Glacier Country

Today (Monday) we went on a glacier walk on the Fox Glacier. It had been sunny all morning and even while we were on the bus it was hot. As soon as we got off the bus however, the rain came down. It was an hrs walk up to the glacier and then we put on our crampons and started on our trek to Crevice No. 1. The views were amazing and it was great to walk on the glacier - only one of three in the world that meets the rainforest.


(Photo is of Lake Matheson looking towards Mount Cook:)

Before hitting Glacier country we stopped for a night in Arthurs Pass. A high pass in the middle of the South Island. It was really wet and cold. We only managed to leave our cosy cottage with log fire once to do an hours walk up to the devils punchbowl waterfall. We got back to the car dripping.

After the glacier hike we drove 5 hrs to Wanaka on the way to Fiordland. Starting to get tired now. We have had 6 weeks of one night here, two nights there, 1 night here ... sightseeing... exploring... walking... more sightseeing. We need a holiday!

Wanaka was a great place to chill out though. A chillled out day for us in New Zealand however is a 2 hr walk up a mountain and then 2 hrs walking around Puzzle World - this great place full
of weird illusions and puzzles. Next is the adventure capital of the world - Queenstown. Yeeehhaaaaa....

Riding the Mad Mile

Abel Tasman National Park is at the north of the South Island NZ. It contains lush subtropical forest, golden sand beaches, clear turqoise waters, spectacular granite coastline and sea caves. We booked a 5 day trip - the first day kayaking and then next four tramping.

The kayaking was awesome, even after a few arguments over steering! A seal jumped up onto our kayak at one point and we passed a little 'whity' penguin who was having a relax in the warm water. Pretty hard (wet) work, but such a great experience.

The tramping was diffucult and yet amazing at the same time too. We carried all our gear including tent, cooking utensils and food across mountain paths, rivers (sometimes wading across) to the next camp. The weather (after the first day) was amazing - hot enough still to swim in the sea and sometimes a little too hot.

After five days of seeing the most amazing scenery from land and sea we reluctantly made our way by water taxi back to civilisation. Aaahhh... a shower and a bed!