Blogs from Te Anau, Fiordland National Park, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania

New Zealand – Wk 1 - Waitaki Camping Park heading South thereafter.....Monday 9th Jan. Another comfortable night was had under canvass and we awoke this morning to a fine sunny day. After a trip to the wash rooms, breakfast we were ready for a hike down the lane to the sea. It’s only a trip of approx 800 mts along a made up farm track passing hundreds of sheep and dairy cows happily grazing along the way. Currently in this area there is actually at the moment a severe drought warning and all the farmers are using sprinklers everywhere to green up the grass for grazing. These sprinklers range from a garden hose up to some enormous irrigation arms, 200+ mts in length. Anyone caught at their homes using excess water, they would be in deep ... read more

Twizel to Te Anau + Milford Sound Nederlands (Anouschka) 2 februari 2011 Vandaag reden we van Twizel naar Te Anau over glooiende groen-gele vlaktes en langs grote blauwe meren. In Cromwell hebben we koffie gedronken. Het is een super schattig dorpje, met veel sporen van de mijnwerkers die hier vroeger het gebied bevolkten. De oude winkelstraat is nog helemaal intact. Weer terug op de weg hebben we een hele tijd in een file gereden. De aanleiding: een nieuw huis dat vervoerd werd over de weg. Het schijnt goedkoper te zijn om gewoon een huis te laten bouwen en het dan naar je stukje grond te laten rijden over de weg. Een aardig bizar gezicht, zeker over de smalle wegen door de bergen die ze hier hebben. ’s Middags kwamen we aan in Te Anau, waar we ... read more

I hadn't been sure, when I went to bed on the night of the 26th, whether I'd do better to spend Dec. 27th by the gas fire in the lounge or whether I should make one more try at seeing the takahe. It was clearly going to be my only chance to see a takahe, and I really wanted to, but it was such a long walk. But when I woke I found that Plum had come disconnected in the night, and she barely had power enough to see me through breakfast. So that settled the question nicely. I would go out for a walk, at least while she recharged. I had lost my camera case on Christmas day. This was not, fortunately, a serious loss; it wasn't a fitted case, only a grey quilted ... read more

I have a lovely little single here in Te Anau. It's on the second, and highest, floor -- second in the American sense, fortunately, unlike my Queenstown room. Whenever it rains, I can hear rain on the roof. It's a narrow room, but they've taken pains with it. Two walls are paneled; two are painted drywall. There are beams on the sloping ceiling, and, rather oddly, the heater is on the ceiling too. It's a great heater -- first time I've been warm enough at night without a space heater. There's a rainforest poster on one wall, a mirror on another, and a window on the third. From the window, I have a view of the lake. It is customary here in New Zealand to identify public restrooms by a picture of a man in ... read more

Ask me yesterday evening and I'd have said yes, rest day (or three) would be good. Ask me this morning and all my mind can see is mountains, lakes, tracks. My legs feel fine and I'm sure they'd willingly follow my mind's whims. Well, at least for a little while. Ok, rest it is then. And it is raining and windy today too. I drive down to Manapouri and spend some time by the lake. Then I decide I'd like to see the ocean so I drive down to Tuatapere and visit Blue Cliffs beach. Stunningly beautiful with confused but colourful weather on the horizon. Far too many sandflies though so I don't linger long. And so back to Friday night in Te Anau before heading north a bit tomorrow to Queenstown and preparation for the ... read more

Is "achy" a word? I guess it is. Anyway, I'm back and all well despite sore feet. Last night I thought I might have a real struggle getting back today having whacked a knee and twisted an ankle but neither were as bad as they felt so today was sore but bearable. Now for a bit of r&r me thinks. The sun is still shining out there and I feel the need for a cold beer so I will postpone the longer update until later. Congrats to England for completing a great win in Adelaide :)... read more