Aotearoa - Land of the Long White Cloud - South Island

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Phew - New Zealand is proving to be just as hectic as Australia. I only had two weeks in the South Island but managed to pack lots in by travelling with the Magic Bus. Loads of sightseeing and activities, mostly involving blue skies, crisp blue ice and snow.

A brief summary:
Christchurch - v English wee city, pretty church and the trams trundling passed
Tranz Alpine train - Christchurch to Greymouth, wet in the East coast...dry by the time we arrived in the West coast...typical NZ weather
Greymouth - visited THE attraction, a tour of Monteiths brewery with LOTS of tastings
Franz Josef - really got to know this glacier. Did a heli-hike AND a full day trek including iceclimbing for the first time. This will be my main memory of the South Island. Amazing experiences and outstanding scenery.
Queenstown - aka party town. As I don't ski or board I did a days snow-shoeing in the Remarkables (and they were!), yet more wonderful scenery. Also visited Minus 5, the ice bar for a brain freeze cocktail, lol.
Milford Sound - great weather along the Milford track and then it POURED it with rain during the boat trip...coulda be anywhere 😞
Dunedin - v Scottish wee city. Weird to be walking along Princes Street and George Street again but realised I wasn't at home as Edinburgh doesn't have a Cadbury's factory. Tour round the factory with lots of freebies 😊
Lake Tekapo - crisp, clear weather round the lake, snowy mountain backdrop but didn't manage to see Mount Cook, shrouded in cloud.
Kaikoura - fab coastal walk and saw lots of seals close up...one a bit closer than I intended, it soon let me know it's presence though.
Picton - Interislander across to Wellington in the North Island.

North Island stories and photos to follow. Meantime, hope you like this selection from the South Island...

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Photos

Pulling a pint
At Monteith's in Greymouth

Aerial view of Franz Josef
From the helicopter!

ICE-CLIMBING
This ain't Alien Rock...

Queenstown
Hidden beneath the Long White Cloud

Snow-shoeing
Where's Gel?

Brain Freeze
In Minus 5, Queenstown

Milford Sound
In the rain :(

In Dunedin...
but Edinburgh is sooooo far away