I am simultaneously finishing a travel blog about the fantastic 4.5 month long trip Steven and I took last fall to Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, much of Central Asia and then the final six weeks in Spain and Portugal. If you're interested in checking that exciting adventure out, here's the link:
www.bergersadventures6.blogspot.com
If you read my previous post, you'll know that my friend Diane and I were in Christchurch the previous day when two mosques were attacked in the city which killed 50 people and injured the same number. Described by New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Arden as "one of the country's darkest days," the horrific mass shootings caused the city's airport to close just as we were about to fly nonstop to Melbourne on Australia's south coast. Diane and I were able to get tickets early the next morning from Christchurch south to Queenstown and then a late afternoon flight on to Oz, as Australia is referred to in informal language.
Steven: I thought of you when Diane and I saw the 'Distance' sign at the tiny airport in Queenstown, a town we'd already stayed in for a couple of nights and driven through twice in the last ten days. You know, honey, how I love taking a photo of these mileage markers to far off places!
The Otago Buzz, located in a tiny campervan, aka motor home for us non-Kiwis, had a delightful array of fun things to purchase but nothing Diane or I could do without.
A shot of Milford Sound where we'd taken the great cruise toward the Tasman Sea several days ago.
Janina: Just before landing in Melbourne, I finished knitting the afghan I'd taken with me. So glad you emailed me another afghan pattern to make so I wouldn't have idle hands while touring Australia's Great Ocean Road and Tasmania! Just yesterday I finished knitting that one, too, while Steven and I were volunteering for the last time at the food bank which has unfortunately closed down after serving the needy for twenty years.
Even though Diane and I were only in New Zealand for a far too brief two weeks, there were so many spectacular sights that deserve a Mini-Highlight Reel so here goes!
After an extraordinarily long flight on February 28th because United Airlines needed to find a replacement co-pilot as were about to leave San Francisco for Auckland on the country's North Island, we made a beeline for the city's War Memorial Museum when we finally landed on March 2nd. The fascinating museum was built in 1929 to commemorate the end of WW I in which more than 18,000 New Zealanders died; it was also a tribute to the country's native Maori people.
Our most fascinating stop on the North Island was in the town of Rotorua at the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where Diane and I learned a lot about the country's native culture and also its compelling geothermal features.
How much fun seeing the seals lollygagging on the rocks a little further on at Ohau Beach!
Diane: I couldn't possibly resist including a photo of Cromwell in this highlight reel to remind us of how we drove around and around the town trying to find the correct road en route to Queenstown!
Across the street was Kawarau Suspension Bridge that opened in 1911 to allow a permanent means of crossing the Kawarau River, replacing a ferry. We were content watching and not participating where the world's first bungy jump took place!
Touring almost anywhere on the South Island, one can't miss coming across wildings, non-native trees that were introduced by well-meaning settlers that are now being eradicated because they take over native habitat.
Diane and I could only access the hike to the gorgeous Blue Pools via a ten-pedestrian only foot bridge! The falls were en route to the town of Franz Joseph.
If ever one was a doubter about the effects of global warming, one only needs to see first hand how far the Franz Joseph Glacier has receded even in our own lifetime. It was absolutely humbling to see what man has wrought.
Among my most favorite nature shots anywhere were at Pete's Pool at the glacier.
www.bergersadventures6.blogspot.com
If you read my previous post, you'll know that my friend Diane and I were in Christchurch the previous day when two mosques were attacked in the city which killed 50 people and injured the same number. Described by New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Arden as "one of the country's darkest days," the horrific mass shootings caused the city's airport to close just as we were about to fly nonstop to Melbourne on Australia's south coast. Diane and I were able to get tickets early the next morning from Christchurch south to Queenstown and then a late afternoon flight on to Oz, as Australia is referred to in informal language.
I was lucky enough to get the window seat so marveled at the gorgeous views of the countryside on the country's South Island we'd traveled through by car for the last ten days or so.
Diane and I had joked that much of New Zealand reminded us of our beautiful state of Colorado with the spectacular mountain vistas although the former is blessed with rainforests, glaciers and grand ocean views, of course!
Another for my 'bathroom sign collection' - this was the only one I remember seeing anywhere that had a photo rather than an outline or image indicating it was for females.
Since we had a long layover, we stuffed our bags in a locker at the airport and walked over to the city's weekly farmers' market located a pleasant walk away in the Remarkables Shopping Center, named after a local mountain chain.
How adorable this child's rocking chair was but it'd be a little tough transporting home, I thought!
As with so many farmers' markets I've seen through the years, this one had as many crafts, if not more, as locally grown fruits and vegetables.
The Otago Buzz, located in a tiny campervan, aka motor home for us non-Kiwis, had a delightful array of fun things to purchase but nothing Diane or I could do without.
After wandering slowly back to the airport since we had so much time before our flight to Melbourne, we took the time to admire the statues at the airport, completed by local artist Mark Hill. They were called Welcome O Visitor from Afar and represented Maori chiefs assembled as a welcome party.
Their faces were adorned with the traditional Maori tattoo called Moko and they wore Pounamu jewelry and Huia feathers. Their cloaks resembled stitched seal skin. A sign said the sculptures were made of forged corten steel and stainless steel, and that the chiefs were strong spiritual figures weathered by time.
The closeup showed either whiskers or cobwebs - not sure which!
This was our third and last view of Queenstown, a town described as the country's adrenaline capital!
The remarkable Remarkables Mountain Range:
This stunning view showed Lake Te Anau where we took a short boat ride across en route to see the Glowworm Caves.
A shot of Milford Sound where we'd taken the great cruise toward the Tasman Sea several days ago.
Janina: Just before landing in Melbourne, I finished knitting the afghan I'd taken with me. So glad you emailed me another afghan pattern to make so I wouldn't have idle hands while touring Australia's Great Ocean Road and Tasmania! Just yesterday I finished knitting that one, too, while Steven and I were volunteering for the last time at the food bank which has unfortunately closed down after serving the needy for twenty years.
Even though Diane and I were only in New Zealand for a far too brief two weeks, there were so many spectacular sights that deserve a Mini-Highlight Reel so here goes!
After an extraordinarily long flight on February 28th because United Airlines needed to find a replacement co-pilot as were about to leave San Francisco for Auckland on the country's North Island, we made a beeline for the city's War Memorial Museum when we finally landed on March 2nd. The fascinating museum was built in 1929 to commemorate the end of WW I in which more than 18,000 New Zealanders died; it was also a tribute to the country's native Maori people.
The next day we were off in our rental car driving northeast from Auckland up and around the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula which I would heartily recommend to anyone visiting New Zealand. If we'd had more time, it would have been perfect to spend a night in the charming town of Whitianga so we could explore more of the area on foot and not via sweeping looks from the car.
I would also really recommend a stop in tiny Katikati so you can discover the greatest collection of murals of any town I've seen.
Our most fascinating stop on the North Island was in the town of Rotorua at the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute where Diane and I learned a lot about the country's native culture and also its compelling geothermal features.
Diane and I were so fortunate coming across fields and fields of lovely flowers blooming in the early autumn.
No, not the misty countryside of Great Britain but these photos were more of the ever so beautiful geothermal features south of Rotorua en route to Wellington, the country's capital!
Enjoying the long ferry ride from Wellington on the southern tip of the North Island on the Marlborough Sound to the South Island:
This was one of the many, many vineyards that New Zealand is famous for as we drove toward the east coast of the South Island.
It was so much fun strolling along the beach at Kekerengu and gazing at the piles of driftwood and the azure-colored water.
We stopped overnight in Christchurch on March 7th so we could spend time at the Transitional or Cardboard Cathedral, so named because the city's Anglican Cathedral had suffered severe damage in the devastating 2011 earthquake. The only steel used was on the beams on top connecting the cardboard tubes for strength.
A few blocks away was the very moving exhibit of 185 Empty Chairs reflecting on the loss of that many lives in the earthquake.
Later that day we enjoyed a very blustery stop at Lake Tekapo and a little further on at the calmer, Caribbean-blue Lake Pukaki en route to Twizel.
On March 8th, our journey took us across one of the country's countless one-lane bridges en route to Aoraki/Mt. Cook, surely one of the most spectacular areas in New Zealand. We spent a large chuck of the day thoroughly enjoying our hikes in the area.
Sir Edmund Hillary was New Zealand's most acclaimed mountaineer who, with his Nepalese Sherpa guide in 1953, were the first confirmed to have reached the summit of Mount Everest.
The views of Aoraki/Mt. Cook took our breath away that day.
The next day, we were greeted with striking views of rolling hills as we crossed Lindis Pass.
Sadly, we didn't have time to try our luck at gold panning in the stunning Kawarau Gorge!
Diane and I had really wanted to stop at one of the country's many wineries. However, our choice of Chard Farm Vineyard wasn't probably the best choice in hindsight as it was accessible only via a very narrow unpaved road paralleling the gorge!
Across the street was Kawarau Suspension Bridge that opened in 1911 to allow a permanent means of crossing the Kawarau River, replacing a ferry. We were content watching and not participating where the world's first bungy jump took place!
If you're a hiker or just enjoy getting off the beaten path for a delightful stroll, New Zealand is the place for you. Walking around a good chunk of Lake Hayes was as pretty as it gets.
Queenstown, known as the country's adventure capital for its huge array of wild and exciting activities available for thrill-seekers, had a stunning location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu against the backdrop of the Remarkables Mountains you saw at the top of the post from the air.
On March 10th, we had a fascinating trip with Queenstown Heritage Tours to Skippers Canyon on the only road in the country rental companies don't allow any cars to be taken because of the dangerous terrain!
A view of the canyon's Shotover River where it would have been exhilarating to go on a jet boat ride - perhaps something, Steven, you'd love to do with me if we ever return to explore more of New Zealand together, honey?
Touring almost anywhere on the South Island, one can't miss coming across wildings, non-native trees that were introduced by well-meaning settlers that are now being eradicated because they take over native habitat.
Walking across the old, narrow and very high bridge across the Shotover River is only advised if you have no fear of heights!
Wolfgang, our intrepid and wonderful guide on our tour of Skippers Canyon:
Thanks to Wolfgang's recommendation, we were in for the treat of our lives at Little Paradise Lodge and Dream Garden outside of Queenstown. If you ever are lucky enough to be anywhere close to Queenstown, run, don't walk to this slice of heaven on earth where one man created a home and garden unlike any other I've ever been lucky enough to see. You'll be so glad you did.
The circle marked the middle between the South Pole and the Equator and stood on the 45th parallel.
An early morning stop at Queenstown Gardens on March 11th was a perfect way to start our drive to Te Anau.
Sure can't have a highlight reel of New Zealand without at least one photo of the millions of sheep that inhabit the country!
Again struck by gorgeous flowers that dotted the highways and byways!
In the town of Te Anau we took a short cruise across the lake of the same name so we could see the Glowworm Caves on the other side of the lake.
One of our longest drives - and we had many long ones! - was the one that began from Te Anau toward Milford Sound through the eerie early morning mist.
We'd booked a cruise on a smaller boat than this one that would take us from the Sound to the edge of the Tasman Sea where the next land sighted would be Australia, our destination in a few days.
On the cruise, we were treated to amazing sights of countless waterfalls roaring down the rainforests directly into the Sound.
After the cruise, we made time to go on several short hikes through the rainforests that are so common in much of the country.
One of those strolls ended up at The Chasm, an area sculpted by water and stone!
Not to be outdone were the Mirror Lakes nearby.
Still on March 11th, our journey took us through Queenstown on our second visit via the magnificent Alpine Route to Wanaka. The Crown Range Summit was the highest paved in New Zealand at 1,076 meters.
Our hotel in Wanaka!
Again, if we'd had more time, I would have loved to stay another day in Wanaka to explore the delightful town and enjoy its many hiking opportunities.
Its most famous sight was this That Wanaka Tree! As I wrote in the post from March 13th, the story goes that the tree sprouted from a branch that was used as a makeshift fence post to keep stock from wandering.
Only in New Zealand have I ever discovered there were virtually no trash cans in public areas - the philosophy throughout the country was 'pack it in, pack it out.'
One of the most unexpected surprises was coming across this small Maori cemetery by James River as we'd seen no indications of any Maori settlements since leaving the North Island.
Once again, swirling mists and rainforests captivated us in Franz Joseph, the gateway town to the glacier of the same name that we explored on March 14th.
This tiny sculpture was as close as we would ever come to seeing New Zealand's native bird, the kiwi.
One of the highlights touring in New Zealand was taking the time to stop at a town's bakery or cafe as each town had at least one featuring yummy treats to feast on.
Driving cross country from the South Island's west coast over to Christchurch on the east coast took us through the aptly named Otira Gorge!
As you have no doubt seen by now in the preceding photos, New Zealand is a country blessed with so many remarkable natural features. One we could only admire from the car was the Lake Pearson Wildlife Refuge located about two hours west of Christchurch after going through the very scenic Arthur's Pass.
It's hard to include this photo of the devastation that occurred in 2011 when much of Queenstown's Anglican Cathedral as a result of a massive earthquake. We didn't realize it at that moment but our visit there just yesterday on March 15th coincided exactly with the terrorist attacks on two of the city's mosques that killed 50 people in the country's worst mass shooting. Witnessing a stream of emergency vehicles rush toward what we later knew were the mosques was a very scary time for Diane and me.
Diane and I had a glorious time touring New Zealand although our two weeks there barely scratched the surface of the amazing country. I hope that one day Steven and I will return together so I can show him some of the beauty I discovered and explore other parts together for our first time.
Next post: The beginning of a gorgeous several day drive along the Great Ocean Road west of Melbourne.
Posted on May 2, 2019, from a sunny, spring day in Littleton, Colorado.
Truly stunning photo gallery -- you have "sold" NZ ! And I , like you , LOVE Pete's Pool at the glacier.. as always, thanks for the tour :))
ReplyDeleteSo glad you liked seeing the photos of the spectacular country. I hope you and Dan get there one day.
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