To Wanaka

After spending a few nights in Franz Josef it was time to move on to Wanaka.
A rapid change in the climate was noticeable driving over Haast pass into the considerably drier eastern side of the southern alps.


Adelle showing off her rock hopping technique.


Diamond Lake, near Wanaka.


West Matukituki valley, sharks tooth is the little pointy peak in the middle.


The rob roy glacier, which involves a nice little three hour walk.


Adelle

Franz Josef Glacier

Decided to be a proper tourist and joined the masses for a walk on a glacier.


Picture showing the terminal face and the cave that the river runs out of.


Same as above.


On the glacier.


Close up view.


Adelle


Fox Glacier, not the one we climbed on but we saw it the next day on the drive to wanaka.

Birds of NZ

Some of the birds I managed to see on the trip, there were no kiwis to be seen sadly eventhough we did travel through a few areas where they live.


Tui


There is a pair of paradise shelducks in this tree, the female is the orange one with a white head.


Grey teal


Dunnock.


Magpie geese


Black billed gull, with Mount Cook in the background.


Rifleman, New Zealands smallest bird.


Welcome Swallow.


Weka


Kea.


Female Paradise Shelduck.


Male Paradise shelduck


Wallaby, yellowhammer, House sparrow and juvenile Chaffinch.

West Coast

After Arthurs Pass, we drove down to Franz Josef along the west coast, which is my favourite part of the whole country.
Managed to pick up a really dodgy hitch hiker that hadn't showered for a few months along the way but he only stayed for few hundred kilometres.


Near lake Matheson, which is a place famous for giving lovely views of mount cook, however not when we were there.


Lake Matheson.


Beach near hokitika.


West coast farm land.


Supposedly a good place to go to see fiordland crested penguin, didn't see any of those but I did spot a flock of Kaka on the walk in.


West coast river.

Snow

While we were staying in arthurs pass we got quite a bit of snow, which is quite unusual in the summer.

Rental Car


Adelle


More snow

Christchurch to Arthurs Pass

After the wedding was over no time was wasted in getting down to the south island for some sight seeing.
The first stage of the trip involved flying to Christchurch and then driving to Arthurs pass the next day.

Christchurch Cathedral


The cave at castle hill.


Castle hill.


Devils Punchbowl on a rainy arthurs pass day.


The next day an attempt was made on mount avalanche, which was abandoned at the bushline due to poor weather.


Mount Avalanche.

Dan and Jnanas wedding

Flew to Auckland to go to a friend from high schools wedding.
It was good to see a lot of people for the first time in eight years.

The Happy Couple


The carriage the bride arrived in.

Al Jazeera English

Not only has Al Jazeera launched an english language version of its news show it also seems to have good taste in sport.
McCaw warns the world

In other matters I finally saw a figbird.

Shipley Upper

My third trip to upper shipley on an absolutely lovely blue mountains day. Didn't climb anything hard, hopefully next time.


Adelle on Nude Tuesday 19


Dimpy and myself flailing at the Jack High 19 and the lower half of Hot Flyer 19.

Sea slug

A lovely sea slug that was sitting in a rock pool.