Category: New Zealand 2018
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Queenstown
Whereas Te Anau was quiet and underdeveloped, the same can not be said for Queenstown. Hub of activity, with every outdoor activity available. Lots of bars and eateries, outdoor equipment and tourist shops. Got a lovely flat with views down the lake and a helluva hill to get to. After food and drink, and rearranging…
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Doubtful Sound
So the day after a tropical storm, we decided to go to Doubtful Sound. A place that gets an average of 8 METRES of rain a year. The trip itself takes 45 minutes by boat across Lake Manapouri. Bus ride to Doubtful Sound, 3 hours-ish on a boat, then return. Lake Manapouri The Wilmott Pass…
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Milford Sound
As there was such crappy weather about, I didn’t know what to expect from Milford Sound, where the classic views are all in night sunshine. While we didn’t get the views down the Sound, we got finer detail and extra waterfalls. The weather was initially a bit windy with light showers, but then it turned…
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Milford Sound Road
We arrived in Te Anau and it was raining, and it kept raining all night. Little did we know that the tropical cyclone which brought the rain would have so much impact on our plans. This meant while we were not going to see Milford Sound at it’s best – we were going to see…
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Te Anau
The flight from Auckland to Queenstown is without doubt the worst I have ever been on. The approach was so rough that the pilot had to abort and then come in again. Later, the news was that the Jetstar planes could not land at Queenstown. Air New Zealand, with whom we flew, said its pilots…
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Auckland
The sky tower dominates the Auckland skyline It was ever present when we had our early morning walk. After the day in the West with Joe Cowin, we were joined by Jane Berry for a visit and a meal to the sky tower. It might not have been top of my to do but glad…
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Western Auckland
Day started well with a walk and luggage arriving. The last time I went to a black sand beach was in a blizzard in Iceland. It was a little warmer this time around. First stop was the Arataki visitor centre. When we flew into Auckland the previous day we both loved the view of the…
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Outward Journey
So we were 40 minutes late leaving, thanks to Mancunian baggage handlers. Two strokes of luck got us a three-seat block to ourselves and outside seats, and they had slightly more legroom. And a couple with two small children who sat behind us were moved. Things went pear-shaped in Abu Dhabi. A 3.5-hour layover turned…