http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , New Zealand , South Island , Central Otago , Wanaka en-us Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:43:31 +0000 Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:43:31 +0000 A cheap shot but who can resist taking the puss out of the keewee accint It's not so easy in fact well nigh impossible to be cynical concerning the South Island's environmental backdrops. For a bloke normally averse to sitting behind the wheel I've taken quite a shine to slowly cruising amongst New Zealand's majestic alpine scenery. Every bend in the road leads to the requisite oohs and aahs f http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-378895.html So we were in Wanaka from February 1012th and had a fairly relaxing time. Wanaka is a gorgeous town because it's set in the valley next to a giant lake and it's surrounded by mountains. We didn't do too much while we were there because we were recuperating from all of our activities in Franz Josef. The night we arrived we walked around the town and then had a group bbq with the people on our bus http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-374003.html With heater running all night we awoke next morning to a warm comfortable motorhome. That was until I opened the door and stepped outside onto a layer of lovely white fresh snow and the temperature touching around minus three degrees. Even though it was so cold the sun was shining bright causing the snow to melt very quickly. With such a beautiful morning we were anxious to get on the road ea http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-316357.html My brother asked to see a picture of the car Sophie and I bought for 800. Here it is.Last week we also went on an unbelievable 3 day kayak experience on the Doubtful Sound. I used a waterproof camera nondigital. It rained every day we were there and there was even snow on the tops of the mountains to 700m. Luckily we didn't get snowed upon but I will tell you it was very cold. Still we h http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-140050.html Yesterday I moved in to a house to live with Sophie who I've been travelling with and Bruce the gardener at the hotel. We're looking forward to lots of barbecues and finally getting to cook in a real kitchen. That was the one thing we lacked when Sophie and I were living at the hotel. No kitchen. So we are going to bake lots and lots of delicious muffins.Bruce lives on All Nations Road named a http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-133178.html My first real New Zealand hike is one of my favorites so far. This was the hike with the 5 fords on the dirt road to the trail head and my famous and inspiring friend Traci from Alaska and another girl Leah from Canada a born again Christian engaged to be married upon her return to the states described in a previous email. The weather was a bit cloudy and we missed a lot of the views on the way http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-119783.html Check out the views. No cotswolds but awesome nonetheless http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-69995.html Finding Matt MarshallMatt came to New Zealand to find himself. I love that. Now although Matt hasn't directly said that out loud you just know it. What he did say was I don't know what I want to do or where I'm going.. blah...blah..blah... at this point most people including myself shut off. It's a defensive mechanism that saves everyone a lot of time and heartache. We get the idea Matt.But http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-46960.html The day i rolled out of Queenstown i was enlightened a bit.Talked that morning with this crazy hard core ecochallenge guy a local. He told me of crazy endurance challenge races the south island has to offer. I am out of luck on some but there is one he likes to do by himself that is an absolute challenge. With an early start you have the way to yourself. At the turnaround spot you have one http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-43205.html CauteUz je tu februar asi aj u vas Tu sa detom skoncili letne prazdniny a nastupuju do skoly tak vsade citame hesla Back to school a pod. My sme sa presunuli z Queenstownu do Glenorchy kde je zaciatok vela znamych chodnikov vela z nich vedie udolim a to nas nebavia tak sme si vybrali tie co vedu po kopcoch alebo aspon na nejaky kopec. Tak sme navstivili Mt. Alfred z ktoreho je paradny vy http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-40634.html today has been a day of rest recovery errands email and a short hike. meesh and i decided in the afternoon to go for a walk....we ended up with amazing views of mt aspiring from the top of a very short hill. it took us an hour or so to get to the top no stopping much sweating. we walked amoung sheep and shrubs giving the funny feeling that we were in an alpine zone....though it was clear http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-38655.html meesh and i recently took three days in the woods....away from civilization. we needed it. we hiked part way up the copland valley which is surrounded by the huge mountain ranges on either side. the 'welcome flat hut' near where we camped is known for its thermal pools....we thought a good place to go and relax for a couple days. we packed our bags and tramped for 17km's up the valley. the tr http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-38653.html Hi everyoneLast time I promised pictures of glaciers and here they are. Quickly first though we did a little day hike around Lake Matheson. It's a famous spot for viewing Aoraki Mount Cook the tallest point in the country. Nearby is Mount Tasman. Both are named after major European explorers who helped discover of New Zealand.January 26th marked Caitlin's 23rd birthday and her first in New Zea http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-38563.html Det gar inte lang tid innan det borjar klia under fotsulorna efter en ny vandring och vi har hittat annu ett bergspass som vi vill klattra over. Vi beger oss darfor till turistorten Wanaka som ligger vackert vid en sjo och har Mount Aspiring National Park nara. Nu har det dock borjat regna lite igen och darfor avrader informationsbruden fran att borja klattra annu.Vi avvaktar vaderrapporterna et http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-33851.html We are in Wanaka and summer has arrived It has been hot for the last 2 days and we have been to the beach and I actually got to wear shorts We have also had 2 BBQs. We went to Puzzle World this morning which was such fun although Tim took the maze VERY seriously Instead of having to get to the middle you had to visit each of the four corners. There was a different coloured tower in each one. We http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-31984.html Wanaka just north of Queenstown. We stopped here for a couple of nights. After whiling away an hour or two in the maze at Puzzling World on the first day it was time for the main event Canyoning. This involves abseiling sliding clambering and jumping your way down steep a steep river canyon. Following a 40 minute uphill walk and tales of bungy horrors abroad .The photos have been selected http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-31728.html 30.11.05We thought we would let you know our general daily routine. We get up at about 8am have our showers. Andy then tidies the van and wakes the van up to make sure it starts whilst I make lunch and breakfast. Andy comes and joins me and he has his toast 4 slices and a cup of tea whilst I have cereal and a cup of water and we sit outside to eat as it is now sunny most of the time. I then pac http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-29390.html Or We Hiked Up Hill For ThisSo it's bloody early and we stopped for breakfast at the Wrinkly Rams. When you're in Omarama New Zealand you can't be too picky about the cafe's name. You're just thankful someone showed up to open the doors. Along with some fine looking pastries are some savory items for breakfast including a delectable pile of fatty goodness called a toasty. It's a squar http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-28151.html Well after spending I few days in Christchurch I am back in Wanaka. The bus trip yesterday was horrible because the driver felt the need to talk about the hydroelectricity situation in New Zealand full stop. Very annoying especially when all I wanted to do was get a nice nap in. The weather here in Wanaka is beautiful. It is very odd to me that it is November with this kind of weather it should http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-26434.html testing out our journal before we leave http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Central-Otago/Wanaka/blog-25970.html