Fiordland - Milford Sound

Views in Milford Sound.

Basking seals in Milford Sound.


Our cruiser - the Milford Mariner.







Wild lupins - considered a noxious weed!



Views on the way to Milford Sound.

Having checked the weather forecast, we decided that Monday was as good as we were going to get for Milford Sound - the weather is so changeable there anyway that any day was taking a chance. The rain at 6.30 a.m. as we walked down the hills to the meeting point made us think that we had made a dreadful mistake but all was well. We got rainy, cloudy, sunny and very windy but it was great. The bus journey was long - 5 hours there and 4 hours back - but it had some spectacular scenery as well as quite boring stretches. The above is just a taste of all the photos taken.

Queenstown days 1 and 2

Sunny dunny used by Chinese prospectors in Chinese settlement in Arrowtown.

Cruising on Lake Wakatipu.

View from end of road.

View from bedroom.

View from front door of house.


The first day in Queenstown was spent orienting ourselves and appreciating the wonderful mountainous and lake setting. We had a great walk around the lake - well part of NZ's longest lake. The weather was absolutely beautiful - possibly the best day so far of the holiday. I have to admit that we did not waste too many thoughts on the cold and snow at home - other than to hope that it is all over by the time we get home. We also took advantage of the availability of a barbecue to barbecue - but we could have done with company!

Day 2 was Sunday and we had arranged to meet our hosts - Audrey and Murray - in their house! They arrived, complete with teenage grandchildren who were hilarious and most disrespectful of their aging Nana and Grandad. The afternoon we spent in Arrowtown which was an important place during the goldrush. There are lots of towns like that in N.Z.

Hokitika to Queenstown

Jim thought he was on his way home but I spotted the extra vowel/syllable!



Views of Franz Josef Glacier.

Kea - very intelligent, curious bird but causes a lot of damage.





Thunder Creek Falls.

Fantail Falls.

Manmade pancake rocks!

Blue Pools of Haast.
Does one ever get used to suspension bridges? I have crossed about 12 of these and I'm convinced that Jim deliberately makes them swing more than they should!


Blue Pools of Haast.





After 600km we arrived in Christchurch. The early part of the day was dull and dreary and we could get little glimpse of the surrounding mountains. We stopped to see the Franz Josef Glacier and then went on to Haast where miraculously the weather improved and the scenery left us speechless.

Hanmer Springs to Hokitika

Views on the way.



Shot seals!
A weka - lots of them about.
Restaurant where we had lunch at Tauranga Bay.
The view while we ate.




Views of Pancake Rocks and other formations.


Weather beautiful for an early start and a very scenic drive from Hanmer Springs to the Westport area where we avoided the town and went straight to Cape Foulwind where we were hoping to get a bird's eye view of Fur Seals. The walk as far as the lighthouse was steep but Cape Foulwind did not live up to its name as there was barely enough breeze to cool us after our exertions. The views were lovely but no seals despite a heated argument over what turned out to be rocks - isn't Jim blessed with his eyesight! We then went to the other side to Tauranga Bay where we took the walk to the seal colony and shot our seals! We then found an award winning restaurant in this scenic area quite suitable for lunch.

Next stop was Punakaiki where the coastal rocks are remarkable pieces of natural sculpture. They look like enormous stacks of pancakes. The views here were great also.

We had no difficulty getting past Greymouth despite the 10,000 who were there for the Memorial Service. On the journey there was lots of evidence of what was going on - St. John's Ambulance types and police. Everywhere was understandably very subdued. In Hokitika where we spent the night all the other rooms seemed to be occupied by the police who had spent the previous 2 weeks in Greymouth. They were letting their hair down after their ordeal and were enjoying a barbecue just opposite our room. We had a glass of wine as we watched them.

Hamilton to Christchurch to Hanmer Springs

Hamilton to Christchurch to Hanmer Springs. The journey to Hanmer Springs has been uneventful. Our first view of the South Island was 0f snow-capped peaks thrust through the clouds. the scenery on the drive went from nothing significant to banks and banks of mountains one behind the other. At one stage they were yellow - whins we are assuming as it was a slightly different yellow to broom, which probably would not grow so high up. We found a lovely gastro-pub/micro brewery in Hanmer Springs and enjoyed the locals involved in a quiz. Today we are heading to Westport but may go farther if traffic etc. at Greymouth allows.

Hooray - I am finally up to date!