April 26 - Ross

 Today is Ted’s birthday!!!  I picked up a huge piece of red velvet cake for us to enjoy later on.  This morning we had coffee in the animal sanctuary in Franz Josef - we saw a rare type of Kiwi birds, blue penguins that have been rescued because they are missing a limb, and the tuataras- reptiles.  All three only live in New Zealand.  We were there for the feeding of the penguins and the associated talk.  Interesting.  

Then it was a short drive to the town of Ross and the historic Empire hotel.  When I was cycling through a month ago, it was raining when I passed through, and didn’t realize the gem that I passed up by going to the next town of Harihari.  So we stopped in to check it out today, and we will be staying here tonight!!!  There’s a huge open fireplace in the centre of the bar, we have a huge modern room, and there’s a roast buffet tonight.  I think Ted is happy for his birthday.  We also ate the cake while sitting on the beach!!!  😃😃😃

Feeding the penguins 

April 25 - Franz Josef Glacier

 It was a short drive from Haast to Franz Josef, so we took the opportunity to stop at every pullout that had a view.  Roads continue to be narrow and windy, so this also gave me a chance to allow the cars behind me to pass.  I have a hard time going the speed limit, and I’m often 10-20 km/hr below the speed limit.  

We made a stop at Knight’s Point….the same spot where Katherine saw me a month ago!  Hard to believe that it’s been that long!!!  The trees are turning colours, some have dropped their leaves, and it has cooled off.  

I went for a short hike to get a better look at the glacier.  I walked about 6km return, but didn’t get anywhere near the glacier.  It’s currently about 19km from the coast, and scientists believe that it used to extend into the sea.  

Knight’s point

Bruce Bay

Breakfast…red Kiwi which is sweeter than a green or golden kiwi and Fajola which taste like a mix of pineapple and guava but gritty like a pear.  

April 24 - Haast

 Today was all about water and views!!!  It started with Lake Wanaka and the tree that grows in the lake….then several other lakes.  Every time we went around a curve the view changed.  We stopped as often as we could to take pictures.  Clear lakes that look like glass, with snow capped mountains towering over them and lined with trees that are changing colours.  Spectacular.  After we left the lakes behind, then there were the waterfalls.  We are on the west coast, but inland a bit.  Tomorrow we will have views of the Tasman Sea.  

Interesting tree

Roaring Billy Falls

River flowing beside Haast Pass

Thunder Creek waterfall

Fantail waterfall on Haast Pass

Lake Hawea

Trees lining the driveway into a vineyard

The tree that’s growing in Lake Wanaka

Lake Wanaka

April 23 - Wanaka - near Queenstown

 We had another fabulous day!!!  The weather is warming up as well where we are which is great.  A few days ago Wellington- the southern tip of the North Island was flooding, with some homes and vehicles destroyed.  Always hate to see the destructive force of Mother Nature.  

Lucky for us the weather has been great since we returned the motorcycles 😂😂😂.   This morning after a leisurely breakfast and flat white coffee, we back tracked about 60km before heading north to Queenstown.  There is only one road in and out of Te Anau.  

We had gorgeous views again today…the snow capped mountains, with the grasslands, and farming land….throw in a few hills and a few spectacular lakes….and you have paradise!!!  Unfortunately we couldn’t stop to take photos as often as I would have liked….every km or so would have been nice!!!!  The roads are narrow, no shoulders and twisty….and cars behind me going so fast that I pull over to let them pass.  

We stopped in the touristy town of Arrowtown, wandering around into all the shops.  They have many sweaters made with possum Marino….light and apparently very warm.  Being a touristy town they have many lovely shops with lovely prices to match!  Lots of window shopping for me 😃

We are now in the town of Wanaka, not far north of Queenstown….another touristy town.  As we were driving in, coming down a hill we had the most spectacular view….the snow capped mountains, with the lake in front….glassy smooth, with the multicoloured trees - red, yellow and green on the hillsides.  Just spectacular.  

We will soon be heading to the west coast and the Tasman Sea.  Stay tuned!!! 

The steep twisty road we drive up…this was the road from the cycling that I was supposed to be on.  Glad I took a pass on it!!!!

Granny squares covering the posts….interesting!!!

They are selling Canada Goose down jackets here!!!!

The lake below Queenstown.  Looking behind

The same spot as above but looking ahead

Ted sporting his new kangaroo hat!!!

April 22 - Milford Sound

 What an amazing day we had!  After breakfast we drove the 117km to Milford Sound.  The drive takes about 2 hours…twisty narrow road without shoulders, but gorgeous views.  There is only about be way in and out of Milford Sound.  

Once there we boarded a boat for a cruise around the sound.  We saw furry seals and waterfalls while learning about the sound.  A full day 😃

April 21 - Te Anau

 We drove to a small tourist town n the southern west coast where the fjords are.  The way here was twisty, with the southern alps in our view the entire way.  The peaks remain with a dusting of snow ….gorgeous to view.  The forecast is for it to warm up a bit next week, but for now it’s cool and windy with a low cloud base.  

The town is on a lake of the same name, the second largest lake in New Zealand with a depth of up to 420meters.  We booked a tour to see the glow worms.  A 2 1/2 hour tour that started with a boat ride across the lake, with great views.  Once we arrived we were split up into smaller groups and headed off into the caves to see them.  A 500m walk crouching low at times, 47 stairs and walking on metal grates with water rushing just under our feet.  We both had feelings of vertigo.  The water flow was deafening- could hear anything but that.  

At the far end we entered a grotto where we sat in a boat / away from the rushing water where it was quiet, looking up at all the glow worms.  We weren’t allowed to take photos, so I took photos of the video they showed us after the experience.  

The worms are translucent and only the tip glows so when we are looking at them in the dark….they look like stars in the heavens.  They grow to be 4cm long, and as soon as the eggs hatch, they spend 9 months building these long strings to catch insects to eat.  After these 9 months of eating, they turn into a flying insect lasting only a few days before the females lay up to 100 eggs and then die for the cycle to start over.  

This was a great excursions and we loved it.  Ted is doing really well walking longer distances, even with his boot on!  We didn’t do much exploring of the town as it’s only 2C with a wind.  So cold!