11.09.2009

South Island, New Zealand

Upon finishing the survey in Wellington, my coworker/amigo and I took a ferry over the Cook Strait to the South Island at night.  We picked up a rental car in the morning and drove it 1200 km's (about 700 miles) down to the bottom of the island, Fjordland National Park, made famous by the stupid Lord of the Rings movies.  Along the way we hit the West Coast, which is dubbed one of the Top 10 road trips by Lonely Planet's Blue List.  After that were the glaciers in Franz Josef and Fox, where we chartered a helicopter and did a day hike on our crampons around in the ice and snow.  The next day's drive winds past Mt. Cook and the Southern Alps, finally arriving in Fjordland National Park.  We stayed the night in the coastal town of Manapouri and then embarked on a cruise of Doubtful Sound with a ton of senior citizens.  Below is photographic proof of this trip/adventure/journey.



Ferry Map to the South Island



Franz Josef Glacier from heli



Franz Josef Glacier from cramp-ons



Farm/Mtns. South Island, NZ



Sound reflection, South Island, NZ



Sheep Crossing, NZ

No comments: