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Published: April 13th 2009
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After a spare day in Queenstown (during which it pelted with ran all day) the group met for another final night. Steve (who seemed like the entertainment co-ordinator and fellow photo enthusiast) was leaving. We had a few drinks in a beautiful bar with open fires that was attached to a micro-brewery. When I’d lived in Glasgow I had a micro-brewery almost next door. I never took the time to go in for the tasting platter so I took the opportunity to do it here, and most people followed suit. There were 7 beers to taste, everything from lagers and pale ales to alcoholic ginger ales and dark Guinness-esque beers. It was a lovely little indulgence.
Our depleted Stray group headed out on another Stray bus for the 3 night Southern loop tour the next morning with new driver Daisy (a bloke). Milford Sound was the destination today. To be brutally honest I’d enjoyed New Zealand so far but the country was lacking in ‘wows’ for me. The wows had mostly come from the activities rather than the scenery or wildlife but I’d heard so many great reports about Milford I had my fingers crossed for a big wow moment.
The weather was glorious as we left Queenstown but it wasn’t long before the rain started. It was pretty chilly when we stopped for a break at Te Anau and just across the lake we could see that the hills opposite were snow topped. The rounded hills turned to craggy mountains, the rivers flowed glassy clear waters, the rain continued and the hats and scarves came out.
It was still pelting as we arrived at the quay for the boat trip along Milford Sounds, quite literally a grey day; grey skies and clouds framing the grey mountains leading to the grey sea. It sounds miserable but it was a dramatic sight. We ran onto the boat, grabbed a quick sandwich then braved the open top deck for the best views. It was bitterly cold and wet but almost everyone was snapping away on deck. We cruised along the cliffs and gazed up to the countless lines of water lining the grey of the rock face from the heavy rains. The waterfalls themselves were truly impressive. The sheer volume of water surged out, projecting the waterfalls in a roaring white torrent out into the water. My camera began to
give up on me. I was intent on getting some pictures despite the rain and spray from the waterfalls. It started fogging and slowing but I kept snapping hoping it would right itself when it dried. I was soaked and chilled as the boat neared port on the return journey but delighted at the dramatic scenery New Zealand has offered.
As we drove off to our accommodation in Tuatapre, we stopped briefly at Te Anau again for supplies. I couldn’t believe it but I bumped into Graham who I’d met on the Trans-Mongolian train trip! It really is a small world! It was dark when we arrived at the hostel, the rooms were cold and I was feeling more tired than usual. I heated a can of soup for tea, gave the hostel cat a cuddle then headed off to bed and slept well.
We made it to Invercargill by lunchtime the next day, a large but characterless town in the deep south of New Zealand. I used the free time to catch up and grab a few hours by myself. As much as I’d enjoyed travelling with the group I was missing having a bit of time
to myself and I think the others were feeling the same too. I sat most of the afternoon blogging in the tv room of the hostel watching movies. Bliss.
Dunedin was the destination for our final night on the deep south tour. Along the way we paused to look for penguins (didn’t see any) and dolphins (none of these either). It was a lovely afternoon pausing for photo opportunities and walking to lighthouses on the coast. It was late when we arrived in Dunedin. I’d heard it was a very Scottish place but apart from the place names (Corstorphine and Rosyln to name 2,) the Scottishness of the place escaped me. I declined the brewery tour and went out for dinner with a few of the guys from the bus then another early night.
Unfortunately since it was Good Friday the next day the scheduled tour of the Cadbury’s was cancelled. I think I would have been disappointed with it anyway, I would’ve secretly wanted to see Umpaloompas and we all know they work in a different factory. Before leaving Dunedin though, we paused to get some pictures on Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world. The
scenery was glorious on the way back to Queenstown, snowy hilltops framed each of the bus windows. Queenstown was just as pretty as before. The sun was shining down on this lovely little Alpine town highlighting the lake and mountains surrounding it. We checked into the hostel and nipped out for the perfect Fergburger.
After all my early nights I was ready for tomorrow, I do love a birthday don’t you?
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