk/oTxDg2HB4F8/s1600/_DSC1009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J__S4LnARvQ/T-OUTVt71DI/AAAAAAAABGk/oTxDg2HB4F8/s400/_DSC1009.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mokoia Island is possibly New Zealand's best-known lake island</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zjUr1-Tr7cI/T-OV6x8Y9NI/AAAAAAAABMc/2VyODqKxYnU/s1600/_DSC1401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zjUr1-Tr7cI/T-OV6x8Y9NI/AAAAAAAABMc/2VyODqKxYnU/s400/_DSC1401.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pied shags (<i>Phalacrocorax varius</i>) in the trees at Motutara Point</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Tutanekai lived on Mokoia Island many generations ago, and was the stepson of a great rangatira (chief). Hinemoa lived on the mainland and was the sacred daughter of two rangatira (Te Umukaria and his wife, Hinemaru). She lived in a special house in Owhata, on the eastern shore of the lake and was guarded by female attendants. During an annual meeting of the iwi (tribes), Tutanekai and Hinemoa met and fell in love, but they kept it a secret as they knew it would be forbidden. After the meeting, Tutanekai returned to Mokoia Island, but the music from his flute drifted across the lake to where Hinemoa waited. Hinemoa's people had become suspicious, so they dragged the waka (canoes) high up onto the beach each night to prevent her from rowing across the lake. However, Hinemoa was so determined to be with her love that despite the distance, she decided to swim the lake. She tied three empty gourds under each arm and set off through the cold, dark water using the sound of Tutanekai's flute to guide her. When she reached Mokoia Island, she was cold and tired so she rested in a hot pool. When one of Tutanekai's slaves came to fetch water, she demanded the gourd he carried, drank from it and then smashed it on the rocks. She did this twice, before Tutanekai stormed down to the hot pool to see who had insulted him in this way. But when he saw it was Hinemoa, he pulled her from the pool, put a cloak around her and took her back to his whare (house). In the morning, when four feet where seen in the whare instead of two (!), news spread that Tutanekai and Hinemoa had been wed. Their families made peace, and they lived happily together and had many distinguished descendants.<br /><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-INvFeSoI-T0/T-OV8p8m0GI/AAAAAAAABMk/7zhWWsUbfzg/s1600/_DSC1408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-INvFeSoI-T0/T-OV8p8m0GI/AAAAAAAABMk/7zhWWsUbfzg/s400/_DSC1408.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The lake and Mokoia Island are an outstanding habitat for water birds</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
At the west of the lakefront is Ohinemutu village, which is a suburb of Rotorua but very much retains a sense of importance. Ohinemutu was the region's original Ngāti Whakaue settlement, however, today you can see how Māori and European cultures have collaborated. Towards the lake's edge is the magnificently decorated St. Faith's Anglican Church. Inside the church, Māori design stained glass windows and carvings plus tukutuku (woven panels) add a unique dimension to the European Tudor-style architecture. An imaginative etched window has Jesus in a traditional Māori cloak, positioned in such a way that he appears to be walking on the water of the lake.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qnQmHoG_3gI/T-OVsQcyWNI/AAAAAAAABLk/tHyHVWbK2oA/s1600/_DSC1305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qnQmHoG_3gI/T-OVsQcyWNI/AAAAAAAABLk/tHyHVWbK2oA/s400/_DSC1305.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">St. Faith's Anglican Church seamlessly blends Māori and European cultures </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Two of the best free places in Rotorua to see boiling mud pools, sulphur vents and fumeroles as well as barren landscapes are at Sulphur Point (Te Kauanga) and Kuirau Park, which is right next to the city centre. Sulphur Bay is the southern most bay on Lake Rotorua, which is a warm sulpherous area lying on top of an active geothermal field. In particular, the thin crust around Sulphur Point makes it quite a dangerous place to be if you don't stick to the footpaths. <br />
<br />
Many of the best geothermal attractions in the area lie outside of Rotorua and we're hoping to see some of the more dramatic volcanic areas, especially now have our own transport to get around as we were limited to how far we could travel the last time we stayed here.<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZYOUsMI8ziB2tAmZb4-hxpoMsgbBSNKX7xDiCV1AjVr9QeL38JUKO_ohxKJUd7iR6axv011tg6i0ZBAfQN7XGubUYagP1ENlMmRDkNhjim_v2p7Nhl1SBbqc5rRSfGjB2G44cTzvMbkR/s1600/_DSC1369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZYOUsMI8ziB2tAmZb4-hxpoMsgbBSNKX7xDiCV1AjVr9QeL38JUKO_ohxKJUd7iR6axv011tg6i0ZBAfQN7XGubUYagP1ENlMmRDkNhjim_v2p7Nhl1SBbqc5rRSfGjB2G44cTzvMbkR/s400/_DSC1369.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cameron's laughing gas pool at Sulphur Point </span>
<span style="font-size: small;">(Te Kauanga)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x4zMTRMRoIQ/T-OVuUulSwI/AAAAAAAABLs/xTQwbjylXOo/s1600/_DSC1341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x4zMTRMRoIQ/T-OVuUulSwI/AAAAAAAABLs/xTQwbjylXOo/s400/_DSC1341.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">The milky colour of the water is due to suspended sulphur particles</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C5_AM6bnLCY/T-OVysyycMI/AAAAAAAABL8/zKwM6SqrdO4/s1600/_DSC1344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C5_AM6bnLCY/T-OVysyycMI/AAAAAAAABL8/zKwM6SqrdO4/s400/_DSC1344.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A section of the Te Arikiroa walk round from Sulphur Bay</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
On a separate day we drove out to the Whakarewarewa Forest 3km southeast of the city centre to walk along the Pohaturoa Track up to the Trig (upper) and Whaka (lower) lookouts, where we could lookout over Te Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve (or Te Whakarewarewa o te Ope Taua a Wahiao as the area is fully known!). At one point we were able to watch the Pohutu Geyser ("big splash") spouting steaming water 30m into the air.<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_QTHbOFX-u0/T-OUdgywn5I/AAAAAAAABHE/3d6YxiylTv8/s1600/_DSC1038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_QTHbOFX-u0/T-OUdgywn5I/AAAAAAAABHE/3d6YxiylTv8/s400/_DSC1038.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The view gives you a better sense that the city is built on an old lake bed</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b0xwwMHAZ_k/T-OUfyIhJFI/AAAAAAAABHM/XA2_ZwOHbyw/s1600/_DSC1045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b0xwwMHAZ_k/T-OUfyIhJFI/AAAAAAAABHM/XA2_ZwOHbyw/s400/_DSC1045.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A free show of the Pohutu Geyser from the Whaka lookout</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qWDnjx6JQjE/T-OUiOX8OUI/AAAAAAAABHU/-XUWbYDTIb8/s1600/_DSC1047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qWDnjx6JQjE/T-OUiOX8OUI/AAAAAAAABHU/-XUWbYDTIb8/s400/_DSC1047.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Steam rising across the Te Whakarewarewa thermal field</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Within the forest there is an impressive Redwood Grove, which was planted in 1899 as an experiment to see which exotic species could be grown successfully in New Zealand for timber. Not many of the 170 tree species survived, but the redwoods were found to grow three times faster than in their native California and some of the tallest trees now reach the heights of around 60m.<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z1GEjI6m2Ls/T-OUYCnvZ9I/AAAAAAAABG0/Facc9mYFQ-c/s1600/_DSC1020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z1GEjI6m2Ls/T-OUYCnvZ9I/AAAAAAAABG0/Facc9mYFQ-c/s640/_DSC1020.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">California coastal redwood towering above the forest</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QIfp56i57ag/T-OUlJ1DmGI/AAAAAAAABHc/il3noHwepkc/s1600/_DSC1073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QIfp56i57ag/T-OUlJ1DmGI/AAAAAAAABHc/il3noHwepkc/s640/_DSC1073.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">A naturally occurring thermal pond, the sulphur content turns any vegetation a powdery white colour</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3M6kjBr0Oj4/T-OUbglNtrI/AAAAAAAABG8/zezonDQX3w8/s1600/_DSC1028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3M6kjBr0Oj4/T-OUbglNtrI/AAAAAAAABG8/zezonDQX3w8/s640/_DSC1028.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">A whekī or rough tree fern under the canopy of the redwoods</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W34hOYjcHr4/T-OUosMWk-I/AAAAAAAABHk/joH6NWPIPh4/s1600/_DSC1075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W34hOYjcHr4/T-OUosMWk-I/AAAAAAAABHk/joH6NWPIPh4/s640/_DSC1075.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunset in the Redwood Grove</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-66253704761656763472012-07-03T04:59:00.001-07:002012-07-03T04:59:54.251-07:00From A to B via L&PKerikeri has been very good to us, the weather generally has been great in the subtropical "winterless north", we've made some great friends at work. On the whole we've been truly spoilt with our stay at the Kerikeri Farm Hostel, which really has felt like home but sadly now it's time for us to go. We'll especially miss our honorary dogs at Kerikeri Farm Hostel, Nika and Weewee...<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HxtaCAH5vhY/T-OSW7cbO7I/AAAAAAAAA_8/ahVA8zyd-Tw/s1600/P1030951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HxtaCAH5vhY/T-OSW7cbO7I/AAAAAAAAA_8/ahVA8zyd-Tw/s400/P1030951.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nika, please don't leave me!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8aCt5evD_rI/T_Lal3N2JQI/AAAAAAAABNs/NI0QbSbWLvw/s1600/_DSC0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8aCt5evD_rI/T_Lal3N2JQI/AAAAAAAABNs/NI0QbSbWLvw/s400/_DSC0116.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie with our other favourite lady, Weewee</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Our plan for now is to make our way to the South Island but the first stop on the long way down is via Rotorua. Along the way we decided to stop off in the small town of Paeroa in the Southern Coromandel, as it's the birthplace of <b>Lemon and Paeroa</b> (<b>L&P</b>) - an iconic homegrown, but no longer home-owned (now owned by Coca-Cola Amatil) soft drink that we've become slightly addicted to!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fvh-aAuK0ik/T-OSs6jDzbI/AAAAAAAABA0/fONDzXjyKWM/s1600/_CSC0721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fvh-aAuK0ik/T-OSs6jDzbI/AAAAAAAABA0/fONDzXjyKWM/s640/_CSC0721.JPG" width="422" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Traditionally, L&P is made by combining lemon juice with carbonated mineral water sourced from Paeroa, which gives the drink it's unique flavour. The taste is quite hard to describe as it's not like lemonade, but its equally as refreshing.<br />
<br />
In homage to the delectable drink we stopped off at the L&P café where you can sample some L&P ice cream and see a replica of the iconic L&P bottle outside, however, the original giant "bottle" can be found in Ohinemuri Park on the corner of Normanby and Te Aroha Roads at the eastern entrance of State Highway 2.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0z89inmG2Cc/T-OT-wkqh4I/AAAAAAAABFc/bPqUf-uz-U4/s1600/_DSC0944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0z89inmG2Cc/T-OT-wkqh4I/AAAAAAAABFc/bPqUf-uz-U4/s400/_DSC0944.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The only place in New Zealand where you can sample L&P ice cream</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zwLyW_2PCRA/T-OT6sIJDKI/AAAAAAAABFM/f3AutrDcRik/s1600/_DSC0941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zwLyW_2PCRA/T-OT6sIJDKI/AAAAAAAABFM/f3AutrDcRik/s400/_DSC0941.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A replica of the iconic L&P bottle beckons visitors passing through</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJhYDrZ0nVRy-k8HnVpY5_jxn58j7jEWhRiacVoFfd-BwL-yPIVLPgmkIhMdmu2KZ8q8kvpsKP9tvF0MctYj76ZxjU0JLBvhOO1DwBBpw0lYGV81zE6eCnTUMJefsafCgd80PxEuRvVs1/s1600/_DSC0943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJhYDrZ0nVRy-k8HnVpY5_jxn58j7jEWhRiacVoFfd-BwL-yPIVLPgmkIhMdmu2KZ8q8kvpsKP9tvF0MctYj76ZxjU0JLBvhOO1DwBBpw0lYGV81zE6eCnTUMJefsafCgd80PxEuRvVs1/s640/_DSC0943.JPG" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie standing next to the 5.8m bottle</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The inspiration for the eye-catching L&P bottle came about after a replica rocket was assembled for Paeroa's 1967 Christmas promotion "Rocket into Christmas". The iconic 23ft high monument is a favourite with New Zealanders and overseas visitors. <br />
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U0a3DCOmMqI/T-OSaxujpfI/AAAAAAAABAE/id7RjNZZlyU/s1600/P1040020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U0a3DCOmMqI/T-OSaxujpfI/AAAAAAAABAE/id7RjNZZlyU/s640/P1040020.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The giant L&P bottle sports the label design used from the 1970s to the 1990s</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QvJChKoLKOQ/T-OUB9cyX8I/AAAAAAAABFk/2e2M3fYWXXw/s1600/_DSC0951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QvJChKoLKOQ/T-OUB9cyX8I/AAAAAAAABFk/2e2M3fYWXXw/s400/_DSC0951.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mosaic of a cut lemon and gas bubbles in Ohinemuri Park</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
The modern bottle design sports the paradoxical slogan "<b>World famous in New Zealand</b>", which is a bit of a tongue-in-cheek way of New Zealanders laughing at themselves!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NhYpJYV9PFY/T-OTRY2nv3I/AAAAAAAABCs/0Fk0xrBAWfw/s1600/_DSC0718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NhYpJYV9PFY/T-OTRY2nv3I/AAAAAAAABCs/0Fk0xrBAWfw/s640/_DSC0718.JPG" width="422" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I seriously hope you can buy this drink back at home someday, as I'm really surprised that such a great drink hasn't become more commercial abroad. It reminds me of the time when I got hooked to <a href="http://www.rootbeer.com/">A&W</a> root beer when we travelled across the United States. I still hanker for a taste every now and again...!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-5308269876680973662012-06-29T05:41:00.003-07:002012-06-29T05:41:46.176-07:00The fruits of our labourFor the last 8 and ½ weeks we've been working in a kiwifruit packhouse in Kerikeri, hence why the posts have been a bit few and far between. It has been a good way to replenish our funds quickly but we've also had to work some pretty long hours doing up to 70 hours a week during the peak of the season. But at the least the work is consistent unlike what can be said about <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/easy-pickings-things-to-consider-when.html">fruit picking</a>...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9xge0gkhs8/T-OTTZyRB0I/AAAAAAAABC0/a2PSiif0bNc/s1600/_DSC0737.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a9xge0gkhs8/T-OTTZyRB0I/AAAAAAAABC0/a2PSiif0bNc/s400/_DSC0737.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">To the left are the green kiwifruits and to the right the gold ones!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In a nutshell, our main role was to make the boxes that the kiwifruits were packed into, which was as boring and repetitive as it sounds!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rl2GlS1pojA/T-OSEI7G7MI/AAAAAAAAA_M/j9SIk410YUs/s1600/P1030699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rl2GlS1pojA/T-OSEI7G7MI/AAAAAAAAA_M/j9SIk410YUs/s400/P1030699.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our employers the past two months, LD Packers in Kerikeri</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WD1FItqBzMw/T-OR3YCrtWI/AAAAAAAAA-k/HYq4yh9ZL2o/s1600/P1030662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WD1FItqBzMw/T-OR3YCrtWI/AAAAAAAAA-k/HYq4yh9ZL2o/s400/P1030662.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Boxes, boxes everywhere!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxe59x8YnWJABlkc17dvgF6jg2Vf1ro-r3evsSSKeKZ9IujeLrC5CCijAe8hrRGg0nard7vlrdLXwSRkHBLGnLnsKOfuTKENAU_vWLT0H9PazCrQZ2VGePgtZhp-K9RkqdwB6mLOKd6et/s1600/P1030671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxe59x8YnWJABlkc17dvgF6jg2Vf1ro-r3evsSSKeKZ9IujeLrC5CCijAe8hrRGg0nard7vlrdLXwSRkHBLGnLnsKOfuTKENAU_vWLT0H9PazCrQZ2VGePgtZhp-K9RkqdwB6mLOKd6et/s400/P1030671.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie stacking trays on the "IT machine"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1_H3Ra9hGCA/T-OR9HjO22I/AAAAAAAAA-0/w_iipMPRVK4/s1600/P1030686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1_H3Ra9hGCA/T-OR9HjO22I/AAAAAAAAA-0/w_iipMPRVK4/s400/P1030686.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Me stacking on the "ML machine"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizquk2m64NyQtEDK1Ep3vH19HGv1_jOeNTsnZrs0UyB3yQDMR84GzpbLK6BVh-UywwK5DG8ATMUH5aF2xoL-sPPGdmd-R92vtTxt6leZgqFWcIRGMV1HYFXk6WlS-IK5xuyqlzBR-qhwZI/s1600/P1030693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizquk2m64NyQtEDK1Ep3vH19HGv1_jOeNTsnZrs0UyB3yQDMR84GzpbLK6BVh-UywwK5DG8ATMUH5aF2xoL-sPPGdmd-R92vtTxt6leZgqFWcIRGMV1HYFXk6WlS-IK5xuyqlzBR-qhwZI/s400/P1030693.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's a serious business running these machines!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2plN9zb4zo/T-OSB5ARveI/AAAAAAAAA_E/XjKFoQBZpdI/s1600/P1030695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2plN9zb4zo/T-OSB5ARveI/AAAAAAAAA_E/XjKFoQBZpdI/s400/P1030695.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie loading card onto the ML machine</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Often the hours were long and arduous, the packhouse was noisy and dusty, and more often than not we'd finish the day feeling like shit with lots of aches, pains and paper cuts, but at least we came through the season with a great bunch of friends we made along the way, despite being let down by some others... It was an experience that I'll never forget but equally hope to never repeat unless I can help it! We even got some brief thanks at the end of the season party for making sure the packhouse was well supplied with boxes and that the packing lines never had to be stopped once because of our efforts! I think the only thing I'll miss about the working in the packhouse is the smell of the limes when the citrus fruits were being packed.<br />
<br />
As a way of rewarding ourselves for all the hard work, as well as having spent more time in the Far North than we spent in the whole of New Zealand on our last trip, we decided to go to Cape Rēinga, which is the very northern tip of mainland New Zealand, and for anyone living in the UK this is the equivalent of visiting John o'Groats in Scotland.</div>
<div>
<br />
Making our way along State Highway 10 towards Doubtless Bay, we stopped off at a small township called Mangōnui (meaning "big shark") where there's a sheltered harbour. In the middle of the historical waterfront there's a "world famous" fish and chip shop perched on stilts over the water, however, we didn't get anything to eat as it would have been a pretty unusual breakfast.....</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XNeHdGiysFE/T-OTXTAMmwI/AAAAAAAABDE/TLOb0LDhRS4/s1600/_DSC0770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XNeHdGiysFE/T-OTXTAMmwI/AAAAAAAABDE/TLOb0LDhRS4/s400/_DSC0770.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've got a feeling this "world famous" chip shop never made it out of NZ!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PbVMrnkDQPA/T-OTVA7yqSI/AAAAAAAABC8/0IQ9vv4UYsI/s1600/_DSC0766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PbVMrnkDQPA/T-OTVA7yqSI/AAAAAAAABC8/0IQ9vv4UYsI/s400/_DSC0766.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Time stands still in Mang</span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">ō</span><span style="font-size: small;">nui</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
It was a pretty long drive up along the Aupōuri Peninsula (reaching 108km) passing through some notable places, such as the picturesque Cooper's Beach and Awanui where a giant kauri tree staircase is the centre piece for the "Ancient Kauri Kingdom" gift shop and gallery. Along the final 19km stretch from Waitiki Landing towards the Cape, there were some amazing changes in scenery as the headland steeply rises. We initially read in a couple of guidebooks that this section was unsealed, but to our delight this wasn't the case as the road had been fully completed in April 2010 bringing an end a 75-year nationwide project to seal the road. The drive along State Highway 1F was surprisingly quiet, but this was partly down to us beating the coach-loads of tourists!</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
After 198km of driving we finally arrived at the most northern part of New Zealand. As expected it was really windy and rugged along the coast, as this the point where the Tasman Sea (to the west) separates from the Pacific Ocean! For the Māori, this is where the male sea, Te Moana Tāpokopoko a Tāwhaki, meets the female sea, Te Tai o Whitireia. The whirlpools where the currents clash represent the coming together of male and female - and the creation of life.<br />
<div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nNwNdaZgtmY/T-OTp8V0i_I/AAAAAAAABEE/fy7yvtivOr4/s1600/_DSC0843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nNwNdaZgtmY/T-OTp8V0i_I/AAAAAAAABEE/fy7yvtivOr4/s400/_DSC0843.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Cape Maria van Diemen is the most northern extremity of the west coast</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2teWy3h0bk4/T-OTcjZNdPI/AAAAAAAABDU/dw-sSInufX8/s1600/_DSC0794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2teWy3h0bk4/T-OTcjZNdPI/AAAAAAAABDU/dw-sSInufX8/s400/_DSC0794.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The lighthouse on the horizon at Te Renga Wairua</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1jnssBbAg98/T-OTZ5RTBEI/AAAAAAAABDM/Mgkv1jah0XE/s1600/_DSC0784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1jnssBbAg98/T-OTZ5RTBEI/AAAAAAAABDM/Mgkv1jah0XE/s400/_DSC0784.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The most northern point is in fact the Surville Cliffs to the east</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Cape Rēinga also has spiritual significance for the Māori as the departing place of souls (Te Rerenga Wairua, as named by the great explorer, Kupe) on their journey to the homeland, Hawaiki. The rocky point that juts out towards the sea is known as Te Rēinga which means “the leaping place of spirits". Clinging to the rock is an ancient Pōhutukawa tree known locally as a kahika. The legend tells us that the spirits of the Māori descend to the water on the steps formed by Te Aroha's tree roots where they continue on their journey to Hawaiki - their spiritual home. What makes this tree extraordinary is that it seems to be surviving in impossible conditions - living on a cliff top being lashed by waves from the sea. Unlike other Pōhutukawa, the kahika has never been know to flower although it's reputed to be 800 years old...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xC90GRPRLDw/T-OTjTg9NJI/AAAAAAAABDs/n72Wpz-4268/s1600/_DSC0813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xC90GRPRLDw/T-OTjTg9NJI/AAAAAAAABDs/n72Wpz-4268/s640/_DSC0813.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the sacred tree where the spirits of the departed leap on their final journey</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Standing at Cape Rēinga you can look out over the endless ocean and get a feeling that you've reached the end of the world. There's a signpost next to the lighthouse with the distances of some major cities and locations from the Cape, providing ample photo opportunities for the tourists. Apparently, the lighthouse is 293m above sea level and holds one of the country’s most powerful lights, which is visible for roughly 50 km.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nPpRJzo5XJI/T-OTg6MQvTI/AAAAAAAABDk/mC1Q9fCLPSw/s1600/_DSC0808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nPpRJzo5XJI/T-OTg6MQvTI/AAAAAAAABDk/mC1Q9fCLPSw/s400/_DSC0808.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The obligatory tourist shot!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xDfYx7wt6fg/T-OTevUsoII/AAAAAAAABDc/-b02XvcvtwU/s1600/_DSC0802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xDfYx7wt6fg/T-OTevUsoII/AAAAAAAABDc/-b02XvcvtwU/s400/_DSC0802.JPG" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The iconic signpost with the lighthouse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
Oddly enough there's a postbox at the Cape, which holds the claim to be New Zealand's northernmost postbox. Apparently, if you send some mail from this box it is franked with a unique Cape Rēinga stamp - so we took the opportunity to send some postcards back to loved ones back at home.<br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dNrDze8SEzI/T-OTlvw9DbI/AAAAAAAABD0/O8-2_NWA96M/s1600/_DSC0840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dNrDze8SEzI/T-OTlvw9DbI/AAAAAAAABD0/O8-2_NWA96M/s640/_DSC0840.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There's nothing quite like recieving a postcard!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Next stop was the Te Paki Recreation Reserve to see the famous sand dunes. The Te Paki Stream is one of the access points for Ninety Mile Beach, however, if you want to get onto the beach with your car you have to be prepared to drive down the quicksand stream! At approx. 55 miles (88 km) long, from Shipwreck Bay to Cape Maria van Diemen, Ninety Mile Beach is a misnomer. The beach itself is a vast arch of fine white sand, backed by immense dunes and broken by rocky outcrops and shallow streams.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-95X9836ZpyA/T-OSUR9OQAI/AAAAAAAAA_0/3s72rIyXLMc/s1600/P1030931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-95X9836ZpyA/T-OSUR9OQAI/AAAAAAAAA_0/3s72rIyXLMc/s400/P1030931.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You have been warned!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AJ9Nxm7Tt3w/T-OTuGTqBFI/AAAAAAAABEU/SxCRFg-r6j0/s1600/_DSC0847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AJ9Nxm7Tt3w/T-OTuGTqBFI/AAAAAAAABEU/SxCRFg-r6j0/s400/_DSC0847.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Te Paki sand dunes rise up to 140 metres above sea level</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
To get over to the sand dunes we had to cross the stream, however I was a little apprehensive about crossing it as the sand was relatively soft and it didn't want to find myself waist deep in quicksand! After plucking up the courage, we reached the base of the massive dunes - however, the next challenge was climbing up them...<br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6BsC7aHbB5s/T-OTwVVpt0I/AAAAAAAABEc/u-ahKD_RVDg/s1600/_DSC0849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6BsC7aHbB5s/T-OTwVVpt0I/AAAAAAAABEc/u-ahKD_RVDg/s400/_DSC0849.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_wbhWZ59fTQ/T-OSRxnJlEI/AAAAAAAAA_s/XjyDUyrIDO0/s1600/P1030919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_wbhWZ59fTQ/T-OSRxnJlEI/AAAAAAAAA_s/XjyDUyrIDO0/s400/P1030919.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Am I slowly sinking in the sand? Not here but I was elsewhere</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ersg6QycbVX0GVapLLByChAgCO7hswzMlP52i_tkgns389QRy7CU0dc6QGNCAwVFG-zPyvyL-_Ob2beRjMijUXRXrbo9quStdeoAM7ZMmyPMX9t2Q__QgJ55g4-BoQu_hSpqMAnx0h9u/s1600/_DSC0850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ersg6QycbVX0GVapLLByChAgCO7hswzMlP52i_tkgns389QRy7CU0dc6QGNCAwVFG-zPyvyL-_Ob2beRjMijUXRXrbo9quStdeoAM7ZMmyPMX9t2Q__QgJ55g4-BoQu_hSpqMAnx0h9u/s640/_DSC0850.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Lawrence of Arabia eat your heart out!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once we got our footing, it felt like we spent ages trekking our way over the endless dunes. It was almost a bit surreal and eerie as it felt like we were in an isolated, arid dessert but without the searing heat.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HaP7iGHy-O8/T-OT1DuAnDI/AAAAAAAABE0/Cn-kzRIY5xE/s1600/_DSC0860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HaP7iGHy-O8/T-OT1DuAnDI/AAAAAAAABE0/Cn-kzRIY5xE/s400/_DSC0860.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The sand dunes are flanked by the Aupōuri Forest</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We hoped to do some sandboarding down the dunes as we heard it's really fun and cheap, but there wasn't anywhere nearby to hire a board, possibly because we were in the winter season and not as many tourists come up this way. So we made our own fun by running down the dunes instead and rolling to the bottom - although this wasn't as great an idea as we initially thought, as we got sand everywhere in our clothes and hair, as well as places we didn't know you could get sand in!<br />
<div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LcWSQ0lAM4g/T-OR1F4mLAI/AAAAAAAAA-c/KCIzEhjmbUQ/s1600/Lizzie+rolling+down+the+dune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LcWSQ0lAM4g/T-OR1F4mLAI/AAAAAAAAA-c/KCIzEhjmbUQ/s640/Lizzie+rolling+down+the+dune.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Going, going, gone!</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjiZCm4XIpUALcOV5KM9ryBWQg0b1frRs0tzg5M4c8jKMEHgxavNxLvdz0e8kCb7uiR53hyphenhyphenDLSoxBe0iPf_BX2r1bPhmvpeb0tNTpRVY3pFA9KeZ3k5XGg92hZmWvTOMvB4VMX16_d0p9/s1600/James+running+down+the+dune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjiZCm4XIpUALcOV5KM9ryBWQg0b1frRs0tzg5M4c8jKMEHgxavNxLvdz0e8kCb7uiR53hyphenhyphenDLSoxBe0iPf_BX2r1bPhmvpeb0tNTpRVY3pFA9KeZ3k5XGg92hZmWvTOMvB4VMX16_d0p9/s640/James+running+down+the+dune.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">What goes up must come down</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
In a stroke of luck we moved on just before some heavy downpours swept in. On the way back we took a detour from State Highway 1F at Pukenui to drive down an unsealed road through a forested area for roughly 10km to where you could gain access to drive on Ninety Mile Beach (Te Oneroa-a-Tōhē or the long beach of Tōhē). However, there was little warning that we were about to join onto the beach... Ninety Mile Beach is classified as a State Highway but is really only suitable for 4WD vehicles or specialist tour coaches. We were too scared to take the car on there as we've read a lot of stories about cars being abandoned on the beach due to them getting stuck in the quicksand. Rentals cars are strictly prohibited from driving on the beach, and private vehicles are not covered by insurance so if you go it alone it can be a big risk. You also need to schedule your trip to coincide with a receding tide, ideally two hours after high tide.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtD-Sh48lJKZWrPu5wRALlr8uCSNJrSUx1f2LYNK5qB9Sf-iEqKsbmugxyNd7D27ob5mRlpvnsqQmH6jU6Ojlh30mAOwxFtsplYWy3wR2BsKWbYiPTIvoxPSiXrckVskjddIVXKItkIPyQ/s1600/_DSC0924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtD-Sh48lJKZWrPu5wRALlr8uCSNJrSUx1f2LYNK5qB9Sf-iEqKsbmugxyNd7D27ob5mRlpvnsqQmH6jU6Ojlh30mAOwxFtsplYWy3wR2BsKWbYiPTIvoxPSiXrckVskjddIVXKItkIPyQ/s400/_DSC0924.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FVY2acaUvUY/T-OT4hp7bTI/AAAAAAAABFE/HE0VOSypTTk/s1600/_DSC0933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FVY2acaUvUY/T-OT4hp7bTI/AAAAAAAABFE/HE0VOSypTTk/s400/_DSC0933.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The flat, endless beach sweeps the horizon towards the Tasman Sea </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
In the end we decided to stick to the more environmentally-friendly method of walking along the beach! Although it was impressive that you couldn't see the end of the beach in either direction, the amount of plastic and rubbish on the beach and in the sand dunes was really disappointing. It was the dirtiest I've ever seen a beach in New Zealand, possibly more so than in Britain, which is a shame for a country that prides itself on being clean.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-61637880174671232812012-06-25T05:26:00.001-07:002012-06-25T05:26:40.619-07:00The Lord of the TreesWith our time winding down in the Bay of Islands, we took the opportunity over the bank holiday weekend to head over towards the <b>Kauri Coast</b> in the west of Northland to visit the Waipoua Forest, a place famous for it's impressive kauri (<i>Agathis australis</i>) trees.<br />
<br />
Its a relatively straightforward drive cross-country, picking up State Highway 12 along the Hokianga Harbour and we couldn't have picked a better day for it, as it was a warm, beautiful autumnal day. After an hour's drive we pulled up in the small historic settlement of Opononi to admire the dazzling sand dunes of the tranquil Hokianga Harbour. The sand dunes dominate the landscape reaching 170m at their highest point and during tourist season it's possible to take a water taxi over the northern head of the harbour and sandboard down the dunes. The photos in the guide books really don't do them justice as they're absolutely huge and don't fail to impress when you first catch a glimpse of them as you descend into Opononi!<br />
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V4KIKIFPxtQ/T-OSuiUFN1I/AAAAAAAABA8/iFvVed4to7U/s1600/_DSC0489.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V4KIKIFPxtQ/T-OSuiUFN1I/AAAAAAAABA8/iFvVed4to7U/s400/_DSC0489.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Lizzie standing on the beach of the south head of the harbour</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22DrhgY2287xyviiWH4kD9ElhNW0ZLQO1NnZGpLgi22dK8erM-uDkTrWrJBk7rkW2VGZ0CAgANwL2NnxB79_J0cqSB9SJtu2h6AK91zHc2i4TA3tmh8OWJIVAsfBN4k13k3NXt-oJFOrg/s1600/_DSC0497.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22DrhgY2287xyviiWH4kD9ElhNW0ZLQO1NnZGpLgi22dK8erM-uDkTrWrJBk7rkW2VGZ0CAgANwL2NnxB79_J0cqSB9SJtu2h6AK91zHc2i4TA3tmh8OWJIVAsfBN4k13k3NXt-oJFOrg/s400/_DSC0497.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The glistening waters of the breathtaking Hokianga Harbour</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bw4s5Zvey2M/T-OSyvAWd2I/AAAAAAAABBM/rfYr9691npE/s1600/_DSC0498.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bw4s5Zvey2M/T-OSyvAWd2I/AAAAAAAABBM/rfYr9691npE/s400/_DSC0498.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Some of the mountainous sand dunes are also covered in vegetation</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Opononi was made famous from June 1955 to March 1956 by an inquisitive young bottlenose dolphin who the locals called "Opo the Friendly Dolphin". She regularly approached the beach near Opononi wharf to play with the local children, letting them ride her back. Opo’s playful antics included juggling beach balls and beer bottles on her snout. Numerous newspaper articles and photos drew thousands of holidaymakers to Opononi. Tragically, on 9<sup>th</sup> March 1956, Opo was found dead. Concerns for her welfare had already led to the formation of the Opononi Gay Dolphin Protection Committee and the people of Opononi were devastated, with the whole country going into mourning. She was buried with full Māori honours in a special plot next to the Opononi's RSA hall. Some Māori considered her to be the incarnation of an ancestor, or the great navigator Kupe - the first person to discover Hokianga. There's an interesting article on <a href="http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/news/remembering-opo-the-friendly-dolphin-1956-1957/958439/">The Northland Advocate</a> website which covers the story of Opo following the 50<sup>th</sup> anniversary of her death.</div>
<br />
Below is some archive footage of "Opo the Friendly Dolphin" which is available to view on YouTube:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/kSTozayartQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WXXkGJnCTAI/T-OS0xiYjPI/AAAAAAAABBU/MfqX27v7yT0/s1600/_DSC0504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WXXkGJnCTAI/T-OS0xiYjPI/AAAAAAAABBU/MfqX27v7yT0/s400/_DSC0504.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Opo rests outside the War Memorial Hall</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Hokianga is also know in Māori as Te Hokianga-nui-a-Kupe – "Kupe's great departing place", named to commemorate the legendary Polynesian explorer. Kupe was believed to have settled in the Pakanae area, 2km out of Opononi, before his journey to Hawaiki (the homeland of the Māori) to start the migration of the Māori people to this land. In a sense Hokianga can be considered the cradle of New Zealand civilisation.<br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
As we were leaving Opononi to continue on our journey to the Waipoua Forest, we made a brief stop at the Arai te Uru recreation reserve at the south head of the harbour where there's a scenic lookout with spectacular views across Martins Bay and the entrance of the harbour.<br />
<div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuvMKGGtMZQ/T-OS24aNqWI/AAAAAAAABBc/DcHcUPkw5QQ/s1600/_DSC0518.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuvMKGGtMZQ/T-OS24aNqWI/AAAAAAAABBc/DcHcUPkw5QQ/s400/_DSC0518.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Arai te Uru recreation reserve offers the best views of the harbour</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kq92M9fa6pk/T-OS5mLClLI/AAAAAAAABBk/YUnS8fxgr7A/s1600/_DSC0523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kq92M9fa6pk/T-OS5mLClLI/AAAAAAAABBk/YUnS8fxgr7A/s400/_DSC0523.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The vegetation is mostly flax, manuka, bracken and cabbage trees. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eZVT81YoWaI/T-OS7-YNlxI/AAAAAAAABBs/8pJnEwTo_DQ/s1600/_DSC0525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eZVT81YoWaI/T-OS7-YNlxI/AAAAAAAABBs/8pJnEwTo_DQ/s400/_DSC0525.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Following State Highway 12 through to Waipoua Forest, the drive through the north end of the forest felt like a section of a rally course with thick vegetation and bush on the sides of the narrow road! The first stop was to visit the iconic Tāne Mahuta, or the "Lord of the Forest". There was a noticeable drop in temperature under the forest canopy as we walked along the boardwalk track designed to protect the shallow and delicate roots of the colossal kauri trees. At 51.2m high, a girth of 13.77m and an estimated wood mass of 244.5 cubic metres, Tāne Mahuta is the largest kauri tree alive. It's only at a whopping 17.88 metres from ground that you reach the first branch of the tree! What is more impressive is that the tree has witnessed the entire human history of New Zealand and was possibly a mature tree before the birth of Jesus Christ... According to Māori mythology, Tāne is the son of Ranginui the sky father and Papatuanuku, the earth mother. Tāne tore his parents apart to bring light, space and air allowing life to flourish, as a result Tāne is the life giver and all the living creatures in the forest are Tāne's children.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9EtmHzj09UI/T-OSlJL8mVI/AAAAAAAABAc/_trJhS1SE2I/s1600/_CSC0549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9EtmHzj09UI/T-OSlJL8mVI/AAAAAAAABAc/_trJhS1SE2I/s640/_CSC0549.JPG" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: small;">The overwhelming size of <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Tāne M</span></span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">ahuta towers over the visitors below</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d7XzmNA1Udg/T-OSnz0C9mI/AAAAAAAABAk/jsZNBzaJyfs/s1600/_CSC0556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d7XzmNA1Udg/T-OSnz0C9mI/AAAAAAAABAk/jsZNBzaJyfs/s400/_CSC0556.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Epiphytes grow on the lowest branches</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dGbgjyN8feg/T-OS-itZW9I/AAAAAAAABB0/c0HkRcvxUE4/s1600/_DSC0543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dGbgjyN8feg/T-OS-itZW9I/AAAAAAAABB0/c0HkRcvxUE4/s400/_DSC0543.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The forest is home to an abundance of other plant types and trees</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
At one time the kauri forests used to cover 1.2 million hectares of the North Island in Auckland, Northland and the Coromandel Peninsula, but many of the beautiful trees were plundered for timber by British settlers for the construction of homes and the masts of warships. Waipoua Forest represents the remnants of a majestic kauri forest prior to European interference.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A kilometre or so further south a short road leads to the Kauri Walks car park where there are three kauri walks to do; the Four Sisters, Te Mataua Ngahere (Father of the Forest) and the Yakas Kauri. Before entering the area we had to clean our shoes to reduce the spread of <a href="http://www.kauridieback.co.nz/">kauri dieback</a> disease, which is caused by Phytophthora taxonAgathis (or PTA). It is thought that human activity involving soil movement (on footwear, machinery or equipment) is the greatest cause of the spread of the disease.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5cJ-aseG9Oc/T-OTNmvgEaI/AAAAAAAABCc/HCWQFkojGZU/s1600/_DSC0589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5cJ-aseG9Oc/T-OTNmvgEaI/AAAAAAAABCc/HCWQFkojGZU/s400/_DSC0589.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The walking track allows you to experience the ecologically diverse forest</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
Unfortunately, we only had time to see the Four Sisters and Te Mataua Ngahere but we would have liked to seen the Yakas Kauri (named after the gum digger, Nicholas Yakas) as it's the 7th largest kauri tree in New Zealand and one of a few that you're allowed touch but it was at least a 35 minute walk just to see this notable tree.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Four Sisters are a group of slender kauri trees which have grown from the same mass of pukahukahu. It is thought that the four trees have co-existed for between around 200 to 500 years. The Four Sisters are located on a short path just off the main path to Te Matua Ngahere, a 10 minute walk from the car park through some native bush.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bRu5fqcP-2Q/T-OTBkid1II/AAAAAAAABB8/JyZK03wFs7g/s1600/_DSC0566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bRu5fqcP-2Q/T-OTBkid1II/AAAAAAAABB8/JyZK03wFs7g/s640/_DSC0566.JPG" width="422" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aGlLxNe977E/T-OTEeCop8I/AAAAAAAABCE/v7Yzj4PCx9o/s1600/_DSC0570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aGlLxNe977E/T-OTEeCop8I/AAAAAAAABCE/v7Yzj4PCx9o/s400/_DSC0570.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The base where the Four Sisters grow together in harmony</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br /><br /><br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The walk to Te Matua Ngahere is a 40 minute round trip, but it's worth it as it's believed that Te Matua Ngahere is the second largest living kauri tree and has the biggest girth of any kauri in the country. In my opinion I thought that Te Matua Ngahere was more striking than Tāne Mahuta on first impressions, even though the trunk is much shorter at 10.2 metres giving it a total height of 29.9 metres. Also discovered by Nicholas Yakas, it is also thought that Te Matua Ngahere is the oldest out of the two largest living kauri trees in Waipoua forest, estimated to exceed 2000 years old possibly closer to between 2500 - 3000 years old!<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImfyCPxpG6wJ0ZRf1ZUDDMS78f2gf7v62KyfYFe3hJ0cFCqr9Vra-u4FNxGDRfd4ltG0Mg4PouVBzUnz6GIQb6cka1RdurhwdnUpb_FLpsaPB_nKKgaypKL1TGM2hxkyQ4IORsy745RWG/s1600/_DSC0573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImfyCPxpG6wJ0ZRf1ZUDDMS78f2gf7v62KyfYFe3hJ0cFCqr9Vra-u4FNxGDRfd4ltG0Mg4PouVBzUnz6GIQb6cka1RdurhwdnUpb_FLpsaPB_nKKgaypKL1TGM2hxkyQ4IORsy745RWG/s640/_DSC0573.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kauri dwarf the surrounding tataire, kohekohe and towai trees</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-9ovlwmpc9VNJxPz6NKHb-VUimtm96CeqJiiAC7Qe1wVCMpdyyOSTnbqR2qvx8dKqtP4UGklgdpWfGUWRhGbcxXmmtMTHpSOkZTFlmXMssW7brkUooiopxRDB6XJK6UiYbd2TGcMDJC-/s1600/P1030808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-9ovlwmpc9VNJxPz6NKHb-VUimtm96CeqJiiAC7Qe1wVCMpdyyOSTnbqR2qvx8dKqtP4UGklgdpWfGUWRhGbcxXmmtMTHpSOkZTFlmXMssW7brkUooiopxRDB6XJK6UiYbd2TGcMDJC-/s640/P1030808.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">This is the closest you can get to </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Te Matua Ngahere without harming th</span><span style="font-size: small;">e roots </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br /><br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />By the end of the walk we were ready to jump back into the car and turn the heaters up to full blast as it had go so cold walking through the dense forest canopy!<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zB-76sU3v9w/T-OTPhG6ysI/AAAAAAAABCk/7E3UGUngsNc/s1600/_DSC0601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zB-76sU3v9w/T-OTPhG6ysI/AAAAAAAABCk/7E3UGUngsNc/s400/_DSC0601.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunset fun on the return to journey through Hokianga Harbour</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-10943966376589295542012-06-11T13:34:00.001-07:002012-06-17T13:57:46.363-07:00Sunday DriveMay has pretty much been a complete write-off, as we've spent the majority of our time working in a packhouse for LD Packers in Kerikeri. Between all the hours we've worked it's been difficult to get time to get out and about and see much of the Bay of Islands recently, especially having had just one day off in the last thirteen consecutive days of work! So today we took the opportunity to go for a drive back to Matauri Bay and further along the scenic tourist drive to Te Ngaere Bay. As mentioned previously, the last time we visited <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/from-top-of-st-pauls-rock.html" target="_blank">Matauri Bay</a> the weather made it a less than an enjoyable experience so we really wanted to give it another go.<br />
<br />
Taking a short drive north along the <b>Twin Coast Discovery Highway</b>, we took the turning for the Matauri Bay Road, following the road until we were greeted by a magnificent view of the bay and the Cavalli Islands. Walking down to the white sandy beach, the waters were beautifully crystal clear and inviting - apparently an ideal spot for spearfishing, as we found out from someone we've been working with!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x6hrh1zP4Ps/T8Sq2TSpBGI/AAAAAAAAA80/g_LCoWgG0Pc/s1600/_DSC0426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x6hrh1zP4Ps/T8Sq2TSpBGI/AAAAAAAAA80/g_LCoWgG0Pc/s400/_DSC0426.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The entrance to the beach where the Mataatua II war canoe once stood</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span id="goog_505097741"></span><span id="goog_505097742"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
At the summit of Matauri Bay Hill there is a distinctive stone hilltop memorial on the top of a pa site dedicated to the Greenpeace flagship, <b>The Rainbow Warrior</b>. The vessel was bombed by two French Secret Service agents whilst docked in Auckland Harbour on <span style="line-height: 115%;">10</span><sup style="line-height: 115%;">th</sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">
July 1985, </span>killing Greenpeace crew member and photographer, Fernando Pereira. The Rainbow Warrior was due to set sail from Auckland as part of a protest voyage against French nuclear testing in the South Pacific. The fact that the attack was carried out on New Zealand territory produced a nationwide sense of outrage and a serious deterioration in relations between New Zealand and France, as well as hardening the country's anti-nuclear stance. The Rainbow Warrior was eventually salvaged, patched up and taken to Matauri Bay on <span style="line-height: 18px;">2</span><sup style="line-height: 14px;">nd</sup><span style="line-height: 18px;"> December 1987</span> where it was sunk in order for it to serve as a living reef and dive site, resting just west of Motutapere Island.<br />
<br />
The following video reflects on the significance of Matauri Bay to the Rainbow Warrior as part of the <span style="line-height: 18px;">25</span><sup style="line-height: 14px;">th</sup> anniversary of the bombing. This video can also be found on the Greenpeace website:<br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/JZDlYxpPSWU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
To gain access to the monument you have to reach a path from a nearby holiday park at the foot of the hill, however, this wasn't obvious at first glance but we got some useful information from the nearby convenience store. The track to the top is a fairly easy walk with some captivating views looking back across Putataua, Waiheke and Parua Bays. At the very top of the hill we were able to appreciate beautiful panoramic views of the Cavalli Islands which are scattered along some of New Zealand's most beautiful northern shores.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKJqf4eWpO0/T8SrCNC11NI/AAAAAAAAA88/oM8Tf3S2Pe8/s1600/_DSC0446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKJqf4eWpO0/T8SrCNC11NI/AAAAAAAAA88/oM8Tf3S2Pe8/s400/_DSC0446.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">View of Putataua Bay from the track to Rainbow Warrior Memorial</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nBh04695-W0/T8Srb5d6B_I/AAAAAAAAA9E/1BXJAF7NePM/s1600/_DSC0448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nBh04695-W0/T8Srb5d6B_I/AAAAAAAAA9E/1BXJAF7NePM/s400/_DSC0448.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The beautiful turquoise waters of the bay</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ic-XHhCy1uo/T8SrhAXCfnI/AAAAAAAAA9M/s9Sg8cUw4N8/s1600/_DSC0451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ic-XHhCy1uo/T8SrhAXCfnI/AAAAAAAAA9M/s9Sg8cUw4N8/s400/_DSC0451.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The local stone materials for the arch were harvested from the Pacific Ocean</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkH2-Ebl1HKL9IIYmSAUa_iZc-PJGmASMEJAlhN6IrjA7PXTlBBXQeOkJN0ZR5hYLPgq0o1mEeZ-6UkA_V4KjfhlHG0W4lh-D6ZOXnFtsE5_5ybPXy4TInpTDvI__42sh18CopzB9yk2Y/s1600/_DSC0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkH2-Ebl1HKL9IIYmSAUa_iZc-PJGmASMEJAlhN6IrjA7PXTlBBXQeOkJN0ZR5hYLPgq0o1mEeZ-6UkA_V4KjfhlHG0W4lh-D6ZOXnFtsE5_5ybPXy4TInpTDvI__42sh18CopzB9yk2Y/s640/_DSC0452.JPG" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">It's difficult to get a sense of scale until to you stand beneath the sculpture!</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VOzXxoy26HM/T8Srs4zXEeI/AAAAAAAAA9c/tl99E9neRhc/s1600/_DSC0456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VOzXxoy26HM/T8Srs4zXEeI/AAAAAAAAA9c/tl99E9neRhc/s640/_DSC0456.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View across the Cavalli Passage to New Zealand's northernmost islands</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Rainbow Warrior Memorial was commissioned by the local Ngāti Kuri tribe and designed by international sculptuor, Chris Booth. It comprises a stone arch, which symbolises a rainbow, as well as the vessel's dented bronze propeller at the heart of the sculpture. Chris Booth also designed the <a href="http://chrisbooth.co.nz/manoko.html" target="_blank">Te Whiringa o Manoko</a> (The interweaving of the cultures of Kerikeri) sculpture in Kerikeri, which is considered the biggest and most significant public sculpture in New Zealand.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vnQJyo8A4Tc/T8SqyGWH4LI/AAAAAAAAA8s/Hiq-u-zXI4w/s1600/_DSC0287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vnQJyo8A4Tc/T8SqyGWH4LI/AAAAAAAAA8s/Hiq-u-zXI4w/s640/_DSC0287.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The Kerikeri sculpture is 11m high and features stacked boulders and bronze elements</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Continuing north, we picked up the windy tourist drive again onwards to Te Ngaere Bay. Along the way there was a lookout on a bend in the road with a spectacular view looking back towards Matauri Bay and the Cavalli Islands.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bgVz6rePDHk/T8SqvWejkWI/AAAAAAAAA8k/tM_PQJ159Hc/s1600/_CSC0474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bgVz6rePDHk/T8SqvWejkWI/AAAAAAAAA8k/tM_PQJ159Hc/s400/_CSC0474.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">On the way round to Taiaue Bay there's a decent lookout across Matauri Bay</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7llk5V1LStQ/T8Srvi3pZPI/AAAAAAAAA9k/HnOYaxLIPNY/s1600/_DSC0465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7llk5V1LStQ/T8Srvi3pZPI/AAAAAAAAA9k/HnOYaxLIPNY/s400/_DSC0465.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From here you can get a spectacular panoramic view across the Cavalli Passage</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3KEGimTdyO4/T8Sr4Mws0HI/AAAAAAAAA9s/TAhvoaixVxw/s1600/_DSC0467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3KEGimTdyO4/T8Sr4Mws0HI/AAAAAAAAA9s/TAhvoaixVxw/s400/_DSC0467.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you look close enough you can just see The Rainbow Warrior Memorial</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A few kilometers further down the road we arrived at the small settlement of Te Ngaere where we parked up at Taiaue Bay for a short stroll on the beach looking across to Dome Rock and Motuwhakauruakau Island. At least it made for a more interesting way to take a Sunday drive than it would back at home!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pcYAzUyUlX8/T8Sr9ypsKpI/AAAAAAAAA90/wrf-NfEN0pU/s1600/_DSC0475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pcYAzUyUlX8/T8Sr9ypsKpI/AAAAAAAAA90/wrf-NfEN0pU/s400/_DSC0475.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g52hDYMjfiQ/T8SsCRM20oI/AAAAAAAAA98/gHg9_j30BfY/s1600/_DSC0481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g52hDYMjfiQ/T8SsCRM20oI/AAAAAAAAA98/gHg9_j30BfY/s400/_DSC0481.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The crystal clear waters of </span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Taiaue Bay and</span> <span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Dome Rock on the horizon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDVGBh1P5LhDlLKoP0ebZvFdvyyeA-E0sm_9bP_SmdAwrbq8ET0Dy1-FEkKg2tWcOffpCQ8xVg6OhFAkbwya5xEtIN78ldW8vMOFRfG3u3Vi_OPnLJcl0tTBuPUfYtvxzAtzYD53TaRO3/s1600/P1030645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDVGBh1P5LhDlLKoP0ebZvFdvyyeA-E0sm_9bP_SmdAwrbq8ET0Dy1-FEkKg2tWcOffpCQ8xVg6OhFAkbwya5xEtIN78ldW8vMOFRfG3u3Vi_OPnLJcl0tTBuPUfYtvxzAtzYD53TaRO3/s400/P1030645.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Taiaue Bay offered a tranquil way to finish off a beautiful day</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If you carry along the tourist route it will eventually connects up with Whangaroa Harbour, so you can make the drive more of a day out. The route takes roughly 30-35 minutes to drive in total and connects back to State Highway 10 in a loop. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com058 Kerikeri Rd, Kerikeri 0230, New Zealand-35.2286099 173.9477921-35.332375400000004 173.7898636 -35.1248444 174.10572059999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-9958926130795940662012-04-30T04:11:00.001-07:002012-09-07T17:23:10.844-07:00From the top of St Paul's RockWith all the stormy weather we've had in the last week it's been a bit difficult to get a decent impression of the Bay of Islands despite having been to Paihia, Matauri Bay (the final resting place of the Greenpeace flagship, "Rainbow Warrior") and Opito Bay - all these places are very picturesque in their own right but not so nice in the torrential rain!<br />
<br />
Taking advantage of the beautiful Easter weather, we drove 30km north of Kerikeri to Whangaroa Harbour to get away from the tourist traps so we could hike up St Paul's Rock, as recommended by one of the visitor's guides I read.<br />
<br />
Whangaroa is like many of the other townships in the Bay of Islands, in that there isn't much to these places but the surrounding scenery is pretty stunning. At the bottom of the harbour the dome (or volcanic plug) of St Paul's Rock dominates Whangaroa, but it did make me wonder "how on earth do you get to the top?"...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--wWjc1aUNh4/T5qC42lV0WI/AAAAAAAAA6g/UGRPnRzmIGk/s1600/_DSC0117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--wWjc1aUNh4/T5qC42lV0WI/AAAAAAAAA6g/UGRPnRzmIGk/s400/_DSC0117.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The marina at Whangaroa is New Zealand's most northerly marina</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-tulAv9J17FHROQuntLPhLUey_uaw4s_4X2ql7-yc19uf1wR_zMuR2lEU7CHFUqBtlOH_sTHaRAT0FNvzUJD1jmAfv55NUdt_tp0gLN-UIC6QcXSRIcQOK9t2H5R_yP7doX58_V0f9bR/s1600/_DSC0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO-tulAv9J17FHROQuntLPhLUey_uaw4s_4X2ql7-yc19uf1wR_zMuR2lEU7CHFUqBtlOH_sTHaRAT0FNvzUJD1jmAfv55NUdt_tp0gLN-UIC6QcXSRIcQOK9t2H5R_yP7doX58_V0f9bR/s400/_DSC0118.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The volcanic plug of St Paul's Rock rises 213m above Whangaroa</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The walk to the top starts off at Old Hospital Road, however, you have to drive up quite a steep single track road, which has limited turning opportunities and only a couple of places to park vehicles at the reserve, otherwise it's another 1km walk from the bottom.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MVDdey79MMg/T5qDB9R-fsI/AAAAAAAAA6w/KmgmVljqaWc/s1600/_DSC0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MVDdey79MMg/T5qDB9R-fsI/AAAAAAAAA6w/KmgmVljqaWc/s400/_DSC0131.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
From the bottom of the stile, the walk to the top is roughly 20 - 25 minutes, one-way, over some fairly steep terrain, however, there were some chains running through the middle of the rock which we had to use to pull ourselves to the top - explaining how it was possible to get onto the dome!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-geodCRgTzeY/T5qC2HeIjpI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/hvJx1DSorw8/s1600/P1030530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-geodCRgTzeY/T5qC2HeIjpI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/hvJx1DSorw8/s400/P1030530.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The chains make the final stretch of the walk look more dramatic than it is!</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Despite the brief momentary feeling of vertigo, the views from the top were absolutely knockout. Across the harbour you could see where the coastal waters changed from a sparkling blue to a brilliant turquoise. The harbour is characterised by rocky bluffs and the formations that dominate the scenery are remnants of ancient volcanoes that erupted about 20 million years ago.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UibEk6BMyFA/T5qCh0jHShI/AAAAAAAAA6I/rcX1FMzXDH4/s1600/P1030523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UibEk6BMyFA/T5qCh0jHShI/AAAAAAAAA6I/rcX1FMzXDH4/s400/P1030523.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's a fine line between success and failure!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9bTBTc55gTh8zu0AMbqTLhpsCCxWusam1rEP5EE_EBKFgUrxj_UAUOkA6bc_7zJ4VlXmFCwBpHFuuT8MQfsUhdfW-jOq1zokpsG-PgWEHN5RgP5kCM4zwerwfDsfPydlEdi6fZI5imUx/s1600/_DSC0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9bTBTc55gTh8zu0AMbqTLhpsCCxWusam1rEP5EE_EBKFgUrxj_UAUOkA6bc_7zJ4VlXmFCwBpHFuuT8MQfsUhdfW-jOq1zokpsG-PgWEHN5RgP5kCM4zwerwfDsfPydlEdi6fZI5imUx/s400/_DSC0154.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--x8Rl8Ipem0/T5qDcn9gScI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/WvSDuE8Ms_g/s1600/_DSC0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--x8Rl8Ipem0/T5qDcn9gScI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/WvSDuE8Ms_g/s400/_DSC0161.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyotlKW-UVquYSSVtdnpGFzC5eFV-bbUvy_Y0PHbTR2IaBQvNwo-kXXByqx945gVplrb7SnPVq6Cc-380HUG4acDNqH-2LgmHJGgmA_F5CN-2wTeYNkTDPa-p-DQ6FqspTpvl6DPDsrCyM/s1600/_DSC0151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyotlKW-UVquYSSVtdnpGFzC5eFV-bbUvy_Y0PHbTR2IaBQvNwo-kXXByqx945gVplrb7SnPVq6Cc-380HUG4acDNqH-2LgmHJGgmA_F5CN-2wTeYNkTDPa-p-DQ6FqspTpvl6DPDsrCyM/s400/_DSC0151.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View across to Totara North on the west side of the harbour</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6go7bxL5KPY/T5qDFQpf_jI/AAAAAAAAA64/f6nhnvxm-Co/s1600/_DSC0150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6go7bxL5KPY/T5qDFQpf_jI/AAAAAAAAA64/f6nhnvxm-Co/s400/_DSC0150.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4oj018G0zJl1JViv1zOmc6aAbAx-kpQHaWQi8cPfanaRYR3YBAoO8J1RxtVmdDpScBVfSCmewXm1uEULubSyvJALD3KB0aS47DPyLt6LGcLzDsMVdirbUOzheavEKFrO2hIl1rcyzIc-/s1600/_DSC0156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4oj018G0zJl1JViv1zOmc6aAbAx-kpQHaWQi8cPfanaRYR3YBAoO8J1RxtVmdDpScBVfSCmewXm1uEULubSyvJALD3KB0aS47DPyLt6LGcLzDsMVdirbUOzheavEKFrO2hIl1rcyzIc-/s400/_DSC0156.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Peach (Ohauroro) Island</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eOuwAhJuj-E/T5qDffuT2sI/AAAAAAAAA7g/qh3ANPT6Lts/s1600/_DSC0164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eOuwAhJuj-E/T5qDffuT2sI/AAAAAAAAA7g/qh3ANPT6Lts/s400/_DSC0164.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Waitapu Bay</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IzMIdy7ngQg/T5qCt0bxBPI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/_rstelgBuFA/s1600/P1030527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IzMIdy7ngQg/T5qCt0bxBPI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/_rstelgBuFA/s400/P1030527.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A couple of tourists spoiling the view!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I managed to create a couple of panoramic shots of the beautiful vistas across the harbour, hi-res versions of these images can be viewed by clicking on the caption links below. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/View_from_St_Pauls_Rock_Panorama1_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/View_from_St_Pauls_Rock_Panorama1_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A panoramic view looking southwest from the top of St Paul's Rock - click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/7073048493/in/photostream/lightbox/" target="_blank">here</a> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/View_from_St_Pauls_Rock_Panorama2_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="116" src="http://www2.clikpic.com/y2jimbob2001/images/View_from_St_Pauls_Rock_Panorama2_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View facing north east in the opposite direction towards the harbour entrance - click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/auzmosis/7073372365/in/photostream/lightbox/" target="_blank">here</a> to view in hi-res</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com0Kerikeri, New Zealand-35.2286099 173.9477921-35.332375400000004 173.7898636 -35.1248444 174.10572059999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-10225230861843956002012-04-21T04:20:00.004-07:002012-04-22T03:22:53.252-07:00A close encounter with Haruru FallsI've never really been the kind of person who would take to the water like a duck. I've tried sailing and dabbled a bit with snorkelling but nothing has really eased my fears about going in the water, so what better than to trying a spot of coastal kayaking as well!<br />
<br />
Booking ourselves onto a <a href="http://www.coastalkayakers.co.nz/" target="_blank">half-day guided tour</a> in Paihia, we wanted to try something new (and treat Lizzie's mum for her birthday), as well as get a flavour of what the Bay of Islands are about. However, half the battle was trying to find a reasonable day to fit this in as the weather has been absolutely atrocious with the reminents of a tropical cyclone hitting most of the North Island.<br />
<br />
When we arrived at the waterfront at Ti Point in Paihia I was completely blown away the scenery as it looked like something straight off a postcard. It's hard to describe why it was impressive, but maybe it was the shimmering water, lush vegetation, small fragmented islands or a combination of all three.<br />
<br />
After getting all kitted out with our life jackets and "spray skirts" (they're supposed to stop water splashing in the kayak but mine didn't cover the cockpit properly) we set off on the choppy waters around Te Ti Bay. We were put into double kayaks as the guide felt the wind and current would make it difficult for those on their own to make their way back down the estuary. This meant that I was sitting in the front of one kayak with Lizzie's dad in the back, whilst Lizzie was in the back of the other kayak with her mum up front. The job of the person in the front of the double kayak (me and Lizzie's mum) was to set the pace of paddling, and the job of the person in the rear (Lizzie and her dad) was to control the rudder via foot peddles, to help steer the kayak.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PV0ORGdvtU0/T4U67Uu63yI/AAAAAAAAA1o/pbJtwGYfV_o/s1600/P1030409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PV0ORGdvtU0/T4U67Uu63yI/AAAAAAAAA1o/pbJtwGYfV_o/s400/P1030409.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie and her mum in the tandem kayak</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlT6t2qbwBU/T4U6_oR4nsI/AAAAAAAAA1w/brGaesFSkV8/s1600/P1030411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlT6t2qbwBU/T4U6_oR4nsI/AAAAAAAAA1w/brGaesFSkV8/s400/P1030411.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Me in the other kayak with Lizzie's dad</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Not long after clipping the Waitangi Bridge with the front of the kayak and trying to get ourselves used to steering in the currents, we managed to paddle upstream along the Waitangi River at a steady pace. Along the way we saw some Pied Shags (<i>Phalacrocorax varius</i>) or Karuhiruhi as they're known in Māori, roosting in the Pohutukawa (New Zealand Christmas) trees - apparently, Pied Shags are the only webbed footed bird that makes nests in trees.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mQcd0IMTCI/T5J56deW52I/AAAAAAAAA6A/apV2h_Zj2T4/s1600/_DSC0266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5mQcd0IMTCI/T5J56deW52I/AAAAAAAAA6A/apV2h_Zj2T4/s400/_DSC0266.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">A Pied Shag about to feed it's chick</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oNWdcijhNYw/T4U7KIvmSVI/AAAAAAAAA14/nK2zUhlZL1k/s1600/P1030415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oNWdcijhNYw/T4U7KIvmSVI/AAAAAAAAA14/nK2zUhlZL1k/s400/P1030415.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Getting my feet onto dry for a well-earned break </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Haruru Falls (which means big noise in Māori) are 4km west of Paihia, where the Waitangi River drops over a basalt lava flow, which has formed in a rare horseshoe shape. Having managed to have a relaxing paddle up the Waitangi River, our guide suggested that we could paddle into the waterfall! At this point I'm crapping myself at the thought of this, as my main fear with any water-related transport is the thought of capsizing.<br />
<br />
After having a practice paddle across the face of the waterfall, the guide reassured us that we would be pushed back by the force of the water at the base of the falls. We were hoping to take it gently on our first attempt at tackling the waterfall, but before I knew it we were heading directly for the middle of falls and there was no prospect of an easy time! It was quite an intense experience but once we came through the other side I could take a sigh of relief only to do it a couple more times having felt a little reassured that they kayak wouldn't capsize.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I29KQ3NoLZ8/T4lfgq1eloI/AAAAAAAAA5M/baRgxsA3toE/s1600/_DSC0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I29KQ3NoLZ8/T4lfgq1eloI/AAAAAAAAA5M/baRgxsA3toE/s400/_DSC0068.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">They don't call Haruru Falls "big noise" for nothing!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DVScutMvdAs/T4U7QoQ2rVI/AAAAAAAAA2I/7e3od-gaUMs/s1600/P1030422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DVScutMvdAs/T4U7QoQ2rVI/AAAAAAAAA2I/7e3od-gaUMs/s400/P1030422.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you squint hard enough you can just see me entering the falls!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GvvSdyc8jkI/T4U7W4rzf3I/AAAAAAAAA2Q/MfVBjqWgH28/s1600/P1030430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GvvSdyc8jkI/T4U7W4rzf3I/AAAAAAAAA2Q/MfVBjqWgH28/s400/P1030430.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie and her mum being pushed away from the base of the falls</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_ooJErvoLE/T4lfjoUamWI/AAAAAAAAA5U/UDxTWBMn6Bk/s1600/_DSC0077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_ooJErvoLE/T4lfjoUamWI/AAAAAAAAA5U/UDxTWBMn6Bk/s400/_DSC0077.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our tour guide Sky, showing us how it's really done!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oKjIO-xlgvs/T4lfm2EVdPI/AAAAAAAAA5c/n3exY_Ua12U/s1600/_DSC0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oKjIO-xlgvs/T4lfm2EVdPI/AAAAAAAAA5c/n3exY_Ua12U/s400/_DSC0080.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The rocks in the water are ballast from ships that once sailed the river</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
After playing around by the waterfall we then paddled against the current, back towards the mangrove forest to weave our way through trees. The mangrove trees of New Zealand are an important ecosystem and only grow in the top half of the North Island. The water around the mangrove was so shallow it wouldn't have come up to your knees and it was almost easier to move the kayak around by pushing the riverbed with the paddles!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WZ6pPuY3uAk/T4U7cNgI24I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/iLWhJLaE6Xo/s1600/P1030440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WZ6pPuY3uAk/T4U7cNgI24I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/iLWhJLaE6Xo/s400/P1030440.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
At the other end of the mangrove was the final stretch of the river before we got back to Ti Beach. It was hard work paddling against the tide with the wind blowing against us but it was good to get my feet back onto dry land and to wash the sea salt out of my eyes!<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ooXz4xrpW2k/T4U7gtlNSLI/AAAAAAAAA2g/MtlcceUQqug/s1600/P1030443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ooXz4xrpW2k/T4U7gtlNSLI/AAAAAAAAA2g/MtlcceUQqug/s400/P1030443.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The final push back to Te Ti Bay from the mangrove forest</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
All I can say is that I'm glad I survived my first coastal kayaking experience, but I'm definitely going to hurt all over for the next couple of days.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VdXgJ4uFLww/T4U7j-c9q5I/AAAAAAAAA2o/HpuOkt7JPUI/s1600/_DSC0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VdXgJ4uFLww/T4U7j-c9q5I/AAAAAAAAA2o/HpuOkt7JPUI/s400/_DSC0086.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunset over Te Ti Bay</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hUC8ni28O1k/T4U7mrHiNLI/AAAAAAAAA2w/cN6wOOc1O7Y/s1600/_DSC0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hUC8ni28O1k/T4U7mrHiNLI/AAAAAAAAA2w/cN6wOOc1O7Y/s400/_DSC0097.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com058 Kerikeri Rd, Kerikeri 0230, New Zealand-35.2286099 173.9477921-35.332375400000004 173.7898636 -35.1248444 174.10572059999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1196684861139601443.post-58937424182040552112012-04-17T01:24:00.001-07:002012-04-22T03:20:33.044-07:00Up to the Bay of IslandsIt's with a heavy heart that we have to leave Hawke's Bay to find some work up in the Bay of Islands, in time for the start of the kiwifruit picking season, which runs from April to June. Napier has been our home for the last 5 weeks, and there have a lot of highs and thankfully only a few lows.<br />
<br />
We've met some brilliant people at our hostel, <a href="http://www.archiesbunker.co.nz/" target="_blank"><b>Archie's Bunker</b></a> (the same hostel we stayed at on our original trip!) and we even managed to find some temporary work, although the whole <a href="http://upabovetodownunder.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/easy-pickings-things-to-consider-when.html" target="_blank">apple picking</a> fiasco was the only sour point of our stay. It eventually turned out that despite what you're told, employees are entitled to the minimum wage in New Zealand even on piece rates and if you don't get this then your employer is breaking the law.<br />
<br />
For the last three weeks I've been working for <b><a href="http://www.jdta.co.nz/" target="_blank">Judd Dougan Team Architects</a></b> (originally Natusch and Sons), one of the original members of the Associated Architects in Napier who were the principals of the four major architecture practices. It provided an interesting insight into the architecture industry in New Zealand, which isn't dissimilar to the UK in that there has been quite a slow down in the last couple of years, but it's showing signs of recovery from the global recession.<br />
<br />
One of the last things we did on our final weekend in Hawke's Bay was to scale Te Mata peak, located a short distance from Napier (25 km away) on the outskirts of Havelock North. Legend tells us that the ridge is meant to be the body of the Māori chief, Rongokako, lying down after having choked on a rock as he tried to eat his way through the hill. At the very top of the peak you can get beautiful panoramic views across the Heretaunga Plains - on a clear day it's supposedly possible to see Mt Ruapehu in the heart of Tongariro National Park.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pTwTPezYBEI/T4U7xJS0siI/AAAAAAAAA3I/mKn178uJqUU/s1600/_DSC0117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pTwTPezYBEI/T4U7xJS0siI/AAAAAAAAA3I/mKn178uJqUU/s400/_DSC0117.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lizzie in front of the 399m high limestone bluffs</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-415A_8Bwijo/T4U7zw4_TtI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/rCyRCArtLbg/s1600/_DSC0131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-415A_8Bwijo/T4U7zw4_TtI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/rCyRCArtLbg/s400/_DSC0131.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ivQjCkdptgk/T4U72gWlLiI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/YqrgZVF3Y9k/s1600/_DSC0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ivQjCkdptgk/T4U72gWlLiI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/YqrgZVF3Y9k/s400/_DSC0133.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">View looking back to Napier</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Hopefully we'll be back in Napier before too long, but for now Kerikeri is our ultimate destination as we head up to the most northern region of the North Island to check out the much touted <b>Bay of Islands</b>. Famous for its sub-tropical weather and beautiful blue waters with around 150 islands punctuated throughout, the area also holds enormous historical significance for the Māori as well as the first Europeans who settled here, when the British started colonising <i>Aotearoa</i> or New Zealand as it's now known.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/State_Highway_5_NZ.svg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/State_Highway_5_NZ.svg" width="200" /></a>Driving north of Napier along the Thermal Explorer Highway (State Highway 5) where we stopped off in Rotorua via Taupo to see some familiar sites at <a href="http://www.newzealand.com/int/article/kuirau-park/" target="_blank">Kuirau Park</a> (a public park with lots of geothermal activity) and down by Lake Rotorua - the second largest lake on the North Island.<br />
<br />
Continuing along State Highway 5, we eventually stopped off at Hamilton to break up the journey and spend the night there, although I can't say I was impressed by the small part of Hamilton we saw and I don't think we'll bother making a return trip!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GJNQ5icxzF0/T4lfqsEEQaI/AAAAAAAAA5k/wdycPvyvNOg/s1600/_DSC0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GJNQ5icxzF0/T4lfqsEEQaI/AAAAAAAAA5k/wdycPvyvNOg/s400/_DSC0275.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Kuirau Park is a good place to see free geothermal activity in Rotorua</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The next day we left early to drive up the motorway through Auckland, as it was still another 5 hours to Kerikeri. Taking a brief detour to avoid the Northern Gateway Toll Road, we briefly joined the Hibiscus Coast Highway where we stopped off in Orewa for lunch. From there we drove State Highway 1 all the way up to Kerikeri for roughly 210 kms.<br />
<br />
The place we're staying at is on the outskirts of the town, called <a href="http://kkfarmhostel.blogspot.co.nz/" target="_blank">Kerikeri Farm Hostel</a>. It's an animal lovers paradise so Lizzie feels very much at home! There are two dogs at the hostel, a one year old Labrador called Nika - she's a lovely dog who's very excitable but also likes to jump up at you and chew your hand if she gets too carried away! There's also another dog called Weewee who is a little older and very affectionate, although she's a little overweight and is currently on a diet. Apparently, there's an elusive cat around called Mr Stink, however he's quite shy and we haven't seen him yet.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F0JCD1QsHTQ/T4U7-1NHqxI/AAAAAAAAA3o/85eBq9BS40k/s1600/_DSC0196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F0JCD1QsHTQ/T4U7-1NHqxI/AAAAAAAAA3o/85eBq9BS40k/s400/_DSC0196.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Throw Nika a stick and she'll be your new best friend</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G590Z8piYHc/T4U762pvFhI/AAAAAAAAA3g/R5ypjf24FWE/s1600/_DSC0188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G590Z8piYHc/T4U762pvFhI/AAAAAAAAA3g/R5ypjf24FWE/s400/_DSC0188.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Weewee loves her back being scratched!</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The farm hostel also has two female kunekune pigs (which means 'fat and round' in Māori), a sheep called "Fluffy" and a whole host of free range chickens, which are quite tame and friendly.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOxuVObzG-Q/T4U7uCEADCI/AAAAAAAAA3A/5eT9k0ygOUc/s1600/_DSC0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hOxuVObzG-Q/T4U7uCEADCI/AAAAAAAAA3A/5eT9k0ygOUc/s400/_DSC0109.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">These were once cute little piglets. Oink oink!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gAMPJriouXc/T4U8DDrXOWI/AAAAAAAAA3w/dZT1fzvrwyY/s1600/_DSC0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gAMPJriouXc/T4U8DDrXOWI/AAAAAAAAA3w/dZT1fzvrwyY/s400/_DSC0199.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The cockerel is a reliable morning alarm clock</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AJhUk3E-6xw/T4U7qeq4ebI/AAAAAAAAA24/PzEOPFq0Lb0/s1600/_DSC0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AJhUk3E-6xw/T4U7qeq4ebI/AAAAAAAAA24/PzEOPFq0Lb0/s400/_DSC0105.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This chicken wouldn't look out of place in the film Tron!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Exploring the local area we ventured 2 km from town down to the Kerikeri Basin, which was the site chosen by Samual Marsden for the Church Missionary Society's second mission in New Zealand. The site is home to New Zealand's oldest standing European buildings - the Stone Store and Kerikeri Mission House (Kemp House). The Stone Store is the oldest surviving stone building in New Zealand and was constructed in 1836 - it kind of reminds me of the old wool mill buildings back at home in Witney, Oxfordshire. The store served as a central provision store for the Church Missionary Society. Nearby is Kemp House, which is New Zealand's oldest European building constructed between 1820-21. Although, it's less than 200 years old, Kemp House still pre-dates the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (New Zealand's founding document) by almost 20 years.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ay4Xf6D_yaA/T4U8INLUzXI/AAAAAAAAA34/0IPxeIO80LU/s1600/_DSC0301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ay4Xf6D_yaA/T4U8INLUzXI/AAAAAAAAA34/0IPxeIO80LU/s400/_DSC0301.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The old Stone Store across the Kerikeri River</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Bn5ARvmvMg/T4U8Lk3qZ7I/AAAAAAAAA4A/3D4Wxqpv_8A/s1600/_DSC0305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_Bn5ARvmvMg/T4U8Lk3qZ7I/AAAAAAAAA4A/3D4Wxqpv_8A/s400/_DSC0305.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SQBppuDXywc/T4U8O-ZpYXI/AAAAAAAAA4I/a2ve4oMQ_Qc/s1600/_DSC0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SQBppuDXywc/T4U8O-ZpYXI/AAAAAAAAA4I/a2ve4oMQ_Qc/s400/_DSC0307.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">More info about what the store was used for can be found inside</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Opposite the Kerikeri Basin Reserve is the start of a walk along the Kerikeri River to Wharepuke Falls, where we got an awesome view of a Sacred Kingfisher (<i>Todiramphus sanctus</i>). <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2g_67QzLeYh4OPFzVywU00etm_3kptzkjVQwaiPKDDRZzYosHKaw19U7YYguaEOQ9TmruJlp7cdikt7OS4y0owbpWfbtzvxsn0OZUyGYEoBOxwzp2jWZ8_Q37X5LO49XMPiC5WjpGFlwG/s1600/_DSC0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2g_67QzLeYh4OPFzVywU00etm_3kptzkjVQwaiPKDDRZzYosHKaw19U7YYguaEOQ9TmruJlp7cdikt7OS4y0owbpWfbtzvxsn0OZUyGYEoBOxwzp2jWZ8_Q37X5LO49XMPiC5WjpGFlwG/s400/_DSC0308.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Pukeko (New Zealand Swamp Hen) on the opposite side of the river</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kpq4BH8dMtc/T4U8Xk_8O5I/AAAAAAAAA4Y/1fcwHsFa7tg/s1600/_DSC0313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kpq4BH8dMtc/T4U8Xk_8O5I/AAAAAAAAA4Y/1fcwHsFa7tg/s400/_DSC0313.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">The Kingfisher is also known by its Māori name, Kōtare </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E3D9Cq1LQ5w/T4U8b01h8fI/AAAAAAAAA4g/V7eQO2-Wpic/s1600/_DSC0318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E3D9Cq1LQ5w/T4U8b01h8fI/AAAAAAAAA4g/V7eQO2-Wpic/s400/_DSC0318.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BedtYiBU9lo/T4U8fj75rQI/AAAAAAAAA4o/JoczfBGT11M/s1600/_DSC0321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BedtYiBU9lo/T4U8fj75rQI/AAAAAAAAA4o/JoczfBGT11M/s400/_DSC0321.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wharepuke Falls are a 20 minute walk from the Stone Store </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
The track follows the north bank of the river, passing through some kiwi habitat and regenerating native trees such as kauri and tōtara. Further up the river are Rainbow Falls (or Waianiwaniwa, which in Māori means "Waters of the Rainbow"), which are 27m high. There's a decent lookout from the top and the falls certainly lived up to their name as there were lots of rainbows created by all the mist in the air. It's possible to walk to the base of the falls but you are guaranteed to get a little damp from all the water vapour drifting in the air!<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gV-IGg8rLr8/T4U8jun4ydI/AAAAAAAAA4w/afVfN1grzfY/s1600/_DSC0354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gV-IGg8rLr8/T4U8jun4ydI/AAAAAAAAA4w/afVfN1grzfY/s400/_DSC0354.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A rainbow formed from the spray of Rainbow Falls</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rIrY6HGH7Gs/T4U8raB7w9I/AAAAAAAAA5A/XsyZrp3JerI/s1600/_DSC0366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rIrY6HGH7Gs/T4U8raB7w9I/AAAAAAAAA5A/XsyZrp3JerI/s400/_DSC0366.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6Msxr-3T_A/T4U8n6QyZxI/AAAAAAAAA44/CWjzIhYN0FQ/s1600/_DSC0355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y6Msxr-3T_A/T4U8n6QyZxI/AAAAAAAAA44/CWjzIhYN0FQ/s640/_DSC0355.JPG" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There's no safety barriers to stop you falling in if you get too close!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03238464816674968403noreply@blogger.com058 Kerikeri Rd, Kerikeri 0230, New Zealand-35.2286099 173.9477921-35.332375400000004 173.7898636 -35.1248444 174.10572059999998