We're going on an adventure!!! In New Zealand

Ok well ...we went on one.    We were fortunate enough to spend our Christmas holiday in New Zealand and it was a amazing.  We had been once before in 2005 but Aileen was three and Natalie wasn't even born yet, so another trip was in order while we are still in the general neighborhood.  General because it was still 12 plus hours of flying from Taipei, but there is a payoff, a big payoff....a spectacularly gorgeous English speaking country with nice people, and open space.  So quiet and serene.  Really relaxing.  Great hikes, quaint towns.  You just can't beat it.

Here's my our  slideshow...with a few fun twists

 NZ Slideshow in HD (17min)

NZ Slideshow (17 min)

But if you don't want to watch here's a brief run down

We based out of three places Auckland in the North Island (19th-22nd) , and Te Anau (22nd-26th) and Wanaka (26th-31st) on the South Island

In Auckland we stayed with some long time family friends from Taiwan, the Tings.  They were kind to host us and take good care of us.  Our first day we visited  St Heliers Bay in Auckland, swimming and decompressing from the long flight.

 The second day we had a lovely brunch in Cornwall Park and then set off for Hobbiton, the little village built in Matamata for the Lord of the Ring and Hobbit movies.  They keep it in great shape and while a bit campy turned out to be quite fun.  The drive through the NZ countryside was just gorgeous.

Hobbiton

 

A Hobbit Hole

 












 Our third day we flew to Queenstown on the shores of Lake Wakitipu, picked up a rental car and drove another two hours Te Anau, the gateway to Fiordland National Park. 

The Remarkables from the Queenstown-Te Anau Highway

The Southern Alps run the length of the west coast of the southern island  rising up from the sea.  The west side of these mountains is covered with cool rain forest,similar to Oregon. Glaciers have carved numerous fiords through mountains the most famous of which is Milford Sound, which we visited on Christmas Day.  We also went on a 10 K hike on the Roteburn track which crosses the Southern Alps going from rainforest to Alpine climate in 2 hours of walking.  One day we took a catamaran across Lake Te Anau tp the Te Anau Glowworm caves, where the larvae of a certain fly glows like a tiny stars in the sky to attract other bugs coming through along with the rushing underground river.    A truly unique NZ sight.

Lupines along Cascade Creek near the Roteburn Track

Milford Sound

The Milford Road

 







 On our way to Wanaka we made a stop in Queenstown where Aileen and Natalie tried their paddles at kayaking and we saw nocturnal kiwis rooting around in artificial darkness at the Kiwi Birdlife Conservation Center.  Who knew they could cooperate so effectively!

Queenstown from the Gondola Lookout

 

   In Wanaka we took a lovely trip up the Makatukituki River into Mt. Aspiring National Park...well if lovely means flying at 60 miles an hour on a jet boat.  It was quite exciting.  After an hour we stopped and went for a hike in a mountain meadow in view of Avalanche Glacier.

Jet Boating up the Matukituki River with River Journeys

Moss covered Forest

Avalanche Glacier

 The next day we drove out of Wanaka on a gravel road for about 50 kilometers to begin the Rob Roy track...another 10K hike up a mountain valley to the Rob Roy glacier.  The views were spectacular, waterfall, forest, rushing rivers, wildflowers....amazing.  It was no easy hike but with time and a bit of whining tolerated we all made it...and boy was it worth the effort!!

Rob Roy Glacier

 

Bridal Veil falls

We took another day trip to Queenstown for a ride on a
coal steamer across Lake Wakitipu to the Walter Peak Farm where we saw how a sheep ranch works...complete with sheep dogs herding sheep and sheep shearing.  they had some lovely flowers in their gardens as well.  After lunch, we took the gondola up the mountain to join in a hakka, a maori culture show, followed by a few runs for Natalie and Aileen on the luge.




Upon returning home Dad kicked back with a nice New Zealand craft brew, a rich stout that was very rewarding and packed quite a punch.  I slept well that night.

Our last full day in in NZ was a bit rainy so we set off   for the Cinema Paradiso, a quirky theater filled with sofas and even an old car in which to watch the movie.  Of course we saw Part II of the Hobbit trilogy.


On our way to the airport for our trip home we stopped at Stuart Landsborough's puzzling world, a fun place filled with optical illusions and a giant maze...which took me the better part of an hour to get through

 

SO all in all a great time was had....New Zealand is really beautiful.  I could really see myself retiring there.  But if you like people and the hustle bustle,   NZ won't be your place.  It is calm and quiet and relaxing...a real joy to visit.