New Zealand - Wonderwoman Week 3

Well it's now week 3 and we are still on the South Island making our way down the West coast. First stop is Pancake Rocks.

Pancake Rocks, not an odd breakfast option..

Produced by wave and wind action

 On the way down the coast we saw...

...a shag on a stick

and passed some beautiful coastal scenery.

We have set ourselves the task of seeing a kiwi, so far, we have only seen ...

Kiwi spotting...still no live ones

After spending the night in Franz Josef (township)  we went to see the local glacier.

...are we nearly there yet...Franz Josef Glacier, in the distance, no foxes though

On the approach to the glacier we passed a beautiful waterfall.

Look carefully can you see a rainbow.

30 minutes down the road there is a second glacier called Fox Glacier.

Fox Glacier...no polar bears though

This is as close and you can get.

Bob the Ranger doing an effective stopping pose

We stayed overnight near Haast and experienced the first signs of winter.

Cobwebs in the early morning frost

Before leaving Haast we visited the estuary where there is a walk through the differing levels of ecosystems from the water to the forest.

Hapuka Estuary walk, 40 minutes of pure natural unspoilt environment

Typical natural forest at Hapuka Estuary

The journey over the Haast Pass is beautiful.

Lynda having a rest.

Waterfall - Haast Pass

At the Blue Pools

Lunch stop

 We saw New Zealand's smallest bird.

Rifleman

The scenery is breathtaking around Wanaka and Queenstown , what do you think?

Sorry went a bit mad on the Panoramic feature on the camera there. But the views needed to be captured.

Next stop Fiordland. We spent the first day visiting a Native Bird Rescue Centre at Te Anua.

Parakeet

Takahe, only 160 of these left in the world

Kea

Female Paradise Shellduck

Male Paradise Shellduck

We also saw some lovely fungi, but no fairies.

Fly Agaric

Whilst in Fiordland we went to see Doubtful Sound, not an NZ pop combo but it has some beautiful scenery. Take a look for yourself...

Lake Manapouri from our camp site

on the boat to Manapouri Power station and doubtful Sound

Our first view of Doubtful Sound from Wilmots Pass

Fishing hut - Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound meets Tasman Sea

Hello from Doubtful Sound

The trip to Doubtful Sound included a visit to Manapouri hydro-electric power station.

Somewhere in here we are told there is a Bond villain

The second fiord we visited was Milford Sound.

Milford Sound with Mitre peak centre and with cloud

 The road to Milford Sound was very interesting. On the way we saw a chasm.

This was cut into the rock by water and smaller stones and is 30 ft deep

The only way to Milford Sound by land is through this tunnel.

 The Homer Tunnel to Milford Sound was cut through solid granite from 1934 to 1954. This work was done by hand and with dynamite, wheelbarrows, spades and human effort.

Mirror lakes

After Milford Sound we travelled back to Te Anau where we saw this sign. Paul just had to take a photo of it, opposite was a Chinese restaurant

Continuing south we pass wetlands.

 Eventually we reach Bluff at the far south end of South Island. We decided to spend a couple of days on Stewart Island so that we could see the wildlife. We said goodbye to Lynda and left her to rest, and took a choppy boat ride across the strait. Once there we visited Ulva Island a wildlife refuge. On the way we saw 2 species of albatross.

Buller's Albatross (Mollymawk - yellow bill); Shy Albatross (aka White capped Mollymawk - grey bill)

On Ulva we saw this friendly little chap...

Stewart Island Robin

We spent one night at the Stewart island Lodge and met this inquisitive Kaka...

...who are you?

...but still no Kiwi.

Before catching the boat back to South Island we went for a walk in the forest.

New Zealand is famous for ferns - he's a tree with ferns not quite a tree fern!

Hope you all enjoyed our 3rd week with Lynda. Don't forget to check out Wonderwoman Week 4 Bluff to Arthur's Pass.