Dunedin to Wanaka and Franz Josef

Lets see... In Dunedin I didn't get up to much of note. I found a nice cheap hostel for $16, the cheapest I'd found anywhere, and spent 4 nights. Not because there was much going on but because I wanted to relax and recharge my batteries. I walked around the first night and caught up on some emails before an early night. The second day I walked all over town to the free museums, doing errands, going to a butterfly exhibit and driving out to the Otago Penninsula.

I spent the majority of the day out there going on hikes hitting up Sandfly Bay, where I not only saw zero penguins, but I got chased by a fur seal. These things are a lot meaner and faster than they look. It was exciting but scary as their bites can break bones and they have heaps of bacteria in their mouths which requires special antibiotics because pennisilin doesn't have any effect. Being chased was quite fun though a little unnerving at the time. I drove around a bit and ended up going on a long hike up a hill and around back to see some large canyons and some ocean made holes in the landscape before sitting down on top of the hill to enjoy a sunset over Dunedin for about an hour waiting for rush hour traffic to die and enjoying the sights.

The next day was spent relaxing and going on strolls, acquiring good foods and other necessities. It was nice to have a day to catch up again and just enjoy being lazy and doing nothing.

Originally I had wanted to surf down here but only found places within the city that sold and not rented the thick wetsuits required. I was sad but I am more excited for the north island now. I was going to see a concert when I was here but it turned out it was sold out so instead I went with some hostel mates out to a friends house for a while before going out to a bar on campus there. The next morning I got up early, was seen off by an old Japanese lady who took a liking to me while I was staying there and drove up to Wanaka. It was a beautiful drive and had an absolutely amazing sunset over the lake. I made a big feed out of the stuff I'd picked up in Dunedin for the next few nights (I plan to do the next few days budget style without spending money on accomodation and sleeping in my car).

Then today I woke up and drove up to Franz Josef. I picked up a hitch hiker today so that made the 4 hour ride less lonely =). Stopped at numerous sites along the way to take photos before getting to Fox Glacier. I did numerous hikes up to the glacier and to points overlooking the glacier instead of paying the $140 to go on the glacier for a day. I would have loved to go on the hike but I am trying to budget my adventures since there is too much down here to do, sadly all expensive. It started raining after my hour hike to the top of the lookout and on my way down it was interesting to see that only after ten minutes of rain the creek level had noticeably risen and had become a murky brown from its crystal clear appearance ten minutes early. I high tailed it out of there cause I had one more crossing to do and wanted to do it quick before more rain came down. I got some spectacular photos though and many good memories along the way. From there I drove to a famous Lake, whose name I currently forget, hiked around it before driving to Franz Josef. I arrived after dark so I will wait till tomorrow to see it before I head off to Christchurch to meet up with a friend from the U of A. I will then head north and make my way to Nelson, Picton and area before jumping to the north island.

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