TO WHAT DID I OWE THE PLEASURE? -
Before my adventure, on a frosty Thursday I warmed up with a bowl of steaming, hot chocolate from Bob's Weigh In and drank in the manner of Beast from Beauty and the Beast! *That* is how tired/cold I am/how immense my love for chocolate is. No sir, a mug of hot choco is really not gonna cut it at 7.30am! It was insane in the BEST way!!
On our Jucy coach, all I yearned to do was doze off but the laddie next to me encroached on my space and stunk of cigs - so the initial 2 and a bit hours was a boring source of discomfort and contempt, contributing to my misery on the coach. I'm sure he didn't mean to be a downright nuisance but he was.
Our driver was from France and very knowledgeable; it always amazes me how all these stats and pieces of trivia are committed to memory. I guess he must love doing what he does! After our greasy lunch stop in Te Anau, I then was one of only 2 people who had an empty seat beside me. It was so much more comfy not to be locked up like veal and as I'm not one to bond on a bus. While I was thankful to have the additional leg room, I have a deep aversion for the POLAR A/C on all kinds of transportation which was whirling down my neck.
The fields of Eglinton Valley were dewy and golden and fresh. I get to tread the most wondrous of paths on these day tours and this was along part of an ancient glacier within Fiordland National Park.
RUNNING OUT OF ANYTHING CHARMING OR CUTE TO SAY.. WILL ANYONE NOTICE?? -
On a clear, breeze free day, Mirror Lakes cast out brilliant reflections of Earl Mountains; we looked into them from the boardwalk but our luck was not in to apprehend that very phenomenon. The one aspect making it less perfect was all because the ripples from the wind turned the waters murky. We drank pure, glacial water straight from a stream at Cascade Creek further afield and it was so icy and pristine.
Twas a bit freaky to know that we were being driven along a region that can be prone to avalanches.. particularly when before us, rocks had tumbled. Hurtling through Homer tunnel in the dark was a wild ride that took us actually through the mountain range of solid granite. It is 1270 metres long and 1 ton per metre of dynamite was required to blow it to smithereens!
We pulled over at a bridge to look out at Darran Mountains Range - at Mt Tutoko and Christina with their snow-sprinkled caps. Squinting was required to perceive the peaks in my field of vision as the distance separating us was great but it was cool all the same.
THIS IS SOOOO NOT CARDIGAN WEATHER -
Our Jucy boat was not working so we were crammed onto a Real Journeys vessel, averting a cancellation crisis. The weather was warm perfection with blue skies for days, a refreshing light wind and sparkling sunshine in what is usually one of NZ's wettest inhabited places. We didn't get one single droplet of rain when Milford experiences 182 days on average of rain each year -- yet I was close to sunburn on my left cheek.
Milford's stunning fjord rendered me speechless.. it's like the world stops just for *you* .. Rudyard Kipling considered it the 8th world wonder and he's spot on; such an exotic setting surrounded by dense forest is incredibly, unmissably fascinating. We frolicked underneath the only two permanent waterfalls, Stirling and Bowen as they showered upon us. Secretly, I'd hoped for some precipitation as it results in hundreds of waterfalls but it's not like I was going to cry about it.
I WAS EXPECTING MILFORD TO BE COOL BUT THIS IS ANOTHER LEVEL -
The fur seals sprawled out soaking up rays on the rocks, so uninterested in a boatful of yobbos gawping at them lounging. I am madly, I repeat - MADLY in love with Milford Sound, the 15km inlet from the sea with Mitre Peak imposing, steeply skywards. I have too amateurish a camera for far too sublime a view.
Nature is quelle magnifique! That the fjord was formed by 'the erosive effects of a glacier' during an Ice Age, blows my mind. It is technically NOT a Sound but a fjord and was misnamed back in the day. Every second of this day was loved but whenever I experience something so insanely extraordinary, I always wish my family and friends were there too. All in all, that was a terrific 13 hours!
QUEENSTOWN FAILS TO NOT BE AWESOME -
On a misty morning, The Remarkables had almost vanished which gave the mountain range an ethereally spooky vibe and even then it was breathtaking. After pottering about the shops with Kay and Rob, I lead them to Queenstown Gardens in the hope that it would make a quasi-positive impression as the weather has been lousy for them since they arrived.
Lake Wakatipu was not as turquoizey when rainy with dark, cumulus nimbus clouds hovering overhead but how cool that 15000 years ago the lake was formed by glaciers cutting through the Southern Alps. Then it was onwards to Patagonia for scoops of their obligatory ice cream; way before lunchtime, I might add but as we're on our holidays - ANYTHING goes. The mascarpone cream cheese and forest fruit gelato glob was destroyed by myself in the most sordid of manners - it was sweet as! My Patagonia white chocolate and macadamia nut combustion of quality ingredients was a party to the palate too.
THE BALLS HAD A BALL -
K and R shot off on the shotover jet on a daring thrill ride and I stepped up as a designated photographer and simultaneously dodged sandflies. They whizzed off through the narrow Shotover River Canyons at 85kph in only 10cms deep of water. They told me that when I come back I can't miss out on this as it's an incredible rush.
From there we were perplexed at Kawarau Bridge as to how bungy jumping can be an enjoyable experience. No one we watched chickened out but everybody screamed; their jumps are short but not very sweet and it horrified me each time. We stood right behind the platform to hear their last moments before they took their leap of faith - smack dab in the middle of the action.
Our last supper in Q-town was a steak dinner at Atlas Bar which had the most creepy, hideous decor. It was a rich meal to finish up our stay in the sovereign shores but the chef didn't cook me the most amazing dish of my life; I do commend the chunky chips!!
ARROWTOWN: THE RETURN -
I tried to provide insightful commentary for Rob and Kay as we took a whistle stop tour of the historical village - it really would be stunning in any season. We circled back to Patagonia for my 3rd visit in almost as many days, this time round for a Mexican chilli hot chocolate beast. The drinkie was crazy fiery and I'm obsessed.
The sun graced the sky as we pulled over at outstanding look out points on the mountain pass through the Crown Range. I don't think I'll ever stop being captivated by this land. Was all of Aotearoa designed to wow and delight ME?? It often feels that way.
One of the scenic gems was BRAdrona in Cardrona Valley - a fence chock-a-block with women's lingerie is not there for passersby to just see the widespread collection of bras. There is a donation box to contribute your coins to NZ Breast Cancer Foundation - a very worthwhile cause in my mind. Though, the original reason for its installation is unknown as it has been taken down several times. Now, let's see what awaits in Wanaka!
We pulled over at a bridge to look out at Darran Mountains Range - at Mt Tutoko and Christina with their snow-sprinkled caps. Squinting was required to perceive the peaks in my field of vision as the distance separating us was great but it was cool all the same.
Our Jucy boat was not working so we were crammed onto a Real Journeys vessel, averting a cancellation crisis. The weather was warm perfection with blue skies for days, a refreshing light wind and sparkling sunshine in what is usually one of NZ's wettest inhabited places. We didn't get one single droplet of rain when Milford experiences 182 days on average of rain each year -- yet I was close to sunburn on my left cheek.
Milford's stunning fjord rendered me speechless.. it's like the world stops just for *you* .. Rudyard Kipling considered it the 8th world wonder and he's spot on; such an exotic setting surrounded by dense forest is incredibly, unmissably fascinating. We frolicked underneath the only two permanent waterfalls, Stirling and Bowen as they showered upon us. Secretly, I'd hoped for some precipitation as it results in hundreds of waterfalls but it's not like I was going to cry about it.
The fur seals sprawled out soaking up rays on the rocks, so uninterested in a boatful of yobbos gawping at them lounging. I am madly, I repeat - MADLY in love with Milford Sound, the 15km inlet from the sea with Mitre Peak imposing, steeply skywards. I have too amateurish a camera for far too sublime a view.
Nature is quelle magnifique! That the fjord was formed by 'the erosive effects of a glacier' during an Ice Age, blows my mind. It is technically NOT a Sound but a fjord and was misnamed back in the day. Every second of this day was loved but whenever I experience something so insanely extraordinary, I always wish my family and friends were there too. All in all, that was a terrific 13 hours!
On a misty morning, The Remarkables had almost vanished which gave the mountain range an ethereally spooky vibe and even then it was breathtaking. After pottering about the shops with Kay and Rob, I lead them to Queenstown Gardens in the hope that it would make a quasi-positive impression as the weather has been lousy for them since they arrived.
Lake Wakatipu was not as turquoizey when rainy with dark, cumulus nimbus clouds hovering overhead but how cool that 15000 years ago the lake was formed by glaciers cutting through the Southern Alps. Then it was onwards to Patagonia for scoops of their obligatory ice cream; way before lunchtime, I might add but as we're on our holidays - ANYTHING goes. The mascarpone cream cheese and forest fruit gelato glob was destroyed by myself in the most sordid of manners - it was sweet as! My Patagonia white chocolate and macadamia nut combustion of quality ingredients was a party to the palate too.
K and R shot off on the shotover jet on a daring thrill ride and I stepped up as a designated photographer and simultaneously dodged sandflies. They whizzed off through the narrow Shotover River Canyons at 85kph in only 10cms deep of water. They told me that when I come back I can't miss out on this as it's an incredible rush.
From there we were perplexed at Kawarau Bridge as to how bungy jumping can be an enjoyable experience. No one we watched chickened out but everybody screamed; their jumps are short but not very sweet and it horrified me each time. We stood right behind the platform to hear their last moments before they took their leap of faith - smack dab in the middle of the action.
Our last supper in Q-town was a steak dinner at Atlas Bar which had the most creepy, hideous decor. It was a rich meal to finish up our stay in the sovereign shores but the chef didn't cook me the most amazing dish of my life; I do commend the chunky chips!!
I tried to provide insightful commentary for Rob and Kay as we took a whistle stop tour of the historical village - it really would be stunning in any season. We circled back to Patagonia for my 3rd visit in almost as many days, this time round for a Mexican chilli hot chocolate beast. The drinkie was crazy fiery and I'm obsessed.
The sun graced the sky as we pulled over at outstanding look out points on the mountain pass through the Crown Range. I don't think I'll ever stop being captivated by this land. Was all of Aotearoa designed to wow and delight ME?? It often feels that way.
One of the scenic gems was BRAdrona in Cardrona Valley - a fence chock-a-block with women's lingerie is not there for passersby to just see the widespread collection of bras. There is a donation box to contribute your coins to NZ Breast Cancer Foundation - a very worthwhile cause in my mind. Though, the original reason for its installation is unknown as it has been taken down several times. Now, let's see what awaits in Wanaka!
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