Crikey - Liz does a Bungy jump

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Crikey! -Liz does a bungy Jump!!!


Near Queenstown is the birthplace of bungy. We went out just for a look and what do you know but next moment the Sheila’s only gone and leapt 43m into the void.

Well actually we watched some other much younger folk do the real deal and good on them, but not for us thanks. Queenstown was good fun good to socialise with some of the locals, or tourists. Somebody tell Andy Dempster he should get his svelte torso over here and up some of these mountains. The Remarkables are remarkable. We camped at a place called Te Anau where Alan got excited by the sight of some tree ferns on a walk which was part of the famous Kepler track. Apparently the larger ones are very old. Really Alan, how interesting! The jaw dropping scenery got better as we drove out to Milford Sound where the road twists and turns before descending into the sound. It is actually a Fiord not a sound because it was carved by a glacier (fiord) and not a river (sound), but you probably knew that already. 6000ft mountains like Mitre peak rising straight out the water and dwarfing the boat, with penguins and fur seals as the only inhabitants made for a memorable day. We spent the night at a quirky campsite called Hollyford camp where an eccentric guy with a great sense of humour runs the place. I knew we were in a good spot when the sign on the gate said “No Sand flies past this point”. Sand flies are the New Zealand midge equivalent. If you have ever been to Mckirdy’s exhibition on Skye then it’s like that, only a campsite.
We headed to the south coast and wild camped at a place called Monkey Island which we had to ourselves. The Maori used this place as a lookout for whales but sadly a few seals were all we could see. Next day however we struck gold at Curio bay, just east of Invercargill where at sunset yellow eyed penguins came ashore and marched a few feet past us up to their nests in the scrub. The sunset wasn’t half bad either (see Alan’s David Bailey Esq. photos.) Earlier that day we walked along the deserted beach at Waikaika point and encountered some sea lions lazing themselves. Getting too close for comfort Alan assures Liz that “they can’t climb the sand dunes” only for us to climb the dunes and find another lot basking at the information board about sea lions.(how very helpful).
Moving on we went to the lighthouse out at Nugget point, (see photos) then camped up in Kaka point where we had a drink at the local (only) bar. The landlord upon discovering we were Scots, (Liz is now officially Scots, something to do with Princess Anne?) spent an hour telling us he was descended from Orcadians and insisted on chartering our next 6 weeks in New Zealand to see the best sights. Earlier today when we were stopped in the middle of nowhere having a coffee stop an elderly (85 next month apparently) chap stops and is delighted to find us Scottish. His folks came out of Aberdeenshire at the end of the 19th century and he still feels a Scot. People have been wonderfully friendly and delight in asking where we are from and in this region being Scots is top class.

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Photos

Road to Milford Sound
We saw evidence of several previous slides at the roadside

Milford Sound
Mitre peak in the background

Waiting for high tide
Fur seal at Milford Sound

Penguin at Curio bay
Yellow faced penguin

Comments

[Mike and Fiona]

Looks great , guys , scenery spectacular ! Disappointed you didn't do the bungy jump , Alan ! Rugby going OK so far.....! Mike

['er nextdoor,]

Liz does a bungy jump
Fantastic photos!!! I love your little penguin. We were on the Black Isle last week, not quite as spectacular, but good for us, and we got to sit outside in the sunshine, it was very warm (for a while)!! We're off to sunny Scarborough next week for a 're-union', only we're taking the caravan, cos of 'dementure dog'. Lovely to hear your voices on the phone today. Keep enjoying yourselves. Just off down the Den for a wee walkie, I'll miss taking Bran with me!! xxxx