Darius' Travel Blog: August 2006

Able Tasman National Park is great for hiking and the weather cooperated once again. We took a water taxi to get us into the park and then hiked for 5 hours through the forest with some great views of the numerous bays and lagoons.

Water taxi dropping us off

Split Apple Rock

Went on a day trip on top of the Franz Josef glacier today and it was a great experience. This is one of the fastest glaciers in the world and it has been growing the last few years after several seasons of heavy snow/rainfall.

The Franz Josef area

The face of the glacier

On top of the glacier

In the background is the valley where the glacier used to be as well

One of the amazing caves

Queenstown is New Zealand's most popular ski area but it also known for its numerous other outdoor activities. This is the place where Bungy jumping was first commercialized which I have been meaning to try for a while now. I was crazy enough to sign up for three jumps - it was a better deal :-)

Panoramic view of Queenstown

Before the first jump - nervousness has not set in yet...

The first jump was off the historic Kawarau bridge which is 43 meters above the river. I got a little more wet then I bargained for (I was only supposed to touch the water with my hands): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjYUMML6rZA

The next jump was the Nevis Highwire which is off a suspended gondola. It takes about 8.5 seconds of freefall to travel the 134 meters and standing on the edge is not a feeling I will forget anytime soon.

Getting ready for our trip to the gondola

Gondola suspended over the gorge

This will most likely be a once in a lifetime experience: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhq4bGPxvlo

Milford Sound is an undisturbed mountain-rimmed fiord at the southwest tip of the South Island. It is a very remote area - the lodge I am staying at doesn't even have electricity and runs on a generator which shuts down between 11pm and 7am.

These are all new waterfalls after heavy rainfall the night before

I am back on the coast again heading down the east coast of the South Island. Spent a couple of days in Dunedin which is a big university town.

Moraki Boulders

Sunset over Boulder Beach

Panoramic view of Dunedin

Lighthouse at Nugget Point

One of the many waterfalls

The southern most point of New Zealand

New Zealand traffic jam :-)

Spent a fantastic day at Mount Cook National Reserve today. Mount Cook is the highest mountain of New Zealand at 3755 meters but I didn't make it higher than about 1000 meters :-)
'

Lake Tekapo on the way to Mt. Cook

This is as close as I got

Lake Benmore

Here is the long overdue beginning of my travel blog that I have been promising a few of you. As some of you know, I spent most of June and July in Germany at the World Cup but unfortunately I didn’t get around to starting this blog because I was too busy watching as many games as possible :--)

I arrived in New Zealand 12 days ago to explore the South Island mostly. It is winter here which is not the best time to visit but I’ll make another trip at the beginning of next year. Here are a few pictures from the last few days.