Hi Everyone!
Many thanks for reading along as I write. It is awesome to hear your comments each time I hear from you! It is a lot of fun to write about what we're seeing and doing especially since I have a fairly captive audience!
We made it to New Zealand on Wednesday morning. It was an overnight flight from Perth. This flight was more taxing than our flight from Seattle to Taipei. We were exhausted. It was cold, windy and blustery when we arrived and that didn't help our state of mind. We picked up our rental camper van and were on our way to explore Christchurch. After getting a lot turned around (we were the lucky owners of extraordinarily crappy maps from the rental place) we found the central city and a spot to eat breakky as we were famished. The city centers around a church and cobbled square and is flanked on one side with a river. We saw a man with a snappy hat navigating down the river in a gondola - cool. After eating, we couldn't believe that it was only 10:30 am b/c did I mention how tired we were? Anyway, we eventually found a park to situate the camper next to for a long winters nap. When we awoke it was 3:30pm so we were off to find a campervan park, some groceries and a shower. We found all of these things and managed a dip in a hot tub and a movie that evening.
On Thursday, we were off for Lake Tekapo. The drive out there was gorgeous. The scenery is breathtaking almost all the time. I wonder if we'll become "view fatigued" by the end of our time in this country. But, truly it is the most beautiful place I've ever been. The countryside we drove through was dotted with sheep. There were rolling green hills and lush valleys. The hills eventually gave way to craggy mountains - some with snow (sometimes LOTS) on top. Lake Tekapo is a small holiday village on the south end of the lake. The lake is a crazy blue due to glacial till (Peter's teaching this science dimwit a thing or two!). We hiked up to Mt. John and were treated to a 360 degree view of the area - lake giving way to mountains giving way to hills and valleys and more smaller lakes. We found a good hiking place just outside of town with a sweet view of the lake through some trees. After a short nap (for Kerry) we were up at 10:30 pm for the "Earth and Sky Tour" offered at the Mt. John Observatory that we'd passed by on our hike earlier. The tour was fantastic and kind of strange as it was conducted completely in the dark. Peter and I had to hone our night vision. It was a challenge at the beginning since I was just waking up from my nap! We were treated to a clear night and were able to see constellations that I'd only heard about. We saw Jupiter and Mars and we even saw the International Space Station passing by! How cool. We also used the telescopes to get a closer look at a few nebula and the third star on Orion's belt. Another good science learning time for me! However, by 2am, I was ready for bed and kind of cold. Additionally, the tour guide was highly annoying and wasn't very good at explaining things. Oh well, she was doing her best, right?!
The next day, we groggily awoke at 10:00 and were off to Mt. Cook/Aoraki. Again, the drive was spectacular. The van is automatic so, I can just drive and admire the scenery rather than be frantic about being in the correct gear, finding the correct gear, and not stalling out. Fantastic! Anyway, we arrived to Mt. Cook just after lunch time and we were off for the Hooker Valley hike. It was a three hour endeavor all together and it was worth every second. The trail was rocky and crossed a small river over two swing cable bridges but it was easy walking. The thing we noticed right away was the SUN. Even when the air isn't that warm, the sun is intense. All because the hole in the roof is over New Zealand. We were applying and re-applying sunscreen the whole way. The Hooker Valley trail ends at the toe of the Mt. Cook Glacier ( I can't remember the name of the glacier) but it was fantastic. Mt. Cook was almost completely covered in snow, the craggy top looked majestic in the sunlight and the blue of the ice was amazing. As we were sitting on the shore of the small lake near the glacier skipping rocks, a few chunks of the toe fell into the water. AWESOME! Peter assured me that this occurrence was "GEOLOGY IN ACTION!" Very amazing.
We awoke the next morning to overcast skies that quickly gave way to that bright shining sun. We chose a new hike that was called Sealy Tarns. A tarn is a groove in rock where water collects. This hike was no bullshit. It was practically uphill - might I add steeply uphill - for one hour. Whoa Nelly, it was a leg burner. It was like a Natural Stairmaster. But, as is usually the case, the views from the top were AMAZING! There were patches of snow around the tarn and we could see Mt. Cook and the surrounding mountains from a new perspective. As we were taking it all in, patches of snow fell from the mountain like an icy waterfall. The sound it makes is really quite loud - like muted fireworks. Again, "GEOLOGY IN ACTION!"
We were off to Queenstown after a quick lunch in our camper (we need to name her, so we truly become one with her, any suggestions? Blanca is taken.). On our way here, we came to a gorge area that was full of vineyards - hills and hills of grapes. Queenstown is a bustling place of 8,000 residents, which seems small but it has the feeling of a city because there is a lot going on. It is called Queenstown b/c it is considered a town fit for a Queen, which isn't far off. There is a huge lake in the center and mountains on either side. There is a pedestrian mall with lots of shops. Alongside the lake are picnic areas and grassy fields to relax and play in. If it were a bit sunnier and warmer, I'm sure we'd be in on that program. This is considered the birthplace of the Bungy Jump so this town is also known for the adrenaline seeking crowd. Peter is trying to get me to Skydive. I'm almost sold. I'm sure you'll be posted on the final decision.
Hope all is well with all of you! Miss you!
Kerry & Peter
xo
Many thanks for reading along as I write. It is awesome to hear your comments each time I hear from you! It is a lot of fun to write about what we're seeing and doing especially since I have a fairly captive audience!
We made it to New Zealand on Wednesday morning. It was an overnight flight from Perth. This flight was more taxing than our flight from Seattle to Taipei. We were exhausted. It was cold, windy and blustery when we arrived and that didn't help our state of mind. We picked up our rental camper van and were on our way to explore Christchurch. After getting a lot turned around (we were the lucky owners of extraordinarily crappy maps from the rental place) we found the central city and a spot to eat breakky as we were famished. The city centers around a church and cobbled square and is flanked on one side with a river. We saw a man with a snappy hat navigating down the river in a gondola - cool. After eating, we couldn't believe that it was only 10:30 am b/c did I mention how tired we were? Anyway, we eventually found a park to situate the camper next to for a long winters nap. When we awoke it was 3:30pm so we were off to find a campervan park, some groceries and a shower. We found all of these things and managed a dip in a hot tub and a movie that evening.
On Thursday, we were off for Lake Tekapo. The drive out there was gorgeous. The scenery is breathtaking almost all the time. I wonder if we'll become "view fatigued" by the end of our time in this country. But, truly it is the most beautiful place I've ever been. The countryside we drove through was dotted with sheep. There were rolling green hills and lush valleys. The hills eventually gave way to craggy mountains - some with snow (sometimes LOTS) on top. Lake Tekapo is a small holiday village on the south end of the lake. The lake is a crazy blue due to glacial till (Peter's teaching this science dimwit a thing or two!). We hiked up to Mt. John and were treated to a 360 degree view of the area - lake giving way to mountains giving way to hills and valleys and more smaller lakes. We found a good hiking place just outside of town with a sweet view of the lake through some trees. After a short nap (for Kerry) we were up at 10:30 pm for the "Earth and Sky Tour" offered at the Mt. John Observatory that we'd passed by on our hike earlier. The tour was fantastic and kind of strange as it was conducted completely in the dark. Peter and I had to hone our night vision. It was a challenge at the beginning since I was just waking up from my nap! We were treated to a clear night and were able to see constellations that I'd only heard about. We saw Jupiter and Mars and we even saw the International Space Station passing by! How cool. We also used the telescopes to get a closer look at a few nebula and the third star on Orion's belt. Another good science learning time for me! However, by 2am, I was ready for bed and kind of cold. Additionally, the tour guide was highly annoying and wasn't very good at explaining things. Oh well, she was doing her best, right?!
The next day, we groggily awoke at 10:00 and were off to Mt. Cook/Aoraki. Again, the drive was spectacular. The van is automatic so, I can just drive and admire the scenery rather than be frantic about being in the correct gear, finding the correct gear, and not stalling out. Fantastic! Anyway, we arrived to Mt. Cook just after lunch time and we were off for the Hooker Valley hike. It was a three hour endeavor all together and it was worth every second. The trail was rocky and crossed a small river over two swing cable bridges but it was easy walking. The thing we noticed right away was the SUN. Even when the air isn't that warm, the sun is intense. All because the hole in the roof is over New Zealand. We were applying and re-applying sunscreen the whole way. The Hooker Valley trail ends at the toe of the Mt. Cook Glacier ( I can't remember the name of the glacier) but it was fantastic. Mt. Cook was almost completely covered in snow, the craggy top looked majestic in the sunlight and the blue of the ice was amazing. As we were sitting on the shore of the small lake near the glacier skipping rocks, a few chunks of the toe fell into the water. AWESOME! Peter assured me that this occurrence was "GEOLOGY IN ACTION!" Very amazing.
We awoke the next morning to overcast skies that quickly gave way to that bright shining sun. We chose a new hike that was called Sealy Tarns. A tarn is a groove in rock where water collects. This hike was no bullshit. It was practically uphill - might I add steeply uphill - for one hour. Whoa Nelly, it was a leg burner. It was like a Natural Stairmaster. But, as is usually the case, the views from the top were AMAZING! There were patches of snow around the tarn and we could see Mt. Cook and the surrounding mountains from a new perspective. As we were taking it all in, patches of snow fell from the mountain like an icy waterfall. The sound it makes is really quite loud - like muted fireworks. Again, "GEOLOGY IN ACTION!"
We were off to Queenstown after a quick lunch in our camper (we need to name her, so we truly become one with her, any suggestions? Blanca is taken.). On our way here, we came to a gorge area that was full of vineyards - hills and hills of grapes. Queenstown is a bustling place of 8,000 residents, which seems small but it has the feeling of a city because there is a lot going on. It is called Queenstown b/c it is considered a town fit for a Queen, which isn't far off. There is a huge lake in the center and mountains on either side. There is a pedestrian mall with lots of shops. Alongside the lake are picnic areas and grassy fields to relax and play in. If it were a bit sunnier and warmer, I'm sure we'd be in on that program. This is considered the birthplace of the Bungy Jump so this town is also known for the adrenaline seeking crowd. Peter is trying to get me to Skydive. I'm almost sold. I'm sure you'll be posted on the final decision.
Hope all is well with all of you! Miss you!
Kerry & Peter
xo
1 comment:
As you drive fearlessly about the mountainous countryside ... remember Corsica!
Well, maybe it's different if you're at the wheel. And maybe NZ has those little useless barriers on the downhill side...
Chris
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