New Zealand South Island
Thursday 7 January 2016
In memory of Izzy
'
We just visited New Zealand for the first time, exploring by car and on foot. It's a very easy place to love, with stunning scenery that's so accessible, at least once we'd made the long journey south. For anybody from the UK there's a certain familiarity to some of the culture and even countryside, but it's different enough to make things interesting.
All these photos were taken with a Nikon D7200 and the new 16-80mm lens. Before I left I thought long and hard about bringing more camera equipment, but photography wasn't the top priority for the trip. I'm happy with the results - although on several occasions a longer lens would have been great for the wildlife.
The South
We roughly followed the Southern Scenic Route through the Catlins, a delightful drive with plenty of stops for gentle walks along beaches and to waterfalls. There aren't too many people - local or tourists - down this part of the world.
![Moeraki boulders](img1/01-Southern-Scenic-Route.jpg)
Moeraki boulders
![Purakaunui Falls](img1/02-Southern-Scenic-Route.jpg)
Purakaunui Falls
![Purakaunui Bay - a stunning place to wake up (DOC camping)](img1/03-Southern-Scenic-Route.jpg)
Purakaunui Bay - a stunning place to wake up (DOC camping)
![Lake Wilkie](img1/04-Southern-Scenic-Route.jpg)
Lake Wilkie
![Unfurling fern](img1/05-Southern-Scenic-Route.jpg)
Unfurling fern
![Hector dolphins surfing in Porpoise Bay](img1/06-Southern-Scenic-Route.jpg)
Hector dolphins surfing in Porpoise Bay
The Sounds
This is one of the wettest places on the Earth, although we escaped with only some light rain and plenty of cloud. Nonetheless both Doubtful and Milford Sounds are enchanting places. If we'd had more time then exploring them slowly by kayak would have been wonderful - instead we took a cruise on Doubtful sound. Next morning we got up early to get ahead of the traffic and briefly visited Milford Sound, stopping off several times during the scenic drive there and back.
![Dusky dolphins in Doubtful Sound](img2/01-The-Sounds.jpg)
Dusky dolphins in Doubtful Sound
![Doubtful Sound](img2/02-The-Sounds.jpg)
Doubtful Sound
![Starting to rain in Doubtful Sound](img2/03-The-Sounds.jpg)
Starting to rain in Doubtful Sound
![Lupins near the road to Milford Sound](img2/04-The-Sounds.jpg)
Lupins near the road to Milford Sound
![Milford Sound](img2/05-The-Sounds.jpg)
Milford Sound
![Mitre Peak remained in cloud](img2/06-The-Sounds.jpg)
Mitre Peak remained in cloud
![From Tutoko Suspension Bridge](img2/07-The-Sounds.jpg)
From Tutoko Suspension Bridge
![The Chasm - a great viewpoint from a bridge above a powerful river gorge](img2/08-The-Sounds.jpg)
The Chasm - a great viewpoint from a bridge above a powerful river gorge
Routeburn Track
The Routeburn track is justifiably famous and needs booking well in advance to reserve accommodation. We only booked a couple of months ahead and consequently had two short days and one very long day, heading from the Divide to Routeburn Shelter. Fortunately the weather on the long day turned sunny and beautiful, giving us fine alpine views as we climbed out of the amazingly lush rainforest. We used the excellent Trackhopper service to transfer our car so it was waiting for us when we were done - the track is only 32km from end to end by foot but over 300km by road!
![Lush rainforest near the Divide, with the trees coated in thick moss](img3/01-Routeburn-Track.jpg)
Lush rainforest near the Divide, with the trees coated in thick moss
![Earland Falls](img3/02-Routeburn-Track.jpg)
Earland Falls
![The clouds begin to lift](img3/03-Routeburn-Track.jpg)
The clouds begin to lift
![Higher up, the trees are covered in incredible lichen](img3/04-Routeburn-Track.jpg)
Higher up, the trees are covered in incredible lichen
![Above Lake Mackenzie](img3/05-Routeburn-Track.jpg)
Above Lake Mackenzie
![Near Harris Saddle](img3/06-Routeburn-Track.jpg)
Near Harris Saddle
![Lake Harris](img3/07-Routeburn-Track.jpg)
Lake Harris
![Routeburn Flats campsite. A stunning, if chilly place to wake up - there was ice on our tents](img3/08-Routeburn-Track.jpg)
Routeburn Flats campsite. A stunning, if chilly place to wake up - there was ice on our tents
Heading North
A few highlights of the drive up from Queenstown to Picton
![Queenstown](img4/01-Heading-North.jpg)
Queenstown
![Lindis Pass](img4/02-Heading-North.jpg)
Lindis Pass
![Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook](img4/03-Heading-North.jpg)
Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook
![Fur seal at Kaikoura](img4/04-Heading-North.jpg)
Fur seal at Kaikoura
![Wine country near Blenheim](img4/05-Heading-North.jpg)
Wine country near Blenheim
Queen Charlotte Track
A long walk of 72km over three days, made much easier as our big bags with camping gear were transferred by boat for us - an excellent service by Beachcomber cruises. As it was hot and fairly hilly in places, we enjoyed some refreshing swims in the beautiful sea.
![Looking up to the hills we'd soon be walking](img5/01-Queen-Charlotte-Track.jpg)
Looking up to the hills we'd soon be walking
![Schoolhouse Bay](img5/02-Queen-Charlotte-Track.jpg)
Schoolhouse Bay
![Tempting views down to the sea](img5/03-Queen-Charlotte-Track.jpg)
Tempting views down to the sea
![Back down at sea level](img5/04-Queen-Charlotte-Track.jpg)
Back down at sea level
![Up high on the second day](img5/05-Queen-Charlotte-Track.jpg)
Up high on the second day
![Sun breaking though the clouds on the third day](img5/06-Queen-Charlotte-Track.jpg)
Sun breaking though the clouds on the third day
![The most friendly duck and ducklings I've ever seen](img5/07-Queen-Charlotte-Track.jpg)
The most friendly duck and ducklings I've ever seen
![Back in Picton, admiring the skyline we'd just walked](img5/08-Queen-Charlotte-Track.jpg)
Back in Picton, admiring the skyline we'd just walked
The West Coast
This was my favourite section of New Zealand - stunning sea and rainforest, with a backdrop of the Southern Alps with their glaciers.
![Pancake rocks, Punakaiki](img6/01-West-Coast.jpg)
Pancake rocks, Punakaiki
![Wild seas at Pancake rocks, Punakaiki](img6/02-West-Coast.jpg)
Wild seas at Pancake rocks, Punakaiki
![Flax at Punakaiki](img6/03-West-Coast.jpg)
Flax at Punakaiki
![Porarari River](img6/04-West-Coast.jpg)
Porarari River
![Wild Tasman Sea](img6/05-West-Coast.jpg)
Wild Tasman Sea
![Milky Way from Punakaiki](img6/06-West-Coast.jpg)
Milky Way from Punakaiki
![Farm building near Lake Kaniere](img6/07-West-Coast.jpg)
Farm building near Lake Kaniere
![Ōkārito Lagoon](img6/08-West-Coast.jpg)
Ōkārito Lagoon
![Franz Josef glacier from Roberts Point](img6/09-West-Coast.jpg)
Franz Josef glacier from Roberts Point
![Fox Glacier, viewed through the rainforest](img6/10-West-Coast.jpg)
Fox Glacier, viewed through the rainforest
![Fishing boat at Jackson Bay](img6/11-West-Coast.jpg)
Fishing boat at Jackson Bay
![Dust storm blowing down from the Southern Alps](img6/12-West-Coast.jpg)
Dust storm blowing down from the Southern Alps
Mount Cook
We were lucky to see Mount Cook without clouds, the snowy peak dominating the surroundings.
![The incredible blue of Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook](img7/01-Mount-Cook.jpg)
The incredible blue of Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook
![Twilight colours on Mount Cook](img7/02-Mount-Cook.jpg)
Twilight colours on Mount Cook
![Mount Cook and glaciers from the Sealy Tarns Track](img7/03-Mount-Cook.jpg)
Mount Cook and glaciers from the Sealy Tarns Track
![Tasman Glacier with iceburgs in the lake](img7/04-Mount-Cook.jpg)
Tasman Glacier with iceburgs in the lake
Christchurch
After so long in the countryside, a quick visit to the city of Christchurch, still a construction zone after the earthquake.
![Rebuilding Christchurch](img8/01-Christchurch.jpg)
Rebuilding Christchurch
![Tram](img8/02-Christchurch.jpg)
Tram
![185 Empty White Chairs - Earthquake Memorial, Christchurch](img8/03-Christchurch.jpg)
185 Empty White Chairs - Earthquake Memorial, Christchurch
Comments
I'd love to hear what you think...
email your comments