Blogs from Lake Tekapo, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 16

Hello again. I'm in Mount Cook at the moment, having an afternoon off (!). I had planned to go kayaking on a glacial lake complete with small icebergs etc at the end of a glacier but a tumble this morning when I was out walking has put paid to that. So I have ice on my leg instead of paddling past it. Just cuts and bruises, nothing too disastrous just very sore and a kind woman on reception at the YHA cleaned me up as my attempts were somewhat basic. First aid course when I get home.... A few things have gone awry in the last week or so, just in case you were getting too envious of me having fun ALL the time: I slipped coming out of the shower last week - just a ... read more

I ventured on alone to Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo - the drive from Queenstown was awesome, with some scary bends but stunning scenery changing from lush and green to yellow dry with bright blue lakes. I did a beautiful walk up to a glacial lake in the White Horse area of Mount Cook, the sun shone the whole way (a first for one of my walks) and I got to see glaciers, ice bergs in the lake and all those other glacial features we learnt in geography! Lake Tekapo itself had the gorgeous wee Church of The Good Shepard and a lake but that was pretty much it, so I made the most of the sunshine and relaxed with a book.... read more

In Queenstown. Just culled my photos via hookup onto this computer. Have actually snapped some 300. Have significantly reduced this sum. Have decided this will be a photo essay. More than my words. If I can resist... But what I will say, mmm, too much temptation to say too much.... Queenstown overwhelmed me on arrival - it is very tourist orientated - a shame. The view from my hostel, yes, I got the last double bed room available... is fantastic, notwithstanding the ugly plethora of apartments/ motels on the hillside overlooking the lake and mountains to our left... anyway, Deco's Backpackers - me - is up on high, quiet, a peaceful view, reflective moments beckon with the outlook. The scenery today and yesterday was magnificent, awesome, stark, lush, varied, even a bit frightening (the mountain ranges ... read more

We have got the hire car and we are now zooming around New Zealand. We have got a white Nissan Pulsar (which Tim says is the same as an Almera). It seems quite nice to drive although it is an automatic and does not seem to like going up hills that much! As they drive on the left here driving is not too taxing although they have this strange rule that you have to give way to traffic turning right when you are turning left. This has not really been an issue as there seems to be hardly any cars on the road. We hardly passed any on the 2.5 hour drive here. Lake Tekapo is lovely. It is a lake (surprise, surprise) with mountains in the background and lots of lupins of varying colours in ... read more