New Zealand is often referred to as the « clean and green » country. It is up to its reputation! In NZ, you can tramp on mountains, on volcanoes, in rainforests or along endless beaches, you can swim with dolphins and watch whales, seals and penguins, you can go white-water rafting and many more! The choice and the fun is endless.
Another fact about NZ is the ratio men/sheep. About 3.5 million inhabitants against 70 million sheep! In other words, 20 sheep per person, and it shows!
In 1998, we spent a month (February) travelling from north to south, from the Bay of Islands and the ninety Mile beach in the far north, down to the Fjords and the Catlins facing Steward Island in the far south.
THE NORTH ISLAND
Auckland has an american skyline
In the Bay of Islands, the dream team on the verge to tour New Zealand…
Now, I could be a seagull…
Was I a Maori in a previous life?
On a boat for dolphins watching
In the craters of the moon in Wairakei
Near Hamilton, our camp is gorgeous!
Wellington, the capital city, looks modern and sleepy
On the ferry from Wellington to Picton, in the South Island
THE SOUTH ISLAND
Along Queen Charlotte sounds…
…we enjoyed sightseeing along the Bob’s Bay walk
Along Bob’s Bay walk
Mussels fishing in Malborough sounds…
… and mussels eating!
FISHING
In Queen Charlotte sounds, we met Rachel and Richard…
… and went fishing in their boat…
Hi Suk did the best performance in catching so many fishes with outrageous luck!
Our Motueka camp at sunset, at the eve of trekking (tramping in New Zealander) along the Abel Tasman walk
THE ABEL TASMAN COASTAL TRACK
At Marahau, after registering, we’re ready to go for a four day walk…
The Abel Tasman trail is sometimes a beach…
A nice spot to enjoy the sea side: this bench is really tempting…
Crossing a river on a swinging bridge over a canyon seems to be fun!
Sea urchins are sometimes on the menu!
No wonder NZ is so green, it does rain regularly!
There are plenty of secluded beaches, just for me!
We also decided to spend a day kayaking. Just great! But our arms were less trained than our legs…
Near Anchorage hut, a bay has to be crossed, at low tide only!
After a good meal, we feel invigorated!
THE CAPE FOULWIND TRACK
At Cape Foulwind, we were only 16.000 km away from home…
A strong wind and a hot sun made the perfect weather for tramping!
This is where we met the Weka (Gallirallus australis), easier to watch than the Kiwi!
RAFTING AT BULLER GORGE
Ready to go, and still dry!
The last time someone witnessed the vanished boat and team!
Even a swing bridge is no fun after rafting!
At Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, I wonder if I could swallow so many pancakes!
THE WESTLAND
Lake Matheson is kind’a « romantic »
The Fox glacier, coming down Mt Cook, ends in a luxurious forest!
Gillepsie’s beach: the desolate beach where I landed after I shipwrecked…
THE KEPLER TRACK
This four day walk gives access to the Kepler mountains at the end of the lake Te Anau. It includes an alpine stretch which requires good weather conditions to be done. Due to heavy rain and strong winds, we had to wait half a day for the green light from the hut warden before climbing and tramping along a high ridge line.
Day 1 is easy enough with many lakeside and riverside sections!
On day 2, fighting the gales and the rain!
Wind is blowing at 150 km/h…
…but not strong enough to prevent smiling!
Back under the tree line, we feel relieved!
Day 3 is more relaxing, it looks like you’re in a rainforest!
On a swing bridge, the well named!
Though the Fiordland climate is far from being tropical, there’s so much rain that rainforest is everywhere below the tree line!
On the last day, before finishing the 4 day loop, we played « korean poker »!
THE MILFORD SOUND
As we were running out of time, we couldn’t tramp the world famous Milford track which requires, at this time of the year, an advance booking of several days at least! Anyway, we paid a visit to the Milford sound and took a boat cruising the fjord.
Approaching Milford sound!
The entrance of the Milford sound is breathtaking!
On the boat in the scenic Milford fjord.
On the boat in the scenic Milford fjord.
On the boat in the scenic Milford fjord.
No, this is not Norway! Just Milford fjord!
In Milford fjord, water cascades everywhere…
… and fur seals can be seen everywhere!
MOREAKI BOULDERS
Boulders are plenty on Mars… and in Otago NZ!
Some of them are even colonized!
In the Catlins, the yellow-eyed penguins can be seen… at least on the road signs!
That’s all folks!
OVERSEAS 