En route Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
8. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
It's ~3hrs from Christchurch but the drive to Lake Tekapo (pron: TEE ka po) was stunning.
Drive to Mt Cook
9. marts 2025 ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F
Janet & Simon stayed w/ us last night; & today we all went to find a hike for some views of Aoraki (aka: Mt Cook).
Aoraki is NZ's highest mountain at 3724m & is located within the 700 sq km area of SWLæs mere
Mueller Lake Lookout via Hooker Track
9. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F
We chose the (6.8 mi return) Hooker Valley Track; nice trail, no serious vertical & 3 swing bridges that ends at Hooker Lake with Mt Cook in the background.
Tasman Glacier View Trail
9. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
After finishing the Hooker Valley Trail, we grabbed lunch in the Hermitage Village. We decided we still had a little more 'oomph' left in us, so we went to the Tasman Glacier View Track.
The trailLæs mere
Hiked Mount John Walkway
10. marts 2025 ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F
One more day in the Tekapo area -- one more hike! And this one had an unexpected (solar) surprise!
Leaving Lake Tekapo
11. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F
A fairly early morning departure, we were rewarded by some amazing views both land and sky.
Coffee stop
11. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F
How can you pass up a place with a name like this?
And the coffee was excellent!!! ☕️
Anyone want to buy a village?
11. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F
Full village for sale; NZ$2.9M (~US$1.63M).
Dam
11. marts 2025 ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F
Elephant Rocks
11. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F
This 'field' was created after the erosion of fossil-rich limestone over millions of years. It's in the middle of practically nowhere -- pretty cool.
Continuing on to Dunedin
11. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
Moeraki Boulders
11. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F
Train
12. marts 2025 ⋅ 🌧 48 °F
Dunedin Railways runs The Taieri Gorge Train Tour from Dunedin to Pukerangi. It's a neat old train that goes through the Taieri Gorge through areas not accessible via car.
Not the same 'wow' as theLæs mere
Afternoon post-train
12. marts 2025 ⋅ 🌬 52 °F
After the train trip, we still had the bulk of the afternoon ahead. So we hopped in the car & headed out to do a little exploring.
Destination: Otago Peninsula.
Leaving Dunedin; headed to Invercargil
13. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 48 °F
This was a drive-stop-drive-stop day due to the various lookouts between Dunedin & Invercargil.
Still pretty incredible...
Nugget Point
13. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F
Surat Bay
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Surat to Curio Bay
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Slope Point
13. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
A visit to the most southern-most spot in New Zealand's South Island.
Riverton
14. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F
Riverton is a nothing special coastal town and port. We stopped, walked the beach, and found some fun sand art on the beach. At the end of our walk, we talked with some locals who made a couple ofLæs mere
Round Hill Walking Track
14. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F
Gemstone Beach
14. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
This beach is known for a variety of semi-precious gems like garnet, jasper, quartz....
The question is: will Janine get her 'gemmy finds' home?
(who puts ROCKS in their luggage??) 🤔
Clifden Suspension Bridge
14. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F
New Zealand's longest wooden suspension bridge, opened 1899 & operational through 1978. It was an important transit link in its day until a new (modern) bridge was built 130m downriver. Now it's anLæs mere
New residence: Te Anau
14. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F
(Pron: tee ah NOW, or tay AH no -- heard both so far) this is our home for the next 5 nights.
Te Anau to Milford: bus ride pics
16. marts 2025, New Zealand ⋅ 🌫 48 °F
Milford Sound: one of the primary objectives for this trip. We decided to take a bus to the port so we could both enjoy the ~2hr drive. The bus ride itself was beautiful.