Marlborough Sounds (10.-12.11.2011)

Hope this works since I am using my IPhone! We arrived in Havelock and stayed there for the night. Early next morning we took the Water Taxi to Shag Point were the Nydia Walk starts. We decided the day before to make it a two-days walk, since it is a 10 hours walk, and booked a Lodge in the middle. We walked the first day through deep forrest and not much to see actually. But the Lodge "Lodge on the track" was a great place to stay. Duncan the new owner is a very nice guy and we had a really relaxing time in the Lodge. The second day started with an one-hour rain shower:-( but than the sky cleared up. The second day hike was a lot better since it was closer to the see. We had some nice view over the Marlborough Sounds and arrived at Duncan Bay earlier than expected. We could have done the hike in one day I recon but this way it was more relaxing! We stayed an other day in Havelock were we went for some mussle dinner which I really enjoyed. Next day we drove to "The barn" a backpacker in Abel Tasman NP.

Abel Tasman (13.-14.11.2011)

We arrived at the barn around 1pm and since the office was closed we went for an hike at the beginning of the NP. We layed on the beach for 2 hours and we also went for a very short swim. Pretty cold and windy, brrrr. In the evening we prepared a good dinner since the next day was full of hiking through the NP. We got up early and took the taxi boat to Bark Bay. It started to rain in the night and was still raining when going with the boat. We put on our rainclothes and still hoped that the weather would change. And luckily after 1 hour walk the sun came out and all clouds disappeared. The hike was very nice and the views over beaches and the coast line was great. We had a stop in "The Anchorage" and tried to go down to every bay on the way back to Marahau. Since the hike was very long (30km and we had been going for nearly 10 hours we decided to go to for dinner in Motueka. We got some really nice thai food and when arriving at the backpacker the sky was full of stars.

St. Josef Glacier (16.-17.11.2011)

We arranged a walk over the glacier. We were lucky with the weather, again! Sun was shinning almost the whole walk. We walked with the first group which was faster than the rest so we got a bit further up on the glacier. Amazing to see all that ice and we could also crawl through some holes in the glacier. It was clear blue ice al around and very cold... Had lunch on top of the glacier and watched helis flying over us dropping tourists for some heli hikes. A super view over the valley and saw how the clouds were getting bigger and bigger. Almost back at the car park the rain started falling and we meet people going on the late afternoon hike. Poor them getting wet when you start a hike is not really fun.

The day before we enjoyed the evening at the local spa. Three hot pools from 36 - 40 degrees. Nice and warm and helped our poor muscles to relax a bit.

Queenstown (18.-19.11.2011)

Nevis bungy jump, 134 meters! Highest jump in New Zealand with 8.5 sec. free fall. I am number 29 and the bus is leaving in 10 minutes. Wish me luck that the ropes don't snap... See you later!

OK I did it and the ropes were ok. Really scarry jumping but got some great pictures which I will try to post later. I think it is a "must do" while being in N.Z. Still feel a little weak on the feet better grabe me some lunch.

Weather here in Queenstown is sunny and 20 degrees. Better get some suntan before leaving NZ. To night is party night. Saturday in Queenstown, guess there is no better day to go out:-)

Omarama (20.21.11.2011)

stayed at a farm outside Omarama but there was not much to do there since it was raining. The next day we went to Christchurch and to Akaroa. Akaroa was a great last day stop and we had beautiful weather. Got a sunburn at the beach! We went to the "Bans Bay" and could have gone for a swim but the water was freezing. Better luck in Fiji...