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Published: August 11th 2007
SC sliding
Sliding at the Antarctic Centre, Christchurch, in the Antarctic storm simulatorHello all!
We have decided we deserved a day off so today is just that. Also we arrived in Franz Josef yesterday and it hasnt stopped raining, sometimes torentially, since then. We thought rather than getting very wet on the glacier we would have a rest from driving and walking and do our blog instead to keep you guys up to date.
We arrived in New Zealand last friday and collected our van....which was much bigger than it should have been. We investigated Christchurch that day and stayed the night. First thing on Saturday we went to the Antartic centre which has been rated as New Zealands top visitor attraction twice. In fairness it was really good. Thy have a room there where they simulate a polar storm, and add some massive fans for wind chill and it is all pretty cold! In the same room they have a slide made from ice, which if you don't slide fast enough you stick to... moderately amusing having your bottom stuck to the ice.
They also have a group of 17 rescued fairy penguins and we were there in time to see them being fed! They were really really
Penguin
A rescued penguin at the Antarctic centre cute, and so small. We eventually left there and started our journey south. We arrived in Dunedin in the dark and got a little lost trying to find the camp site. (Adam says we weren't lost, but he threw the map when I asked where we were, so we were definately lost to some degree!). We expolored Dunedin and then drove out to the penisula to a penguin reserve, called penguin place. It was really good to see penguins in their natural habitat. We watched them appear in the surf like ducks and then sudenly flip up and waddle up the beach, so funny. These were yellow eyed penguins, which the reserve claimed were the rarest penguins in the world!
The follow day we drove over to Te Anau, which is the nearest town to Milford Sound. The campsite here was excellent...which we have decided is largely down to the friendliness of the staff, shelves in the showers and nice weather. We took a tour to Milford sound, which is actually a Fiord, and Bruce the driver did an excellent job of driving us the two hours through the rainforest to the boat. We went on an encounter cruise
Seal
A Seal on the beach at Otago peninsula, Dunedin which it turned out meant you had the opporunity to get a close encounter to the water falls. the captain also called Bruce, not the same man, found some dolphins and seals and more penguins, and you'll never guess what these are also the rarest penguins in the world! (and not even the same species)
Queenstown (Wednesday) we arranged to go skiing on thursday. I thought I could remember enough skiing know how to teach Adam how to do the basics. It turned out that I forgot some of the details of just how to use the tow rope to the beginners slope and he fell over before we even got to the slope. (my fault). Adam mastered snow plough and some lengthy turns, on the baby slopes. We eventually managed the dizzing heights of the Big Easy (a green run) and he was like bambi on skates (my fault). He only fell over twice but that put an end to the skiing. In fairness the skis looked like they should have been slowing him down, but he just got faster and faster!
Yesterday we drove to Franz Josef and as I said at the start it has
Penguin
Penguins coming up the beach at Penguin Place, Dunedin rained and rained, which we are relaibly informed is because we are in a rain forest area, its strange though because there is no heat here, just rain!
The grand plan is to look at or explore the glacier tomorrow, and drive to Hanmer Springs the day after.
Much love
Steph and Adam
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Anurag
non-member comment
Hola
Great pics- looks like a wonderful place! Newbies welcome do part 2 aug 23rd- we are planning to go out for Mexican. When are you coming back? Guess you dont even want to think about it!!! Keep up the blogging and have a great time. Cheers