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South East Asia Adventure
Hi Guys,
Far too busy enjoying ourselves to email.....
Queenstown seems the centre of the universe for most backpackers travelling around the South Island. It was a bit too busy for us!! However the lakes and mountains there were beautiful. We went up on the gondola (walking up the mountain was just not going to happen) and Fiona went 'lunging' at the top. No this is not a form of fighting but a down hill track on a cross between a go-kart and and sledge - take a look at the picture.
From Queenstown we headed SW to Te Anau - you've guessed it a small town on yet another beautiful lake. Te Anau is on the edge of Fiordland - the wetest place in the history of the universe some 200-260 rainy days per year (some 7-8 metres per year) - we feel quite at home. We stayed the night on a deer farm in a log cabin and were treated to a complete rainbow right infront of our cabin. Unfortunately I couldn't fit it all in one picture. Just for a taster of one of the great tramps here I went for a short walk down part of the Kepler Track through sub-alpine rainforest, over swing bridges and across wetland areas. It was magical. Really tall trees, tree ferns, lots of birds that you could hear but not see.
The following day we went for an overnight cruise on a sailboat on Doubtful Sound. Thanks Jenny for the tip - DS is just an amazing place. We left Manapouri at 12.00 noon and had a short motor boat trip across Lake Manapouri then a coach across to Doubtful Sound on the service road. It had been raining for a while and we didn't appreciate how good this was for us until we passed literally hundreds of waterfalls of varying sizes - some just jaw-dropping. It was about 2.30pm by the time we boarded the boat and then we were off. Some parts of the afternoon were very reminiscent of our cruise on the Yangste River last year - lots of mist and kind of spooky. Fee and I went kayaking - we figured we couldn't get any wetter than we already were. It was great fun if a little choppy and I soon realised that the reality of going for a half day kayaking would have been a little ambitious - my arms were like lead after about an hour. Grub and company was really good - we met some interesting folks. The following morning at about 6.30am (can you believe it Fee was already on deck and sipping tea!!!!) the captain announced dolphins off the star board bough - there were only about four of them but they played with the boat for a while. Of course the photos are all of the sea as the camera seems to have a delay and the dolphins were in and out of the sea just too quick. On our way back we sailed down one of the Arms of DS and the captain stopped the boat. We had 10 minutes silence. It was beautiful - just listening to the birds and enjoying the tranquility - Fiona even managed to stay awake.
We headed off for a drive down the Milford Sound Road straiight from the boat. An afternoon of more mountains, lakes, rivers etc and arrived at Milford Sound mid afternoon. Not sure quite how it happened but one minute we were talking about having a coffee and the next minute we had booked ourselves on a scenic flight over Milford Sound! Well these things just happen don't they. We got together with a German couple and did a deal for 4 of us. It was a small jet with only 6 seats. I of course had to sit with the pilot just to keep an eye on him. We flew right to the end of MS, over glaciers, huge waterfalls, mountiain lakes, part of the Milford Track and out along the coast. It was brilliant. We stayed in Te Anau that night before heading north to Wanaka.
Wanaka - you've got it another small town, on a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains. This morning Fee and I went for a walk up Mount Iron. The guide book said a gentle climb up, beautiful views and a steep descent. You've got it we went up the steep way and down the gentle way. We were both seriously out of breath by the time we got to the top. The views were stunning and we recovered our composure after a rest at the top. This afternoon we spent a couple of hours in puzzle word. Lots of brain teaser puzzles - we did manage to do some of them. Then lots of optical illusion stuff like you get in the Science Museum at home and to round it off a massive two storey maze. I think we probably walked about 5Km during the course of the hour we were in there.
Anyway it's 9.30pm - I'm tired and need some fresh air.
Hope all's well with everyone. It's really great receiving emails - and pictures. Sorry if we haven't managed to respond to each of you individually.
Lots of love
Judith (and Fee)
xxxxx
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