Blogs from Wanaka, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 4

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Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Wanaka October 6th 2014

October 6 – This morning David and I said goodbye to Brian and Diane. The morning sky was beautiful today with some interesting cloud formations over the mountains. David said his goodbyes quickly and went off to catch the moment … an hour later he returned, and I was still saying goodbye. In such a short time, we had become good friends. We may be separated by vast oceans, but I know we will see them again someday. We took a little drive in the morning. The weather was not great, so we bought a few groceries for supper, and returned to our condo and caught up on a few things: writing, processing photos, and sleep. In the evening, we slid into a hot tub.... read more
Washed up
Shining Lake
Brilliant Colors!

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Wanaka October 4th 2014

October 4 – Our first day in Wanaka was spent touring the area with Brian and Diane who seemed to know just about every nook and cranny! I wish I had taken a notebook, because it was impossible to remember everything they told me! They own a crib (cabin) on Lake Hawea which is very close to Lake Wanaka that they rent out. They spent many summers here, and as Brain declared, "This is our back yard!” We met another of Brian and Diane’s friends for coffee. Don recently took a job as a warden at Aspiring Hut in Mt. Aspiring National Park . (I don’t think this is the kind of hut that people like me inhabit, it’s for mountain-goat people like our New Zealand friends.) Don’s done search and rescue in the past, and ... read more
Coffee with the 'Mountain Man'
Fabulous Skies!
Lake Wanaka

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Wanaka September 4th 2014

Setting off with Danielle and two friends of hers, we completed a 5hr return hike. We hiked alongside a river, passing through tussock, mountain beech forest, and V shaped valleys, before arriving at our destination, the Fern Burn Hut, where we had a picnic, and then made the journey back. Highlights: Beautiful beech forest Hiking in a small team Diverse terrain crossed - dense beech forest, deserted V shaped valleys and views of the raw, ragged snowy peaks around us ... read more
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Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Wanaka August 30th 2014

Every morning, after a 30 minute shuttle ride, including a 10 minute climb, i arrive at work, at Treble Cone. I usually arrive 30 minutes before the start of work, so i take the opportunity to look at the stunning view, in the crisp morning air. First, the sky lightens, and a pink shadow emerges above the pristinely groomed white slopes. Then, the whole sky becomes a beautiful baby blue, as the pink dissapears, and the sun emerges from behind the raw, ragged mountain range and comes gliding over the lake below. That's when i close my eyes, and allow for a few seconds to absorb the first streaks of sun into my body. The warmth it brings in the crisp morning air is unique, and so energizing. After pacing up and down the freshly groomed ... read more
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Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Wanaka July 17th 2014

Vandaag zijn we aangekomen bij Dave Julian aka DJ. Eerlijk gezegd waren we vooraf niet volledig op ons gemak. Het zit waarschijnlijk in onze Vlaamse genen om onvoorwaardelijke gastvrijheid in twijfel te trekken. Die gevoelens bleken volledig onterrecht .We werden wel hartelijk ontvangen, voorgesteld aan heel het gezin en kregen elk een Stella in de handen geduwd. We hadden zelf ook een boel Stella meegebracht ter bedanking uiteraard. Het weer was schitterende die dag ==> BBQ for lunch. Dave bracht ons met zijn JEEP omhoog de bergen in langs onverharde wegen waar onze jucy cabana op zou sterven. We stopten een het white horse monument, het hoogste punt in die regio. Het uitzicht daar was buitengewoon, we konden bijna Christchurch zien liggen. Daarna was het tijd voor pool, darts, shooting en stella. Topdag.... read more

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Wanaka May 3rd 2014

So, die Überschrift klingt ja schon mal vielversprechend. Auch ich weiß, als ich mich von Fox Glacier nach Süden aufmache, dass mich ein Wunderland der Berg- und Seelandschaften erwarte. Besonders das Weltkulturerbe im Fiordland National Park will ich auf gar keinen Fall verpassen. Leider ist es auch die regenreichste Region des Landes und es gehört ein wenig Glück dazu, diese wunderbare Landschaft im Trockenen genießen zu können. Von Fox Glacier trampe ich nach Haast, benannt nach dem Bonner Forscher Julius von Haast, der auch verantwortlich ist für den merkwürdigen Namen Franz Josef weiter nördlich im Ortsnamen. Er ist einer der wichtigsten Europäer gewesen, wenn es um die Entdeckung Neuseelands auf naturwissenschaftlichem Gebiet geht. Doch eines haben Julius von Haast und ich gemeinsam: Ich kann mir kaum vorstellen, dass er die Sandfliegen gern hatte. Wenn ich ... read more
Lake Hawea vom State Highway 6
Makarora
Mount Aspiring/Tititea

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Wanaka March 13th 2014

Wednesday 12th March - Lyn up early at the crack of dawn with her camera. Great sunrise, great sightings of a NZ Falcon, the moment was shared with a young French girl. Breakfast then back along the 6km gravel road towards Wanaka and the I-Site. Clear blue skies so Tony booked up to go paragliding from Triple Cone Peak (at a 1,000 metres it's the highest commercial paragliding site in NZ). Flight not until 3.30 so drove to Diamond Lake for an hour's climb up to the Wanaka Lookout. Eat our sandwiches at the top, chatted to a Shropshire farmer who appeared over the brow, then back down towards Triple Cone. Arrived just as our French girl's partner was landing. Tony all ready to go - alas the wind had got up and it was too ... read more
Our neighbours at Kidds Bush
Tony's view of Lyn when we start walking
The Summit

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Wanaka February 18th 2014

Donderdag 13 Februari 2014: Ik heb de wekker gezet om 7u30 om vroeg aan de dag te beginnen. Vandaag heb ik de Haast Pas op het programma, het zal echter 50km duren voor ik deze bereik. In men kamergenoten zit nog niet veel beweging. Net voor ik de backpackers verlaat zie ik de Australische fietsers nog even, zij gaan vandaag halfweg van mijn geplande rit. Mijn eerste 50 kiloeter zijn relatief vlak. Ik rijd langs de Haastrivier, als je naar de rivierbedding kijkt, is de rivier een fractie wat hij kan zijn. Langs weerzijde van de weg zijn de bergflanken bedekt met bos. De wolken hangen laag en geven mooi fotomateriaal. De zon probeert erdoor te komen wat voor helder opflankeringen zorgt. Het lijkt als of een Goddelijke entiteit de vallei aanschouwt. Her en der ontspringen ... read more
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Blue Pools

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Wanaka December 12th 2013

This morning we were up and out to head to the bungee site at Kawarau Bridge. This was the first commercial bungee site in the world that opened in 1988, and was a 43 metre drop. It definitely didn't float my boat, nor Laura's , and as Gareth and Michelle did it when they were here 2 years ago, Daryl and Rhyd decided someone had to do it. It was a great facility, with a big screen in the cafe/shop area so you could watch each person hovering on the edge of the bridge before diving in. The boys paid their money and had the big weigh before heading down to bungee. The viewing area was great, and it was good to watch everyone pluck up the courage-some of the girls were so nervous but still ... read more
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Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Wanaka November 27th 2013

Wednesday 27th November, 2013. Wanaka, Ripon Valley & Wanaka Lake Outlet Track Walk At the Youth Hostel in Wanaka we had a double room in a chalet with one other double bedroom, sharing kitchenette and bathroom and lounge facilities. The night before last were sharing with a couple of honeymooners from Shanghi. She spoke good English but he had very little. Last night was a New Zealaner calle Anton but we didn't see much of him. We had breakfast of Wheetbix, toast tea/coffee and juice an then we had to pack up our stuff as tonight we would be moving rooms as ours was booked up. This was a RESULT though as we had been upgraded to a posher room with private facilities and TV. However we couldn't check in to the new room until 2 ... read more
12. Wine Tasting at Ripon Valley Vineyard
25. The Clutha River (Lake Wanaka Outlet)
23. D on the Outlet Track




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