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Published: March 16th 2005
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Abel Tasmin
View of the beach we were dropped off at after a morning on a catermeran taking a gentle stroll back to the 'Old McDonalds Farm' (Hostel/Farm we were staying at)Stunning scenery yet again! Hi everyone!
We are back to fill you in on the past week or so's adventures exploring this breathtaking island .. so kick back relax and enjoy!
We left you in Wellington or rather we left 'us' in Wellington.. from there we took the 3 hour crossing to the ferry port of Picton. From here it was straight on to the bus, and after a quick stop to pick up the bags that fell out of the open boot onto the carpark, we resumed our journey to the Abel Tasman region (NW tip) via our fist stop - Wine Tasting time! Always a good way to start the day when at about 10.00am someone offers you 8 bottles of wine to 'sample'. Good fun and intersting too. Needless to say that the remaining 2 hours to Marahau, Abel Tasman, was as giggly as a school trip...
The West coast of NZ is a different kettle of fish to the rest of NZ. 2 tectonic plates meet about 30km inland from the coast and create 'the Southern Alps' running north to south. The weather patterns head over OZ, get heated, arrive at the west coast and the Alps, rise,
On the Farm .. Ooo Arrr!
Feeding the Lama's at the Farm. Shortly after this photo was taken Chid got spat at much to my amusement! hit the colder weather, and consequently drop SH*T loads of Rain. Just to give you an idea the east coast gets 200-400mm of rain per year and the west coast gets 7 - 10 'metres' per year! (England gets about 2-3 metres per year) Some of the places we will mention rain on average for 265 days per year!
Time to put the Flip-Flops away....
Abel Tasman is mainly National Park, so you can imagine the scenary there. Again, a mix of islands, caves, coves and bays. We did a half day sail that dropped you off at your 'own' beach - nice..
Having said that, the accomodation here left a bit to be desired, and when 30 of us turned up in the pouring rain at about 8.30pm, starving, and found the kitchen had 2 hobs, 3 pans, 1 broken toaster and no cutlery things became a little tense between the normally 'friendly' group...
From here we headed south to mid NW coast, via a place called 'Barrytown' - apart from a good sunset and a few nice walks the name sums up the rest - we left quickly..!
Next stop, Franz Josef. One of 2
Franz Josef Glacier
The walk up to the glacier .. very deceiving appeared to be 10 mins away and took 1 hour to just to arrive at the bottom. 'Glacier Towns', this was discovered by an Austrian and named after the Belgian King at the time - not a bad idea as it earned him a knighthood!
The pictures give you an idea but this is another phenomena that really has to be seen 'in the flesh' to be believed. Immense is a good word. We walked, complete with crampon's and pick's, about 3km's of it, could see another 6km, and that was the 'tongue' of a 35km sq area at the top. 300 metres thick in places and moving at a rate of anything between 1 and 7 metres per day! Franz Josef and Fox (30km south) are 2 of only about 4 glaciers in the world that actually flow to meet temperate rainforest's at their 'terminal face's'.
Another amazing activity, and pretty hairy at times. Rock falls from above and 20ft drops are par for the course. Thing's like this would just be a health and safety no-go back home - we seem to lack a distinct sense of adventure under our 'ever-caring' (a-hum) government..
We left Franz Josef and drove through Fox on our way to Queenstown. We made a stop at a town called
Franz Josef Glacier
One of the 'early bird' guides ice picking out some steps for us! Haast for the night. Not much to report here, although due to a dormatory situation which we never quite understood we swapped our bunks with the tour guide for the use of his caravan - bonus!
At times travelling around the north we met people that had come up from the south and they kept going on about the scenery - they were right - everywhere you drive on the west coast is just stunning. You can fully understand why they chose this place for Lord of the Rings - it looks like the land that time forgot - mountains, forests, waterfalls and blue and green lakes everywhere - bute-iful.
We arrived in Queenstown and were instanly hit by the feel of this place - not only aesthetically, but in the people and the mood as well. Positioned on the side of a lake, with residences climbing away up the hills behind, Queenstown is a favourite of everyone you meet.
We planned on 4 days here to take a bit of a break from the constant packing and unpacking. Bars were great, shops good and activities plentiful. We saw 2 of the 3 'Hackett' bungy jumps (and did
Franz Josef Glacier
We made it!! Our view at the top for the lunch stop none I might add). We didn't get to the 134m / 400ft! 'Nevis' bungy though..
For some bizarre reason I'd started to think about Rosie and her bravery 10 days earlier when she jumped from 12000ft out of a perfectly good plane. Even though I've always called Olly, Jay and Hazza idiots (well a bit more than that actually) for doing it, and even Rose come to think of it - I started to consider the thought.
2 days later I was sat staring out of the door as we climbed to the jump height.. 10 minutes later I was hugging Rosie on terra firma and thanking the Lord for sparing my life (a little dramatic I know - but it felt the right thing to do!).
I won't try and explain the feeling - you can probably guess - suffice to say, WOW...
As some of you will know I have a bit of a coaching background, so we got 8 of us together and entered the weekly 6-aside comp - with me at the helm.
We came last and didn't score a goal...good job I've packed in by the looks of things..
We could have
Franz Josef Glacier
Squeezing through a narrow gap in the ice .. Bbbbrrrrr! stayed in Queenstown for a couple of weeks, but time to move on...
With only a week or so to go in NZ we'll write just one more blog for the rest..
Hope this blog finds you all well and good back home and 'don't be shy - find time to reply'.
Thanks for taking a coffee break for us - catch you soon..
Love Rosie and Rich x x x
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