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

Darkness and light

After Kyffin

I was delighted to have this image selected for a wet weather themed exhibition by Don't Take Pictures

The first comment I received was that is is somewhat darker than my normal fare.


It was taken on a very dark, rainy day at Milford Sound, New Zealand. I probably shouldn't tell you that I took it out of my car window, as the rain was so heavy.

Fiordland is the wettest part of New Zealand, so it was fitting that it rained.

The image title comes from having seen work by the artist Sir Kyffin Williams RA (1918- 2006).

Some of his largest paintings were very dark, featuring the Welsh hills.

This image is from the website of Robert Perera fine art, who deal with his work.


Here is something much lighter, in case you were getting concerned.

Winter in Whistler © Caroline Fraser

Waterfalls three times higher than Niagara, wetter than anywhere else in New Zealand. This is Milford Sound.

Milford Sound

I finally decided to revisit Milford Sound; always a worry that somewhere so special won't match the memories and the expectations. I had decided not to go for those very reasons, but then changed my mind. As is my prerogative.

I just couldn't resist it.

Milford Sound

Originally named Milford Haven by the Welshman who came across it. Then changed to Milford Sound. But really a fiord.

If words are your thing, and definitions excite you then Sesquiotica has said it all before, and far more eloquently; saving me the trouble.

It is one of the many fiords in Fiordland National Park, accessible through a tunnel into the mountain.

the tunnel

It was pouring with rain when I arrived at the tunnel, but while I waited I took pictures through my open car window.

Water was pouring down in all directions, and I was compelled to take a photo of the waterfalls, even though I never do; see previously….

after Kyffin ( Williams)

I like the simplicity of the bare rock and the water, reminding me of the stark landscapes of the Welsh painter  Kyffin Williams RA who died in 2006. He use oil paints. I was using a digital camera.

Milfors Sound has waterfalls more than three times higher than Niagara (51 metres), but because of the majesty of the surrounding mountains, the sense of scale is really difficult to grasp. The Stirling falls are 146m, and the Bowen falls 160m.

This picture shows a plane flying in to Milford; my attempt to show that scale.

plane arriving 

What a difference a day makes.

Pouring rain on Friday.

Sunshine and a dusting of fresh snow on the peaks on Saturday.

There is not much to say really, so I'll just show you the pictures.

Which will never do it justice.

Starting with the rainy day at low tide; dull and grey

but with lots of water…..

and spray…...

and then some sunshine breaking through

Followed by dawn on the beach the following morning, tripod and filters to the ready……

hopeful of some spectacular sun on Mitre Peak……..

Which didn't happen, but it was lovely all the same

And ending with a breakfast cruise in sunshine.

 So after two cruises, one tin hut with a bed in it, no dolphins, three seals and one bird that was not an albatross I took in some greenery in the local bush,  back on dry land.

The lushness is just incredible. It's the 6.8 metres of rain a year that does it.

All that greenery left me craving for a bit of colour, so I dropped by a bog to look at the sundews and colourful mosses on the other side of the mountain.

A spectacular two days, from which my favourite images are all dark grey. Must be the thought that my time in Gore is coming to a close, and that this was my last big weekend outing alone with my camera.

a little light on the shore at dawn

This last image was right beside my tripod as I spent an hour on the shore waiting to see what the dawn will bring on the majesty around me.

In the end, it is the little things that count.