Lake Tekapo

Had a lie in and a late breakfast this morning and then sorted through my Mount Cook  photographs and got up to date with my blog. No wifi for a couple of days now so it didn't  really matter that I was running a bit behind. Went up Mount John pm where Christchurch University have an observatory. Didn't  want to do the tour. Just concerned with the views over Lake Tekapo and Lake Alexandra. Although the mountain was a something of a tiddler by comparison the views were actually really good. The  lakes are surrounded on three sides by mountains and Lake Tepako is again fed by glaciers. Not sure whether I will make Christchurch  tomorrow. Depends what I find  on the way. Some wifi hopefully! It will be interesting to see what Christchurch looks like. You'll recall that it was hit by major earthquakes both in 2010 and 2011 and virtually raised to the ground.
Couple of pics from the top of Mount John.
Speak soon,
Glen x

Couple more Mueller Hut and Mount Ollivier

You can just see my tent in the valley shot if you look hard enough. It's the Grey and red one!

More Mueller Hut/Mount Ollivier

Looking down on the Mueller Hut  and a shot from the balcony of the hut itself.

Mueller Hut Walk and on up to Mount Ollivier

A really good day walk up to a height of about 2000 metres. Another  beautifully clear day with great views of the Mueller Glacier and the Seally, Banks and Mount Cook Ranges.

Hooker Valley Walk

A shortish - just over 2 hours - walk through the Hooker Valley, with some nice swing bridges along the way!

Tasman River and Blue Lake

Unfortunately the Tasman River Is almost without water and the blue lake is anything but blue. The lake is sourced from the Tasman Glacier which feeds the Tasman River which in turn feeds the Pukaki Lake. Can you believe that within the space of just a few kilometres the water drops all the silt it is carrying and turns so beautifully blue!
Pictures show a view down the valley on the way to lake Pukaki  and the Blue Lake with a couple of little icebergs!

Omarama to Mount Cook

Great drive to Mount Cook along the eastern edge of Lake Pukaki. Perfect sunshine and Mount Cook in the distance almost all the way. Got there just after lunch and did some of the shorter walks until early evening. A little dissapointing to find that good full day walks in the area are limited to one really. There are a couple that are off piste but the forecast after Friday was for severe weather through the weekend so they were a no no. So I did what I could in the circumstances! The Tasman River and Blue Lake Walks were both good but the best of the afternoon was the Hooker Valley Track. It circuits Mueller Lake and ends at the south end of Hooker Lake with wonderful views up to Mount Cook. Another DOC campsite but at least this one did have loos. I also found out that there were public showers in the village so I was made up! Have to say the camp site was in the most beautiful setting, surrounded on three sides by mountains and a fabulous view down the mountain to boot.
First picture looks down Lake Pukaki towards Mount Cook in the far distance. The second is looking across Lake Pukaki from a place called Peters Lookout.
Enjoy,
Glen

Oamaru to Omarama

Another fantastic drive which put me within striking distance of Mount Cook tomorrow. I cut cross country just north of Oamaru following the Waitaki River/Valley. The river is fed by two lakes-Aviemore and further west Benmore. Benmore is the largest man made made lake in NZ. Both lakes are damed and very   impressive, with mountain ranges north and south. Tomorrow's drive should be equally stimulating! Bring it on!

Oamaru

Including the pub in question!

Dunedin to Oamaru

Broke the day into two bits. First off from Dunedin to Oamaru. Super  drive. Mountains to the west for much of the way. The South Pacific to the east. What more could a man want? Visited the Moeraki Boulders and  stopped off for coffee and cake en route and felt the day was really shaping. Then..... having arrived  in Oamaru I was having a look around the old part of the town and I spied a pub with some proper beer pulling handles. Result ! First real ale pub I'd found in NZ. I thought have one now, get the tent set up and stay the night,  and come back for a couple and a bite to eat after finishing a tour of the town. In I went and they were fake! Devastated or what? So I finished my tour of the town and moved on for a couple of hours. Actually, I really liked the place. It was a throw back to times past and really quirky. Old style Curio shops and tea rooms and museums, and some of the architecture was wonderful. But the disappointment of the beer was just too much and Mount Cook was calling.
Couple of pics of the boulders attached. The story goes that no one knows how they got there or why they're spherical. It's  a mystery!!
Glen x

Taiaroa Head

Went to the end of the Otago Peninsular today called Taiaroa Head. The highlight was undoubtedly the Royal Albatross Centre. Spent a good couple of hours there and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Saw maybe half a dozen Albatross on the wing but too far away to really appreciate them. Not windy enough to fly apparently.  Nonetheless another wildlife first so not to be scoffed at. Didn't realize they have been  known to travel up to  a 1000 kilometres a day foraging for food. The view to the lighthouse was also spectacular, there were seals a plenty and a wide variety of sea birds. Once again the real disappointment for me was how the place had been turned into a money making scheme. It really is one of my criticisms of NZ. Anyway I'll get off my high horse now.
Heading for Mount Cook tomorrow. May take a day or two depending on what I do on the way. Really looking forward to some good walks again.
Couple of pics as usual. One looking back into the harbour from the end of the peninsula and the other up to the lighthouse from a viewpoint at Taiaroa Head.
Glen x

Dunedin and the Otago Peninsular

Drove up to Dunedin today, finishing the Southern  Scenic Route. Pleasant enough. Spent the afternoon nosing around before moving out of the city in favour of the Otago Peninsular. Staying in a place called Portobello Bay about 20k west of the eastern most point. Will drive there tomorrow and attempt to see the Albatross colony. I hope there's a bit of wind about! Not sure whether I will stay two nights  or three and have still not decided whether to cut inland for a bit or head straight up to Christchurch. Time to sort that out yet!

A picture looking across Otago Harbour and another of the front of Dunedin Train Station. I think it's  the first picture of a building I've posted. Impressive or what?

Glen x

Nugget Point

Surat Bay

Last of the Catlins

Had a really good day. Started at Matai and Horseshoe Falls. Smallish but very beautiful. Moved on to Purakaunui Falls. The bush walk to get there was quite short but as good a section of bush as I have experienced all trip.  And the falls themselves as pretty as I have seen too. Then Surat Bay. Fabulous, with some terrific sightings of Sea Lions. Nugget Point Lighthouse  for the views after that and finally Roaring  Bay in the hope of seeing Yellow Eyed Penguins returning from a days fishing! Watched from six till dark but only saw half a dozen. Still very much worth it. The way they glide just below the surface of the water to the shore edge before seemingly struggling the last few metres out of the surf. And then they all appear to go through the same ritual before settling down to rest. No pics unfortunately as my camera couldn't  cope with the distance and still get reasonable detail.
Matai and Purakaunui Falls attached.
Off to Dunedin now for a couple of days.
Glen x

Two more from the Catlins Continues Day

The Catlins Continues

Fine till late morning but persisted down ever since. Still managed to get a couple of things done. Visited Cathedral Caves this morning while it was still dry. A nice bush/beach walk to a series of caves that have been carved out of the cliff face to a depth approaching 80 meters in the largest one. And at the end of the largest cave some penguins! Didn't  try to photograph them for fear of disturbing them. Like the Sea Lions another first in the wild for me. Also walked the bay which was quite beautiful. Moved on to McLean Falls. Again a short bush walk to the largest water fall in the Catlins. Very beautiful. Back early today for a change so some time to do some planning. Depending on the weather there's another water fall I want to visit and then the possibility of a half day river/valley walk. I need to check the walk out a bit more to see what the prizes are like! Whatever I do I will end up at Kaka Point for the night. From there I can get out to Nugget Point just before dusk where there is the possibility of seeing Yellow Eyed Penguins waddle out of the ocean!
Some pics from the day attached.
Glen x

Curio Bay

Slope Point

Not a lot to commend it in my view but a couple of pics anyway!

Sea Lions

On the way to Dunedin

Left Invercargill following the Southern Scenic Route towards Dunedin, stopping at a number of places along the way. First off, Waipapa Point, where I got my first sighting of sea lions. Then on to Slope Point-THE SOUTHERN MOST TIP OF MAINLAND NEW ZEALAND! My last port of call was Curio Bay where I was lucky enough to see some Hectors Dolphins playing in the surf. Apparently there are very few of this type of dolphin left on our planet and a small pod of around twenty reside in and around the bay. Stopping the night in a place called McLean Falls, which I will visit tomorrow, amongst other things.
Couple  of pics from Waipapa Point attached.
Be good,
Glen x

Bluff Lookout

Couple of shots looking across to Stewart Island

Stirling Point

Had a quick mooch around Invercargill and left quite promptly for Bluff. I have to say neither in my limited experience have a great deal of appeal but of course Bluff, and more specifically Stirling Point at Bluff, is a must do for any respectable NZ traveller! Also popped up to Bluff Hill for the views and then down to Bluff Lookout. Again, nothing to shout about really but I had Bluff Lookout all to myself, so it was me and the sea and the view across the Foveaux Straight to Stewart Island and beyond. In fact, 'beyond' can't be far off where the Tasman Sea meets the South Pacific at the south end of the country. Will move on tomorrow and drive what they call the Catlins which is another leg of the Southern Scenic Route on the way to Dunedin.

Couple of pics from Stirling Point attached, one including yours truly!
Much love,
Glen x

Back to the sea again!

Te Anau to Invercargill is part of the southern scenic route and by the  time I get to Dunedin I will have completed it, as it starts at Queenstown, and runs via Mossburn, Te Anau, Manapouri and Tuatapere, hitting the south coast at McCracken's Lookout, before continuing on to Riverton, Invercargill, Owaka, Balclutha and Dunedin.
Decided to pass on Doubtful Sound and head south as far as Invercargill where I will stay for a couple of nights. Having explored the possibilities for Stewart Island I have decided not to go. The reason is that I am not geared up to do anything other than day walks and to do a good job of the island I would have to be. I can take an aeroplane over it or a boat trip round it but I can't  get into it unless I walk it. Like the Kepler and Milford tracks and many others that are not on the great walks list, they are for another time and a different kind of experience. And I am confident  there will be another time. Anyway, I'm off to explore Invercargill and then I'll drive down to Bluff, which is claimed to be the southern most point of mainland NZ. It isn't actually but I'm  going anyway! I'll go to the point proper in a day or so as this adventure is a coastal one for some time now. This area is definitely the least hilly/mountainous I have come across in the country so far!
Speak soon,
Glen x

Last day in Te Anau

Decided on a rest day today in the end. Wanted to go to Doubtful Sound but couldn't get on a trip and the weather turns until Thursday now. So do I wait or not? You can't reach the sound by car or I would have driven there myself. If you do the trip it's a boat trip and then a trip by road to get there before you do the tour of the sound. In fact in a nine hour day only two hours are spent on the sound itself. But a part of me  would still  like to go. The trip is a hundred and twenty  five pounds by the way! Will decide later. If not it's  down to Invercargil and on to Stewart Island.
Glen x

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