My top ten places to visit in New Zealand South Island for people that like to use their legs

the road to Glenorchy

I went for a clinic appointment today.

The nurse, who knows me quite well, was interested to find out how my trip to New Zealand had gone.

And even more interested to know which places I would recommend for a three week tour. She is off there soon.

Now I spent most of my time down under  in South Island ( some six months or more in total) over three visits. But I have also driven from the south to the north, so have been to some of the top sights in both islands.

If I had my time again, and I only had three weeks, then I would stick to South Island, for it is there that I find the spectacular scenery that I so love. The roads are quieter, and the hiking is lush and green, as the climate is wetter and cooler.

So for you, JA, and anyone else who is interested, here is a list of my top 10 places to visit.

Others may disagree; this is just my personal list of favourites.

• Queenstown

Queenstown beach

 take a climb up Queenstown Hill.

the view from Queenstown Hill and the basket of dreams

and if you are feeling really energetic, take the cable car up and climb all or some of the route to the summit of Ben Lomond.

•  from Queesntown dont miss one of the world's most scenic drives to Glenorchy at the top of Lake Wakitipu. From there a trip up the Dart River is a chance to get to the heart of Lord of the Rings Scenery

Glenorchy

Dart River at Paradise

• Doubftful Sound

Doubtful Sound

Swim or kayak with dolphins and catch your own fish for tea with Deepcove charters 

doubtful dolphins

Doubtful Sound is much less accessible and therefore much quieter than Milford Sound.

If you can't get to Doubtful then please go to Milford. It is also a truly wonderful place.

Milford Sound

Milford Sound

Milford Sound

Hollyford track

Hollyford track

• Hike the Hollyford Track or the Milford or the Routeburn. You will need to book with a guided trip but the landscape is worth the pain, and even the rain.

• Mount Cook and the Hooker Valley track passing Lake Pukaki enroute.

Lake Pukaki

Hooker Valley track

Hooker Valley track

• and not far from there the Rob Roy Glacier Track

Rob Roy glacier track

Rob Roy glacier track

Rob Roy glacier track

then head over to the West Coast for some more spectacualr coastline and glaciers, passing through Wanaka on the way.

Wanaka

• the glaciers Franz Josef or Fox

Franz Josef glacier

Franz Josef from a helicopter

hike along the West Coast

Abel Tasman

• Abel Tasman for a very different hiking experience along a coastal path in warmer waters ans sunnier climes

abel tasman

And I nearly forgot Stewart Island on the very south coast. The birdlife there is second to none as they have islands with no predators. You can get there by ferry or plane.

Stewart Island flights

go kiwi hunting on Ulva Island, and listen to the birdsong

 I love the song of the bellbird

we saw a Kiwi in broad daylight on Ulva Island

the robins are very friendly

Ulva Island

flying to Stewart Island

So I didn't quite get that all in a logical order, but you will be able to sort that out.

If not, I am happy to come along as your guide and photographer.

Queenstown sunset

crystal clear waters on the Routeburn track

on the road - part 1

Wanaka

So my man has arrived, and we are on the road.

He flew into Queenstown airport and while I waited to collect him I considered how much more I might enjoy going shopping if I had a view like this.

Specsavers -   a sight for sore eyes

The sun shone and the mountains have their first sprinkling of snow.

Cornflakes

We have a vehicle and some cornflakes.

We have bacon and some eggs.

We have a long drive ahead.

From the south of South island, via Westland and the north of South island then on to North Island.

Via places with no wi-fi or central heating, and an outdoor bath, complete with gas lamp.

bath with log-fire-controlled water temperature

Hard to write when on the road, especially when OH is sitting behind me asking me why I haven't written my blog recently…………

I have advised him to read The Luminaries, in the hope that it will keep him busy for an hour or two so that I can put fingers to keyboard and sort out some photos. It is set on the west coast of New Zealand in gold mining times, and won the Booker Prize.

He checks the newspapers on his iPad and informs me that this weekend in the UK will be a 'sizzler' and that the number of sausages eaten will stretch three times around the M25.

I ask him what newspaper he is reading ……..

I'll let you guess that one



Later he asks me what sprig muslin is………  I admit my ignorance

and then what  phillumeny is 

and later a lucifer

My ignorance is being surely tested.


I am beginning to wish he wasn't reading The Luminaries .


                                                                 *******


We are enjoying the bird life in New Zealand.

as usual, they remain elusive

Wekas are more amenable to sightings

Pukeko are everywhere, and rather elegant

Pukeko ( swamp hens)  are everywhere but the only Kiwi we have seen is on a plate.

Kiwi

We have travelled from the autumn colours of central Otago and Queenstown to the lush temperate rainforest of Abel Tasman national park.

Autumn in Queenstown

Autumn in Genorchy

Via the greys of the west coast glaciers and the Tasman sea at Punakaiki.

danger of rock fall

Franz Josef Glacier

Punakaiki seascape

Today we had blue skies and frost. Perfect weather for tramping.


The water taxi dropped us off……..

Aqua taxi

and we strolled along the coast.

Abel Tasman national park

All in all, a perfect day.

Marahau, gateway to the Abel Tasman track

And just when we were least expecting it, we saw two penguins.