Day Six

Today we jumped on the coach from Queenstown through Wanaka (which is an actual place and is spelt correctly) to Makarora, Haast, Paringa to Fox Glacier.

I think this was taken at Lake Wanaka.

Beautiful sky.

At Fox Glacier we went up to see the glacier and walk on top of it at 5pm. The whole thing only took 30mins.

The helicopter flight wasn't any worse than a normal plane - noisier. It reminded me of Disney's Soarin'.

Taken through the window. Beautiful snow capped mountains.

The bottom parts of the glacier looked lovely. But you could definately see how much damage they could do if they just started to move (earthquake).

Had to make sure that I got this shot since it looks like we are going into the cliff.

We didn't.

We went over to the frosty icy snow.

We were told that it was only about 3degc colder up there - it might have been a bit colder than that.

Peter making a slushy snowball. It wasn't like normal snow but small bits of ice.

My socks and sneakers got soaked.

There was a mom and her two daughters that came with us. They were wearing jandels (flipflops). But we only stayed there for about five minutes before flying back down. When we got back we just sat in the sun to warm up a little bit.

At 9pm we went for a mini bush walk to try and see some glow worms. We walked through the track three times before it was dark enough to see them.

The glow worms are just little dots of glowing lights that get brighter then disappear.

They were lots of these little glow worm dots around. Once you find them, they are everywhere.

Earlier in the day. At Lake Wanaka - I think.

Big sculpture of a hand at a lake.

Some beautiful waterfall a few minutes walk through native bush.

On the motorway into Fox Glacier. Just taking a few minutes rest before going back through the glow worm trail.

Day Five

We got to spend the whole day in Queensland.
It was raining quite a lot, so we went to find some coats, grabbed an okay coffee from Starbucks and went up the cable car gondala thing.

Up these steps, up a hill, then got our tickets and went up the cable car.

The view from about half way up.

At the top.

The view.

It was still raining and the cloud came down quickly covering the mountains so we only got a few shots.

Someone did the bungy jump.

The misty hills in the background.

The white things are the cable cars going up and down. If you wanted to walk down it would take about five hours.

Before dinner we went to the Minus 5 Ice Bar.

Putting on some thick warm hooded coats and gloves.

The tempurate when we went in was -7.5degc. The temperature alternates between -5 and -10.

All suited up and ready to go in.

Enjoying my IceBurg cocktail inside a glass made of ice. The drink was lovely and I did drink a bit of my glass.

The bar.

There were a lot of ice sculptures around. Even a Christmas tree with tinsel.

Awww.

I told mom to think drunk and this is what I get.

After the vodka. I wanted to get a shot of the menu so I could remember what the lovely drink I had was.

After leaving the ice bar we went for dinner.

Day Four

We stayed at the party until 12.30am. Got to bed at 1am and left Christchurch at 8am!

In Queenstown
after stops in Geraldine, Lake Tekapo and Omarama.

Day Three

We stayed in Bleheim this morning and went to see some Sperm Whales.

But we saw some dolphins aswell. They were really playful. Following the boat and jumping around.

That white "mist" is the whale coming up for air. He stayed up in the sun for a while. We saw this whale twice.

I thought I would be seasick on this adventure. I don't really like boats, but I wasn't sick!


Just as the sun was rising before we went to see the whales.

After a sort of lunch we got the coach to Christchurch. And after being sent the wrong way we found the catherdral.

Later that night we went back to the Catherdral square for a free New Years Party.

Not really sure what that big silver sculpture on the left is. A huge stage and large screen.

Sitting around from 9pm to 12midnight singing along with the bands and soaking up the atmosphere.

At midnight there were fireworks from the top of a lawyers building. I took a few videos with my new camera which I will put up on flickr.

Earlier in the day. Going back to the hotel for a rest and dinner before the free new years concert thing.

Day Two

Today we left Blenheim for Kaikoura.

At Kaikoura Rail Station.

We went on a tour of the place. This is at the look out point. We went to see some seals and there was only one there. Went to South Bay and a Lavender Farm.

It was about 27 deg c this day.

At the Lavender Farm.

Momma was in heaven!

There was something interesting about this type of tree. The branches..... I'll let mom explain later.

Lavender farm. (that sold Lavender icecream which Mom and Peter had).

The beach across the road from our hotel (about 30 seconds away).

From the look out point.

At the rail station.

Day One

Travelled from Wellington to Picton by the InterIslander. Then got the coach to Blenheim.

Had to queue for a while and leave our bags before getting on the boat. We went up to deck 10 before going down and trying to find some seats.

Very windy on the boat. It took about 4 hours to get across Cook's Strait!

When we arrived at Picton we jumped on the coach to Blenheim.

At Blenheim Rail Station. The coach was late arriving, so we walked the 10 minutes to the hotel. It was very hot this day!

In the city centre at Blenheim we saw this glittery Christmas tree.

And a paddle river boat. A nice little river and walk way went through the city.

We found this lovely little place for dinner.

This is the boats route out of Wellington Harbour.

Peter at some gardens between the hotel and the city center.

At a nice place for lunch.