My last travels have let me to the South Island of New Zealand during
November and December 2013. Here’s my itinerary with annotations and already
some picture. Details on observations will follow soon.
DUS – DXB
Nightflight.
DXB – BKK
Some sights right after the start. India under a veil of clouds. Some
sleep.
BKK – SYD
A beautiful morning across Australia.
SYD – CHK
Nice views of Aotearoa. Especially I liked seeing Mt. Cook / Aoraki and
the West Coast; I could see exactly, where I was going to be on the second half
of the trip.
The mountains merge with the clouds, also to be seen Okarito
CHK – Hillmorton – Halswell – Little River – Takamatua - Akaroa – Flea
Bay
No hassles at the airport. I feared having to drive into the evening,
but light stayed until past 9 p.m. Akaroa is reached by a steep road. It
retains some French flair and some streets still have French names, but I guess
the real reason behind this is tourism. Just went to the supermarket as I was heading
for the wilderness.
Flea Bay
Flea Bay or the Pohatu Marine Reserve isn’t far away from Akaroa, but
you need to travel by gravel road, which is very steep and dangerous. The bay
is a dream. You hardly see other people, sometimes a couple of hikers. The
house was small, basic, and the toilet (no WC!) 30 m away from the house. Only
natural sounds around: wind, waves, penguins, sheep, cattle. Very relaxing.
Liked the small blue penguins very much.
Broom in bloom
Flea Bay early in the morning
A little blue penguin
On the way to Akaroa
Flea Bay – Akaroa – Tai Tapu – Lincoln – Burnham – Rakaia – Ashburton Geraldine
– Fairlie – Burke’s Pass – Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo
I stayed with my friends at the ritzy Opera House (named after the
Sydney Opera House). The Church of the Good Shepherd and the Shepherd Dog
Memorial as well as Lake Tekapo were well in sight of the house and its huge
balcony.
Some trips around Lake Tekapo, to Lake Pukaki, and to Mt. John and its
observatory.
The Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo – Twizel – Omarama – Clearburn – Lindis Pass – Lindis Valley
– Tarras – Lake Dunstan – Cromwell – Kawaru Gorge – Gibbston – Frankton –
Queenstown
Nice Café in Tarras.
Bungee jumping at Kawaru Bridge.
How close are jump and dumb?
Queenstown
We only stayed overnight in Queenstown (outskirts).
Queenstown – Kingston – Fairlight – Garston – Nokomai – Athol – Parewa –
Five Rivers – Mossburn – The Key – Manapouri
Manapouri
Large house, good view of Lake Manapouri.
The trip to Milford Sound was extraordinary. Very good weather. Only the
mirror lakes weren’t mirroring the surroundings. Kea were up to their
reputation, trying to take the car apart. Mitre Peak in broad sunlight with a nice
reflection on the water. Seals and one (1) penguin.
Kepler Track (only first part). Rainforest in sunlight and also during a
light rain.
Borland Road with some nice views, but the power lines were always in
sight (Green Lake / Grebe River). Monowai Lake is more for people with boats.
Te Anau and the Takahe.
Kepler Track
Mitre Peak
Seals on their preferred rock for a sunbath
Kea
Takahe - there are only 300 left!
Manapouri – The Key – Mossburn – Lumsden – Balfour – Riversdale –
Mandeville – McNab – Pukerau – Waipahi – Clinton – Toiro – Otamomo – Port
Molyneux – Kaka Point – Nugget Point
Nugget Point
Penguins and quite a lot of them at Roaring Bay!
We looked closer at the Catlins.
Also seals / sea lions.
Staying in a house on a rock. Also a wonderful garden.
Penguins at Roaring Bay into the bay
Penguins at Roaring Bay coming out of the water
Penguins at Roaring Bay going back to the sea
Rocks with nesting birds - Nugget Point
Nugget Point - Lighthouse
Nugget Point – Kaka Point – Balclutha – Crichton – Manuka Creek –
Waitahuna – Lawrence – Beaumont – Miller’s Flat – Ettrick – Roxburgh – Coal
Creek Flat – Alexandra – Clyde (please, don’t let the dam break!) – Cromwell – Lowburb
– Mt. Pisa – Queensgate – Luggate – Albert Town – Lake Hawea
Lake Hawea
Splendid view! The house has the best view and the name Bellevue has
been righly given.
Wanaka – Glendhu Bay – Matukituki Vallley / Mt. Aspiring -: this tour
brought me very close to some bulls and of course to a walk near Mt. Aspiring.
Lake Hawea - from the house
Black bull
Mt. Aspiring
Lake Hawea – Makaroa – Haast Pass – Haast Junction – Knight’s Point – Moeraki
– Lake Paringa – Bruce Bay – Jacob’s River – Karangarua – Fox Glacier – Franz
Josef Glacier – Tatare – The Forks – Okarito
Fox Glacier - what global warming has left
Okarito
Wonderful mirror effects in the lagoon. I saw a white heron, but couldn’t
make a photograph because I had been driving.
First glimpses of the West Coast
The beach
Southern Alps across Okarito Lagoon
After sunset - the better part belongs to the lagoon
Okarito – Whataroa – Harihari – Kakapotahi – Ross – Ruatapu – Mananui –
Takatai – Hokitika – Seaview – Kaikinu – Mumara Junction – Kumara –
Dillmanstown – Jacksons – Aickens – Otira – Arthur’s Pass – Bealey Spur
Arthur’s Pass / Bealey Spur
Bridal Veil Falls. Devils Punchbowl.
Lupines - not the "Dimly burns the light of the lupines" variety of Ingeborg Bachmann
Devil's Punchbowl
Kea
Bealey Spur – Cass – Castle Hill Village – Porters Pass – Springfield –
Sheffield – Weddington – Darfield – Kirwee – West Melton – Yaldhurst – CHK
CHK – SYD
Soon in the clouds. Sunny Sydney.
SYD – BKK
Started right into the evening.
BKK – DXB
Reached Dubai at dawn.
DXB – DUS
Nice views of the emirates. Then clear view above Iran with Isfahan,
Zagros Mountains and Mt. Ararat. Some Nice views of Poland, too.
Other texts on this New Zealand travel:
