Day 546 – Te Anua – Milford Sound, New Zealand

Day 546 - 6th December 2006 +13:00 GMT Total Miles 90744

We checked out of Barnyard backpackers and made our way up to Milford Sound stopping at all the scenic lookouts on the way.


Lake Te Anua


Lake Te Anua


A Mountain Vista


The Mirror Lakes


The Mirror Lakes


The Mirror Lakes

We also stopped at the Chasm which is a really powerful waterfall that has eroded all the surrounding rock.


James, Matt And Jemma


The Chasm

When we arrived at Milford Sound we had a bite to eat at the café and then we boarded the boat The Milford Wanderer.


Our Boat - The Milford Wanderer


Milford Sound


Milford Sound


Milford Sound

After an hour sail around the sound Jemma and I then went Kayaking which was really good fun although we got eaten alive by sand flies.


Me Kayaking


Me Kayaking

Dinner was then served aboard the boat which was interrupted several times by the sighting of 14 Yellow crested penguins and many fur seals.


Fur Seals


Fur Seals


Yellow Crested Penguins

After dinner we had a game of trivial pursuit with a couple of American girls then called it a night.


Jemma,Matt And James On The Boat

Day 545 – Wanaka – Te Anua, New Zealand

Day 545 – 5th December 2006 +13:00 GMT Total Miles 90651

Checked out from the purple cow hostel and then visited Stuart Landborough’s puzzling world.


View Over Lake Wanaka


View Over Lake Wanaka


Stuart Landboroughs Puzzling World

We managed to do the maze in less than 45 minutes and then wandered around the museum seeing the moving faces, the 3d holograms and the other puzzling sites.


Matt And James In The Maze


The Maze

We then drove south stopping at Arrowtown for some lunch and a look around.


Arrowtown


Looking Towards Queenstown


We then drove to Kelvin Heights golf club in Queenstown so Matt could buy his dad a golf shirt and then onwards to Te Anua.


Reflection Over Queenstown Lake

We stopped and did some food shopping before checking into the hostel 9km south of Te Anua. We had a wooden chalet overlooking the lakes and valleys. I did my washing and played pool for most of the night.


James, Matt And I Outside our Chalet


View From Chalet


View From Chalet


Deer

Day 544 – Franz Josef – Wanaka, New Zealand

Day 544 – 4th December 2006 +13:00 GMT Total Miles 90527

Woke up to my mobile ringing, which was Jill telling me that a friend of ours in the UK had died of cancer. James and I both new Trace and were very upset and shocked by the news. We checked out late and made out way to Fox Glacier, we walked the trail to the face of the glacier and this one you could get a lot closer to.


Fox Glacier


The Four Of Us At Fox Glacier


A Kea

We carried on south for 4 hours stopping at Knights point to take a photo of the view and also at a little café for lunch which seemed to glamorise hunting by having pictures of people chasing and slaughtering pigs.


A Mountain Vista


View From Knights Point

We arrived in Wanaka around 4pm and had a wander around the town and took some photos at the lake front. Jemma and I cooked a Bolognese for all of us and then we headed to the local cinema which is unique by having the seats as Sofa’s and Lazy-Boys and even a VW Beetle to sit in while watching the film. We saw the film Flags of our Fathers which was pretty awful and matt even fell asleep (can’t blame him sofa’s were comfy).


Wanaka Cinema

Day 543 – Punakaiki – Franz Josef, New Zealand

Day 543 – 3rd December 2006 +13:00 GMT Total Miles 90353

Checked out the beach hostel at 10am and drove south to Franz Josef which is the glacier region of New Zealand. The drive took about 3.5 hours and we had a quick stop in Hokitika so James could buy some Jade for Elle (his girlfriend).


Hokitiki


One way Bridge Shared With Cars And Trains

When we arrived we checked into Motel style accommodation we had our own TV and kitchen area and en-suite bathroom. We headed out immediately to get some food at the local café and then onto visiting the Franz Josef glacier. Jemma was very excited as she was a geography student and had never seen a real glacier. The weather was miserable and there was a sign after the forest area saying danger flooding only pass this point if you are an experienced guide. Like everyone else we ignored this and proceeded to the face of the glacier. We had to cross many little rivers and it was ok fine for most of us, only James stepped in and got his feet wet.


Franz Josef Glacier


Matt, Jemma And James


Climbers On The Glacier

There was huge blocks of ice along the riverbed which had obviously fallen from the glacier. After we had seen the glacier we made our way back to the hostel. We spent the next hour in the spa there and then spent the evening chatting and watching the TV which seemed a privilege for me, as I don’t own a TV in New Zealand.

Day 542 – Nelson – Punakaiki, New Zealand

Day 542 – 2nd December 2006 +13:00 GMT Total Miles 90179

We said goodbye to Nora and the four of us made our way south in the car to Punakaiki. The drive was around 4 hours and we stopped at Westport for some fuel and to do a bit of food shopping. On route we passed New Zealands longest swing bridge, so we had to stop and pay the $5 charge to walk over it, we also walked around the nature trail and amused ourselves with the rusted vehicles.


New Zealands Longest Swing Bridge


The Suspension Bridge


Jemma In A Truck


We arrived in Punakaiki around 4pm and after checking into the Beach Hostel we walked the short track of the Truman Trail which takes you through some fauna and then onto a few beaches where the cliffs are eroded.


The Beach At The End Of The Truman Trail


The Coastline


Matt And Jemma


James Showing The Expanse Of The Erosion

After the walk we then drove down the road to the Pancake Rocks which is what Punakaiki is famous for.


Matt, James And Jemma


The Pancake Rocks


The Pancake Rocks

We then headed back to the hostel and Matt, James and I then went to the local bar and restaurant for some food, which was over prices and not too good. We spent the evening chatting in our room.