South Island, New Zealand, Day 6

16 October 2012 (Sunday)

Woke up early.
Drove to Lake Matheson, very near our accomodation, for the picture perfect scenery promised.

The walking trail going round the lake is approximately one hour long.



And we are rewarded with the mirror image of the lake with Mount Cook and Mount Tasman behind, although the day is slightly cloudy, obscuring the blue sky.

And now only, I found out, going there early means, before sunrise :)

On our walk out, we saw lots of ferns, gold in colour. .. so beautiful...

Leaving Fox township, we drove north to the Franz Josef township half an hour away, for the most ardous activity of our entire trip... a half day hike on the Franz Josef glacier (NZD 123/person)

Unlike the Milford Sound trip, this trip is filled with younger set and almost exclusively angmoh.. Out of the 70-80 participants, only we are non caucasians and we even might be the oldest in the group.

How I worry I might not be able to keep up!!

But you dont see glacier every day, and hiking on one is a very special experience... especially since we wont really know how long they will be there.

Luckily the guide segragrate the group, and those who wants to be in the slower group can choose so. Easy choice for me, I just looked for the fattest in our whole group, see which group she joins and join her group :)

The hike up.

We need to wear crampoon, steel spike over over hiking boots to be able to walk properly on the ice. This, I realised is still the closest thing I have come to experiencing real snow. Our guide is a friendly Dutch guy with a very French name.. Remy.

Tight 'cravasse

Route and steps cut early by guides. Wonder how they did it?

Blue ice

Photo ops .. climbing through an ice cave.

On the way down, looked up back again.

Later in the day, we drive back to Fox Glacier, walk to the base of the glacier for some photos at the almost deserted park (by the time we are there).

Like our LP guidebook says, you dont see a glacier every day of your life, so why not see two in a day.

Ended the day tired as hell. Early night.

Stayed at Glow Worm Cottages, Franz Josef (NZ65/night for the backpackers double room)

South Island, New Zealand, Day 5

15 October 2011, Saturday

Waking up to a beautiful Queenstown.
Lake Wakatipu is so beautiful.
Felt sad did not spend enough time here.

Breakfast at Vudu .. as recommeded by the LP guide book.

Egg Benedict

The famous pancake

Loiter around town for a bit,

before deciding I need to do something extreme.. so that I can at least boast back home :)

And half a day wasted waiting, jumped out from a plane and rush off to our next destination.

From Queenstown, drove to Wanaka.
Was told Shania Twain owns much of the country here.
Seems like an idealic town, with such a nice peaceful lake.



A short walk about in town, and a trip to the New World supermarket and we are off again, in view of the long drive ahead.

Did not manage to stop anywhere in the 4 hours something drive from Wanaka to the Fox Glacier township, via Haast, entering the so called Wild West Coast country.

Except some toilet breaks, and a relief of another kind finding the petrol station in Haast.

Driving through one of the national park there.

Finally reach the Westland Tai Poutini National Parks, home of the glaciers.

Stayed the night at Fox Glacier Holiday Park, NZD94 for the night, out highest-end accomodation in this trip.

South Island, New Zealand, Day 4

14 October 2011 (Friday)

Booked a day trip to the jewels of South Island - Milford Sound.
Use RealJourney which costed us NZD396.00 per person, departing from Queenstown. The price includes a taxi pickup from and later back to our accomodation.

Waking up early entitled us to this great view of Lake Wakatipu.


Boarding the coach, saw that this trip is filled with the more elderly crowd.

Passed though farm lands, where the lady driver cum tour guide filled us with much informations on farm lifes and landmarks we passed.

Stopped at town of Te Anau for breakfast and came up this shop with such glorious name.


Then onwards to Milford Sound.

The coach trip seems unremarkable at first. Rains starts to fall and the whole area is covered by mist. Scenery spoilers.

But the further we went, the scenery changes and it became more interesting. Entering birch forest. The glass ceiling coach afford us different perspective, normally what we would miss riding in a coach.



Then the trip climbs. Snow capped peak presents themselves. Such wonderful scenery. It is a pity that we dont stop as much as we like just to get down to admire the wonderful scenery.



And finally, we reach the Sound. We learned that this is actually a Fjord, which means this is created by glaciers. Sounds are created by rivers.

Board our boat and started sailing out to the Tasmian Seas.

The weather is beautiful with the sun shinning, although the wind is blowing quite cold.

The boat in front of shows demontrated how high the Fjord walls are.

Some locals lazying around.

I was secretly hoping for some dolphin to come swimming with our boat. Then we were shown to a spot where penguins frequent but none came. After office hour maybe!! Finally spotted one swimming. My first wild dolphin encounter :)

One of the many waterfalls.

How amazing to be able to view them from the foot of the walls.

A wonderful journey.

Then a tired and sleepy coach ride back to Queenstown.

After reaching Queenstown, sent some time looking for dinner (Thai food). Loved Queenstown and wish we could spend more time here.

Spend the night at Creeksyde again. With our private carpark allocation, at least we dont have to pay for it.

South Island, New Zealand Day 3

13 October 2011 (Thursday)

Lake Tekapo is so so beautiful that I have to capture its splendour as much as I can. So woke at at 5.00am, in the freezing cold, again drove the short distance to the Church to get more pictures.

Hoping the area would be deserted, cause I do hate having people in my landscape pictures. And it is. Cause its so cold...

Just south of the lake, up on top of Mount John is the International Observatory. Read that its the perfect location since there's virtually no polution from any industry in the area and hence crisp clear view of the night sky.

Up there, there's a great view of the Lake again as well as the township.

There is even a Cafe up there, the Astro Cafe. A couple of coffees and some cakes to start the day. Appreciated the fact that a cafe like this would never survice in Malaysia.

Back down the Mount John, on route 8 to Lake Pukaki.

On the way, went pass the a river with the same baby blue colour as Lake Tekapo (and the bigger Lake Pukaki further south). Made a detour the the Salmon Farm, reach there and found the farm-visit closed for maintenance. Well at least managed to get nice pictures of the river and its colour.

After Lake Pukaki, which did not look spectacular since the sun is too bright, took the turnoff to the base of Mount Cook.

One hour drive each way.. okay, I am a lousy driver.. so sue me :)

At the base of Mount Cook is the Hermitage Lodge, a high, very high-end accomodation with killer view of the splendid Mount Cook from every room.

There's also a statue and an Alpine discovery Center in honour of Sir Edmund Hillary, one half of the duo who first stepped on to the peak of the Everest.

Spent too much there at the Hermitage browsing through souveniers.

Sceneries on the way out back to Route 8, driving all the way worrying about my petrol level. Although that didnt stop us from stopping again and again for more photos :).

Stopped by Twizel, the nearest town to Mount Cook for petrol and some groceries.

Due to time constraints, missed Oamaru, stopped for a while at Crowmwell for a toilet break.

Entered Queenstown passed 5pm, and to our disapointment, all the wineries are closed.

Luckily, managed to get to see the last couple of bungy jumps at the Hackett bungy jump at Kawarau Bridge.

Stopped by Arrowtown, first to the Hobbiton-feel old chinese settlement, and later to the main street for a look-around and more photos.

Arrived in Queenstown, checked in at our accomodation. Took the Skyline Gondola up even though was told every outlet up there was booked for some private functions.

Managed to get some stunning sunset though. Wanted to wait for some night sceen of Queenstown, but the sun dont seems to want to set down.

Hunger force us down, walk to Queenstown for dinner and more souvenier shopping.

The dock by Lake Wakatipu where the steamshp TSS Earnshw is berth.

Accomodation for the night, Creeksyde (NZD72). Got our own private carpark (which is totally useful for tomorrow). One thing though, you need to rent cooking utensils here.