Blogs from Fiordland National Park, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 3

Geo: -44.6698, 167.928It rained all night, but cleared up just as we left Te Anua.A picturesque drive to Milford Sound, stopping along the way for photo opportunities.Thru the tunnel, then down to the Milford Sound Lodge to checkin.A quick lunch then off to our cruise around the Sound!The word that Derek kept repeating was MAJESTIC, nothing else seemed big enough to describe the views around us. Dinner cooked at the camp kitchen, sausages and veggies :-)Another episode if The Voice before bed.... read more

Geo: -45.4151, 167.718Our 4th Sunday without worship ! we were lazy today - this first Sunday that we probably could have found a church somewhere. But we have been constantly praying and praising God for His bounty, that's for sure, and look forward to being at Advent next Sunday!After our usual breakfast of free-range eggs (how can I go back to normal ones?) and marmalade toast, we did some resorting of our packing.Our flight from Queenstown to Auckland is the most restrictive one we face: one bag each can be checked, and can be up to 50, with one carry on each only 15 pounds. So the big case is stuffed, and the bag that's usually a carry on has to be stuffed even more densely. Plus my backpack with delicate things, and David's camera bag. ... read more

Geo: -45.4151, 167.718We woke up to drizzles - and sun - and the most amazing rainbow right outside our place. This provided the perfect greeting for Anna & Mike's anniversary, which hasn't happened yet - ha ha!We wandered over to the Visitor's "I site" and watched the cutest movie about Sirocco the kakapo, a highly endangered forest parrot (about 50 known). Evidently he was abandoned as a chick and imprinted onto humans, so he was considered a "dud" to the breeding program. However, his desire to mate with his human friends caused a video to go viral and he brought so much attention to the conservation cause he became a star!!! Wonderful story :) Check it out.We had to be at the wharf in next town by 11:30, so we grabbed some sandwiches and our overnight ... read more

I continued my descent down the South Island as their were two spots I wanted to get to. Slope Point which is the southern most point on the South Island (I figured since I made it to the northern most point of the North Island, might as well do opposite for the South Island) and also the famed district of Fiordland in the southwest portion of the country. I would fight two battles during this leg of my journey: 1.) The weather and 2.) Trying to process and comprehend the beauty that stood before me and understand the power of nature that sculpted it. My first stop on this segment was a little town called Oamaru of which I had read has a colony of pudgy nightly visitors that live in the hillsides outside of town. ... read more

Par Sylvain : Notre retour au Fjordland, paysages de montagnes sortant de la mer, commence par un aperçu sur les rives du lac Hauroko, le lac le plus profond de nouvelle Zélande. Nous y grimperons pendant une petite randonnée de 3heures pendant laquelle nous rencontrerons un Ruru (sorte de chouette). Après cette petite pause sur notre route, nous arrivons ce mercredi 24 février au soir à Te Anau. C’est une petite ville à l’entrée des fjords. La météo annonçant de la pluie pour les jours à venir, on se fait à l’idée d’attendre ici avant d’être coincés dans les montagnes. Nous passerons donc trois jours complets sous la pluie en regardant une saison de notre série du moment, Homeland. On fera quelques parties de Yathzée et nous passerons quelques heures autour de notre « Bonne Paye ... read more