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Published: February 16th 2011
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The New Zealand adventure continues with some tramping, cruising, and sea kayaking. Before leaving Queenstown though I did some hiking and, of course I had to go bungy jumping! I chose the 134 m (440ft) Nevis jump (the highest). I had gone once before off a short one in Orlando. It was the same exciting/sick feeling standing on the edge ready to jump. This time, there was a lot more free fall so way more exciting. It was over quick, but the buzz lasted for quite awhile.
Next stop Te Anau to prepare for hiking the Kepler Track. I had planned the trip to get into Te Anau a couple of days early, 1) to drive up to the Milford Sound and do some hiking and 2) watch the Superbowl. I was really hoping that the weather would be great on the Milford day and atrocious on the Superbowl day.....of course it was exactly the opposite. I felt a little guilty being inside a bar watching the game on a beautiful day, but wasn't sure if I would be let back into the country if I didn't. The only good thing about driving up to the Milford Sound area during a
driving/foggy rainstorm was seeing the incredible waterfalls everywhere. I didn't bother going on the boat ride up the sound that time, but did after I got back from the Kepler. It was a nice ride and I met some other travelers to go hiking with after the boat.
I spent three nights hiking the Kepler Track....some people do it in two because the huts are expensive ($50NZ). The weather was nice (only drizzled a bit one day), the views in the forest and alpine were fantastic, and the people I met were super. All and all, a great hike!
The next excursion was a 3 day kayak trip on the Doubtful Sound. Another great adventure and the weather held out. If it wasn't for the sandflies it would have been perfect, but fortunately we had a screened in tent at camp to eat in and sip wine (or goon as wine in a bag is know down here) after a long day in the boat.
I'm off to explore the west coast of the south island!
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Kim
non-member comment
awesome photos
If you don't want to be an engineer when you get back maybe you can be the next Ansel Adams! You have a great eye for photography!