Glenorchy and Lord of the Rings country

Looks like the weather has finally turned true ‘West Coast’. But it doesn’t detract from anything, and we took off from Queenstown to Glenochy for lunch, and possible sightings of Hobbits.



No Hobbits unfortunately (at least nobody without shoes, so couldn’t really check – sorry Austin), but a fabulous lunch. Would highly recommend the steak ‘sammi’ at the Glenorchy Café, viz : toasted home-made bread, piled with – lettuce, rib-eye steak, bacon, sautéed large cremini mushrooms, salsa, all topped with a fried egg, and garnished with ‘jus’ and home made cold slaw. Wow ! Sammis will never be the same again !



The road back to Queenstown, along the shore of Lake Wakatipu, and more waterfalls . . . .





The evening view from our hotel balcony . . .

Doubtful Sound, Fiordland

Queenstown is the centre for so many outdoor activities . . . but as we’re not into mountain climbing, bungy jumping, hiking, para gliding, or extreme sport mode, we elected to take a day trip to – no, not Milford Sound – but Doubtful Sound.

Actually fiords, not sounds, Milford is by far the busiest and most ‘touristy’ . . .a little like Niagara Falls on a bank holiday weekend. We opted for Doubtful, quieter, and easier to reach. Perhaps also more entertaining, in that it included a boat ferry across Lake Manapouri, followed by a half hour bus ride over Wilmot Pass, up into the rain forest to Deep Cove, where we embarked on our cruise of Doubtful sound.

Located in the temperate rain forests of the west coast, Doubtful Sound was ‘discovered’ by the indomitable Captain Cook. The guy really got around !

Rain forests mean lush vegetation, and almost always wet atmospheric conditions.




A never ending cycle of water falling, from rain, to mountaintop, to waterfalls, innumerable species of moss simply clinging to the rock surfaces (little or no soil), and everything growing out of it, from ferns to enormous (up to 300 years old) mountain beech trees.



Our first view of Doubtful Sound, from way above on Wilmot Pass . . .



. . .and first glimpse of our ship (look closely . . you’ll see the road, way down there, and the ship just offshore)



Finally aboard, and ready to absorb the almost untouched environment . . . .



. . .along with the locals



Far out (18km. away!), towards the ‘mouth’ of the fiord, the Tasman Sea. And our last sight of it – at least this time around.



Fiord cliffs and waterfalls, up to 1,000 meters high – true distance being impossible to capture on film.



Our return down the fiord . . something ominously beautiful, almost “Rings” like.



After our cruise, we re-boarded the bus back across Wilmot Pass to Manapouri Power Station, a massive hydro facility built underground, and taking advantage of the drop between the Lake and the Sound. Plunging through a two kilometers long tunnel hewn and blasted out of the mountain, our bus delivered us to the generating plant 200 meters below the surface. The generating station was started in the 1960s, and services the Tiwai Aluminium Smelter with power equivalent to supply the whole of Auckland.



Back above ground, and into our rental car headed for Queenstown. En route, we encountered the Kingston Flyer, with a full head of steam, and about to depart.

Mount Cook to Queenstown

On the road again, but this time off the beaten path, and along Bullock Train trail . . . a route suggested by our B&B host. The ‘trail’ is in fact a road constructed alongside the canal system built in the 1960s to move water from Lake Tekapo down a chain of lakes, and through a total of 7 hydro generating stations, providing power for most of New Zealand. An awesome engineering feat!



Not built exactly for tourism or other purposes, the canal and road also provide a self contained body of water for enterprising salmon farmers. So we not only enjoyed the spectacular views of the Alps, but purchased fresh smoked salmon for our picnic lunch that day.



And finally, an unrestricted view of Mount Cook, highest peak in New Zealand.



Our road continued, up through Lindis Pass, on our way to Queenstown . . . .



. . . and another breathtaking view from our hotel balcony.

Lake Tekapo

Lake Tekapo, home of the University of Canterbury Observatory on Mount John.





No matter where you point the camera, there’s a view to be had.
Glad we’ve got digital . . . . we’d have never made it this far if we’d been buying film.









The inevitable wayside flowers, wild lupins this time. ‘Darn!’ says Maralyn, ’can’t get them to grow in our garden’.



And yet another stunner of a sunset, this evening from the balcony of our B&B.



Stayed up late this night, stargazing. Viewed the Southern Cross for the very first time, otherwise few constellations we recognized, except for Orion on the horizon, which we can see at home. Only here, he’s upside down!

An Akaroa sunset, and onto Lake Tekapo

From the patio of our cottage . . .an Akaroa sunset worth remembering.



Next morning, up early, pack and away . .. but not before sharing breakfast with our wild companion.



On to Lake Tekapo, our first real view of the Southern Alps, and our first B&B on the trip. A delightful host, full of useful information for the adventurous traveler . . .and another stunning view from our room !

Akaroa and the Banks Peninsula

Starting a blog was a novel experience. No idea really what to expect, or how it might develop. But over the past weeks, it’s actually turned out to be a great way of sharing, and with keeping an account of where we’ve been, and what we’ve done. Our days have been so crammed with sights and sounds, folks and feelings, that it’s been difficult to recall all we’ve experienced to date.
After three weeks, everything is starting to blur together. So – a great way of keeping it sorted! Enough verbiage – let the pics speak for themselves.


From our patio. What a view to wake up to !



Do all motels in NZ come with a daily visitor? Or did she follow us from Coromandel?



The road to Le Bons Bay . . . and is this really for sale ?



. . .and the Bay itself, close up and personal.









Then from afar, and what better view while enjoying a picnic lunch.





Akaroa shows its French flavour.

Akaroa

Who are these three caged miscreants?



Three highly valued working dogs, out for a drive with their owner family, a farmer couple and young daughter. All three stock dogs trained to run herd on sheep, and much prized for their pedigree, as well as skills.



Our destination for the next two days – Akaroa Harbour.



Akaroa was originally a French settlement in the 18th century. When the British discovered that the French Government were despatching shiploads of settlers, they rapidly laid claim to the South Island. Had they not done so, today the South Island might well be a French colony. As it was, the French came and settled anyway, leaving Akaroa with a distinctly Francophone flavour.



The anticipated morning cappuccino, with a touch of daily news. . . .



And our cabin accommodation for the next couple of days . . . with yet another awesome view. . . .



. . . and a local inhabitant.