Nü Zealand

In 4 Days (3.5 sleeps) this is where Kate & I drove around New Zealand in the early days of this fine month of November. All these here photopix taken by the aforementioned Miss Magellan Kate D. Apologies for the quantity, I'm still wrapping my head around the concept of brevity. If this post is taking too long, you can view smaller thumbnails here (this will also allow you to bypass my long-winded narration.





This is the 2 door Pulsar I rented. Her four monster cylinders and highly responsive manual transmission carried us with swift grace from Christchurch, to Akaroa, through Arthur's Pass in the Southern Alps, to Franz-Josef Glacier, Fox Mountain Glacier & Lake Matheson.




I have yet to fully grasp the numerous translations of the word "coffee" in New Zealand & Australia but these are Latté Bowls. These were consumed on the Lavender farm/café/gallery just outside of Christchurch, a glorious find en route east.




Blue door cathedral on the way to Akaroa.




Akaroa is southeast of Christchurch on the Southern Island. Akaroa, which means made-up-fairyland* as you can see here, is surrounded by hills with sheep on them, like everywhere we saw in New Zealand.




I have come to realize that I love waterfalls, and will continue to chase them. This one spotted on the descent to Akaroa.




I love Norfolk Pine, and really regret letting the one I had in my bedroom shrivel up and die when I was 13. I'm glad that my tree made it to Heaven.




This is a memorial along the main street in Akaroa.




This is for my friend, he will notice how I am falling over.




This is me in Akaroa when I was 10 years old, & before my jaw was reconstructed.




This is in Akaroa where we had a picnic, one is advised not to eat any shell fish from this part of the beach...




This is a fantastic Hostel in Akaroa. You can't miss it, cause it's pink and on the main street. Aside from being ridiculously inexpensive, it also offers you a full kitchen, garden, BBQ, use of their bikes, fishing poles & hammock. They also mailed me my belt because I forgot it.




For dinner we BBQ us some salmon, steak n' Asparagus.




From Akaroa, an early rise has us working our wayward wagon west, towards glaciers & through mountains.




This old car reminded me of and old man, friend, an old man friend.




Kia's are big birds that supposedly eat the rubber off of cars (an the tomato off of tomatoes).




This is Franz-Josef, the town of.




This is Franz Josef, the glacier.




We were constantly bewildered by the thick jungle surrounding the snow-capped mountains and mass of ice.



We tent camped on a dried up riverbed of a (temporary) glacial spring. While peeing in the middle of the night, I saw a 3.5 foot Kip McClellan.





We roasted us some veggie kabobs,





and we was home in time to celebrate Kate's birthday in Melbourne, with pavlova.


*In My language and Long Harbor in Kāi Tahu Māori