Number 6's Blog

Remarkable Mountains from Queenstown Bob’s Peak

I wrote an initial New Zealand blog shortly after arriving home from that beautiful land: New Zealand Part I.

Since then I’ve had time to process my photos: Click here.

Gwen and our guide

On this trip we toured the South Island only. Our first stop was Nelson at the very top of the Island.

• Hotel: Chelsea Park Motor Lodge
• Best restaurants: The Styx and Morri Street Cafe
• Favorite Activity: Ocean Kayaking at Kaiteriteri (Means eat quickly in Maroi, a story for another time)

The forest from The Lord Of The Rings outside Queenstown

Our next major stop was Christchurch which was a 6 hour drive through brilliant scenery.

• Hotel: Heritage Christchurch is on the Central Square. Consctructed in 1913 in the Italian High Renaissance style
• Best restuarants: Casa Nostra
• Favorite Activity: Antarctic Centre

Franz Joseph: Leaving the rainforest headed for the Glacier

Our next stop was Franz Joseph Glacier which is on the other side of the Island. Our journey there included a ride on Kiwi Rail through the Southern Alps to Greymouth. Then we drove South along the coast to reach our destination – another day long journey.

• Hotel: Glenfern Villas
• Best restaurants: The Landing which was quite tasty for a town of 300 people
• Favorite Activity: Why the hike up to the glacier through a rain forest of course

Milford Sound

Our final destination was Queenstown. This was our longest drive, probably around 10 hours with me stopping constantly to snap photos.

• hotel: Pepper’s Beacon
• Best restaurants: The Public Kitchen
• Favorite activity: Day trip and and cruise to Milford Sound

Lake Wakatipu