TOUR THROUGH NEW ZEALAND, SOUTH ISLAND
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Castle Hill (Kura Tawhiti)These boulders mark a sacred Maori site in the middle of the South Island.
Cafe near Arthur's Pass12/06/04 - "...the owners of the cafe purchased the entire town for $70,000 about 30 years ago. The rest of the town consists of a banjo factory and 18 houses."
Palm at Lake MahinapuaThe first stop I made on the west coast, Mahinapua showed off all of what New Zealand has to offer. A short walk from a sandy beach, the lake was surrounded by a lush, green forest. The lake itself mirrored the distant snow-capped mountains.
Franz Josef Glacier12/07/04 - "Bohemian Rhapsody is playing now at the Cheeky Kea cafe in Franz Josef. Everyone's going on a glacier trek tomorrow, but I'm opting for a horseback ride through the New Zealand countryside...got a view of the glacier today during a short trek..."
Lake Wanaka12/09/04 - "...gorgous evening - sunny, sailboats drifting on the lake, mountains in the distance, ducks swimming nearby. A cool gust of wind rustles through the willows..."
Kuwarau Bridge12/10/04 - "...BUNGY! So awesome! Indescribable. Churning aquamarine waters, bridge, ledge, toes to the edge, 5-4-3-2-1...DIVE - free fall towards blueness, bouncing...addicting."
Milford SoundA few months prior to this trip, I stood mesmerized before an oil painting of Milford Sound in the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney. The painting, by Eugene von Guerard, inspired me to make the trip to Milford Sound a priority.
Sheep, QueenstownA common sight in New Zealand, the animals outnumber people on the South Island thirty to one.
Mountain bike trail, north of Queenstown12/12/04 - "...rented a full-suspension bike for a long ride around the mountains behind Queenstown - REAL mountain biking! Single track on rocky mountain ledges..around a lake, farm road, cows!, fell into a stream...the VIEWS!. Fast downward spiral on the paved road into town!
Blue flower, One Mile Trail, QueenstownHiking trails surround the adventure capital of the world. These blue flowers stood out against the bright green background.
Mossy Stream, One Mile TrailAn old pipe system used to divert water from this stream into nearby Queenstown. Now, the water flows freely over mossy rocks.
Queenstown Botanical Gardens12/14/04 - "...love it. Love to escape to gardens, especially when I'm in a city. Nearby, people are kayaking and boating..."
