http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , New Zealand , South Island en-us Wed, 22 May 2013 21:26:30 +0000 Wed, 22 May 2013 21:26:30 +0000 DunedinDunedin or 39Edinburgh of the South39 is an easy going city port on the edge of the Otago peninsula. The city is centred around 39The Octagon39 a thriving area with many inviting cafs bars and restaurants. Not that either of us are experts in Scottish culture but we didn39t really see the apparent striking resemblance to Edinburgh. Venturing into 39The Scottish Souven http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Mount-Cook-National-Park/blog-786032.html WanakaWanaka was our favourite place in New Zealand so far with the town nestled on the edge of the stunning lake Wanaka hedged in by the Aspiring Mountains on all sides. It reminded us of Lake Taupo but with a larger and more interesting town centre full of thriving coffee shops and bars overlooking the lake.You always get a better first impression when the sun is shining... and you also have a http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Queenstown/blog-785738.html The West CoastAfter a long drive from Abel Tasman we arrived in Westport where we had originally planned to spend the day. We realised very quickly that there was actually very little to see or do there....its never a good sign when the girl in the information office has to think for a minute before halfheartedly suggesting a half hour walk. Seeing as it was a bit of a miserable day we decided http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Fox-Glacier/blog-785694.html Goodbye NewZealand.The time has come to say goodbye to this extraordinarily beautiful island. It had to end some time. I had the most wonderful 10 days here. Being an English speaking country made it all that more easier and enjoyable as you could talk to locals and understand the commentaries much better. I was very skeptical about going on a tour with Haka Tours as it was targeting a younger gro http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Christchurch/blog-785560.html Trans Alpine Railway and Kaikoura.We left Franz Joseph by 0900 hours after collecting the video of the Kayak session. Our aim was to get to Greymouth by 1300 hrs. On the way we stopped at a few view points to see some waterfalls a bridge where you could get a magnificent view of the snow capped moutains and again at a sea side supposed to be a surfers paradise only a couple of people surfing. http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Kaikoura/blog-785559.html Saturday 20th April Day 17 Lake Taupo to Rotorua 81km 49 miles. Rotorua is famous for its massive surface area of boiling springs and volcanic gases impressive mineral pools with a range of natural colours mud pools and steaming fumaroles and of course the smell of sulphur. About 90 of the tourist industry is centred in this area an area of volcanic activity dating back thousand http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-785558.html Wanaka and France Joseph Glacier.As predicted Sunday was a white wash. All the plans made by Burto for kayaking horse riding sky jump etc all had to be cancelled. It rained almost nonstop all day. There was no point even driving up the hills to have a good view of Wanaka as the low clouds almost obliterated the view. He changed plans quickly and we went to see the Puzzle World an assortment o http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Franz-Josef/blog-784999.html My life from October 8 2012 May 7 2013Explored Waiheke Island on foot with a hilarious Canadian Christie and a gorgeous German Max and drank wine out of the bottle with two Maoris on the beachRented a car with my favorite Canadian Christie and cruised through the North IslandSpent a full day in the Taupo and Rotorua hospitals after having the hood of our rental car fall on my headKayake http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-784652.html I went to Nelson on a complete whim Christie heard it was amazing and was the sunniest place in NZ. I heard that and I was in. I had no plans coming into NZ. I did a little bit of research before coming but I didn39t want to choose the places I would stay beforehand. Back home I am such a planner so I wanted to just go with it here get right into the chill Kiwi lifestyle. The flight from A http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Nelson-Region/Nelson/blog-784645.html Monday 15th April Day Twelve Hanmer Springs to Picton 289km 174 miles along the Alpine Pacific Triangle Route to the terminal for the ferry across the Cook Strait to Wellington on the North Island.We come across a NZ traffic jam sheep filling up the highway as they move from one field to another guided by several sheep dogs. We wait for them to pass and travel on.Our climb is long and stee http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-784586.html Sunday 14th April Day Eleven Westport to Hanmer Springs 220km 132 miles. Today as we cross the centre of the country we see tiny birds flying in an out of the ferns along the roadsides. There are numerous creeks many of them named such as Frying Pan Creek or Cockney Creek. The roads are narrow with many switchbacks up an down the mountains occasionally going into one lane as we http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-784576.html Dear allAfter my last message we stayed the night in Kaikoura and then left the next morning to head for Hanmer Springs. We arrived there and the small little town was packed solid as it was Saturday. We spent the day exploring the small town and enjoying the beautiful sun. Sunday morning we got up early and went to the springs. They are natural volcanic hot springs that range in temperature from http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Christchurch/blog-784528.html Saturday 13th April late afternoonWe see tall ferns growing by the wayside snow on mountaintops very lowlying clouds and strange birds.On to Dolomite Pancake Rocks and blowholes lying between Greymouth and Westport. This is a sight not to be missed where the waves have created amazing blowholes and flat pancake like rocks have formed in the limestone and sandstone where the waves crash into http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-784207.html Saturday 13th April Day Ten Franz Josef to Westport 281km 169 miles continuing up Hwy 6 along the Tasman Sea coastline where vast and muddy deltas head out to the Tasman Sea past Hokitika the Jade Capital of the World and a delightful tourist town with Opossum and Pauna shops known elsewhere as abalone shell. This is also dairy country where a high percentage of dried milk product http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Hokitika/blog-784202.html Queenstown and Activities Once in Queenstown as most activities were cancelled due to inclement weather all we could do was to go out familiarize ourselves with the town get back have dinner and get ready for the trip to Milford Sound early tomorrow. Queens town is little picturesque town on the lake Wakatipu but more importantly it has become the center of activities for tourist. There are num http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Queenstown/blog-784136.html Christchurch and Lake Tokapi There was small delay in the connection at Sydney. There were only a couple of flights to Christchurch. I was booked on a 1930 flight with a flight time of three hours. With the time difference of two hours I landed in Christchurch at 0030hrs. With the fog at the airport it was a touch and go affair the first landing had to be aborted. But then it seem to have lifted http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Christchurch/blog-784135.html Dear allSince I last wrote we have left Pohara Beach and driven back over the crazy mountain I call it a huge mountain but its known as a hill here Anyway the drive was fine and we headed to Nelson for our 2 nights in a motel. The motel was walkable from the city centre which was much easier than staying on a campground and driving in each day. Not that Nelson is huge but parking a campervan is http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Nelson-Region/blog-784078.html Friday 12th April Day Nine Wanaka to Franz Josef 288km 173 miles. This is glacier country. A gorgeous morning sunny and bracing. The west coast is very different from the east. Today we cross 28 one way bridges pass craggy rocks and high mountains blue and green pools rivers waterfalls and lakes and eventually enter Glacier country to view both Fox and Franz Josef glaciers but sadly o http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Franz-Josef/blog-783806.html In the afternoon of 11th April we drive a distance of 30km from Queenstown to Kawarau Bridge the original spot where bungy jumping started. It is impossible not to stop and watch in awe at the people who want to bungy jump from the top of the bridge and hang upside down waiting to be picked up in a dingy. The zip line is a new attraction but we opt for neither this time and maybe neverPassing n http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/blog-783800.html Fandag mogtun wu Firlu hellupun met kookun. Wu haddun heul veul sin in pannunkoekkun maar Firlu sei dat wu dat niet kondun bakkun want su hat geen bloem. pe sei dat hij wel un bloemutju kon plukkun. Su hebbun heule mooju hier op du kemping ooranju en geul. Mar Firlu sei dat ut wittu bloemmun moestun sijn en die hebbun su hier niet. Dat fondun wu wel jammur want pannunkoekkun sijn heul lekkur http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Nelson-Region/Nelson/blog-783766.html