Marlborough, Bike Tour, Baz and Mads (Special) - March 2011

Because Mads and Baz are going back to Europe after 5 years, and because they are both special people, we took them across to marlborough to do the bike tour.



"I can't jump out of a plane with flowers !"




Joy Ride




We are very intelligent




Ready to go




Isabel Vineyard




Dring dring




Marlborough




Get your rocks off




My bum is really sore




It is raining and I have no coat




Cheese and wine anyone?



Christchurch Earthquake Damage - March 2011

This was my first trip back to Christchurch after the big earthquake. We have an office their and we need to get things back to normal so me going there was part of that process. Everything outside the city looks normal, well except every hundred yards there being a house missing, and the tanks, and the soldiers and the 3rd largest city centre in New Zealand being fenced off, and the hotels having no drinking water so you get handed water bottles at reception. The devestation is sureal. There is an under lying sense of humour though. Any minor problem is answered with 'harden up'. Things are refered to as 'munted' (meaning buggered) which raises a laugh each time. There was a restraunt open just on the outside of the restricted zone and I had a pizza and a beer. I hope they get it all fixed soon. The Christchurch beer is good.

This was a church

As far as you can get into the city limits

This was a pub

This is a tank



Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise - March 2011

Off we go again, this time on a 2 day cruise, overnight in Doubtful Sound. It takes a boat trip and a bus ride to get to the sound so it is best seen by an overnight so why not go for the en-suite and personal service option (er money dear).



View of Doubtful Sound from the pass



Manapouri power station water outlet



Brum brum !



Weather makes the sound look pretty special



Lunatic takes the helm



Seal with a view



No planning permission, no problem



"I am not going in no matter how bad the weather gets"



Fishing in secluded cove



Sand fly fishing



"I caught one and it was this big"



Evening meal



Morning



Off we go again up the sound



There be whales, well huge dolphin anyway



Nice



Last view before dock

Milford Track Day 1, Te Anau, New Zealand

We are off today on the 5 day Milford Track trip in Fiordland down the bottom of The South Island. You can either do the track via the Department of Conservation huts unsupported or do it how the original visitors did it via the Lodges on the 'gin and tonic' version. Guess which we are doing. You still need to carry your pack for the whole track with clothes, but you only need to carry day food and water as all meals and drinks are flown in by helicopter to the lodges, including a nice selection of wines!

The track is started off by a boat trip from Te Anau, across Lake Te Anau where it is just a short walk to Glade House Lodge. The lodge is very nice and the running hot water shower in the en-suite meets our expectation.

The first evening you are taken on a guided tour and up to a local stream. The bush on the Milford Track is the sames as it was when the first explorers entered in the 1880s.



Takahe statue, Te Anau



Guides brief while Denis shows his fancy pants



Fantastic views up the lake



"Had my cup of tea now"



Approaching the departure point



First view up the Clinton River



Glade House Lodge



Very old bush



Handsome bush man



More very old bush



New Zealand Robin (South Island Race) - Petroica (Miro) Australis



Evening at the first bridge we will cross tomorrow

Milford Track Day 2, New Zealand

We're off. After a full cooked breakfast though. It is a 10 mile walk, you need your energy. The track follows the Clinton River deep into the bush. There are many exciting suspension bridges and many view points for photos. Although there are quite a lot of people walking the track but because people set off at intervals you don't really have contact with too many other people. The Clinton has two rivers feeding it and the track goes off to the left and up the West Branch popping out into what the guides call the prairie which is very picturesque. After some messing about at a swim hole, which by the way is very cold and gets freezing where the guys are jumping in as it is glazier melt water, we get back on the walk and then finally get to Pompolona Lodge. You really feel now that you are in the middle of nowhere.



Heading off to the Clinton River crossing



One final look back at the Glade House Lodge



View back across the Clinton River to Dore Pass



Unique ancient wetland environment



Suns coming up now .... wow



Time to get the packs back on and get going



Track through bush



Track winds alongside Clinton River



"are we there yet?"



Tracey and Louise overtake again!



Time for a pose



The water is pure enough to drink or just eat the trout



How nice, the guides have made a brew



Bush Stop



Is it a track or a river ?



First view of Mackinnon Pass



Only five more bridges to go



Spooky



OK, who's going for a glacial swim?



"Not me!"



Water fall refreshments



Hypothermia here we come



Last look back



Made it, where the hell are we?