Monthly Archives: March 2013

Off to explore extraction and attraction city. Charges everywhere except the walks and the gardens. First a lake walk and then the garden. The Queenstown gardens with their roses in bloom, varieties that we do not see at home. Lawn … Continue reading →

Last night we did our laundry. Not usually a remarkable event except that the device was in our hotel room. Each room has one. It is a combo device. Put in soap, press a series of very confusing buttons and … Continue reading →

Another pretty day with an outstanding sunrise. Our hotel room faces east over the lake with a lovely groomed lawn between us and the lake and mountains. Wanaka is by reputation what Queenstown used to be. A day of more … Continue reading →

Over Haast pass to the drier grassland on the east side of the alps. Onto the beauty of the lakes Wanaka and Hawea. Hike is along the Clutha River into the town of Wanaka. QB dubbed this an almost perfect … Continue reading →

Sunny and warmish again. So far only one day of rain. Walk among the largest trees in NZ. The English called these white pine but they are yews. Rimu,aka red pine, 1000 plus years, tall and home to a hundred … Continue reading →

Fox glacier and a home. around lake Matheson Lake walk through first and then another good walk to a glacier. Similar to Franz Joseph. Then up to chalet lookout track, steepest track up. Maybe 600-700ft. Lake meraki surrounded by one … Continue reading →

Heavy rain Walk to the glacier. Helipad trip canceled due to weather. Glacier walk in the heavy rain well worth seeing. The ice bridge picture could not have been done a few months ago. The glacier is receding at give … Continue reading →

Yesterday was Sat irrespective of what the blog said. We start from the pounding surf of the wild West coast on the Tasman sea and end in the high alps with their tumbling glaciers. Rainforest, pancake rocks of some game … Continue reading →

Two hikes and a boat ride. More wilderness of course. Hike over the pass, lunch at lake Brunner and walk along the shore of this temperate rain forest. Water taxi across the lake and a night at Punakaiki resort. Green … Continue reading →

Another great day. Day of long climbs 2800 ft. High forest, did not do the final bit with its thirty percent grade. Last evening saw the southern sky on a perfectly clear night. No urban or rural lights. Southern cross … Continue reading →