Blogs we like

1. get a closer look to the giant rivers of solid blue ice of the dramatic glacial valleys of Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. The weird thing is that we didn’t have to climb high, they are just easily accessible at the foot of the mountains flowing straight into temperate rainforest (300m above sea level) and only 5km each from their town’s centre, just few steps away and we were right in the middle of this iced world brrrrr;

2. the hidden jewels of Golden bay and Abel Tasman National Park unspoiled coastline with its golden beaches and turquoise water plus the sunny weather (at least for few days), a real tropical escape; no wonder this is NZ’ most visited national park. The drive to go over the hill, which isolates this part of the country, was though the unpleasant part: very twisty and steep mountain road about 25km from Motueka, but I survived it.

3. spy the adorable yellow-eyed penguins waddled oddly ashore just before dusk hidden in the hut at the Moeraki’s Lighthouse. We sat there waiting impatiently for about two hours before the acting started but was all worth it plus we got to see the seals lazing around. If you want to have a sure glimpse of this penguin or are in a hurry hit directly to the “Penguintown” to the Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony where every night for circa $20 (http://www.penguins.co.nz/) you could take part of a tour to admire this funny little birds. In any case it worth a stop at tiny Oamaru especially around the harbour. In the evening, walking in the well preserved picturesque Historic Precinct along its narrow streets, where craftspeople still carry on ancient trades, felt like stepping back on time;

4. the roadtrip to Glenorchy and further up to the wilderness of the even smaller Kinloch, a stunning drive we found ourselves while escaping the bustle of Queenstown . The road hugs the immense never-ending shoreline of Lake Wakatipu with gorgeous vistas while going up and down green forest hills;

5. stare at the beautiful mirrorlike Lake Rotoiti in the morning mist fringed by snow-capped mountains;

6. admire our beauty reflected by the crystal clear pool of Te Waikorupupu spring nearby Takaka (also known as Pupu), the clearest spring in the world and the largest freshwater one in NZ. Don’t we look like two famous Walt Disney stars? Yes Miss Piggy and Gonzo the Great from the Muppets, oh well at least we try to get our few minutes of fame :-). Once used by the Maori for ceremonial blessing of birth/death and arrival/departure for travellers, we couldn’t miss it.

7. The Mackenzie Country with its aquamarine glacial lakes such as Tekapo and Pukaki Lake fringed by the scenic peaks of Aoraki Mt Cook National Park;

8. a walk to the longest sandy beach in the world stretching for 35km into the ocean (only the first 4k are accessible unless you take on a 4w-drive tour). Finding ourselves watching the changing colours of the cloudy sky reflected on the ocean along the enormous sandbar all by ourselves was a magical experience;

9. sample the simplest pleasure of life: eating the best fish&chips at Haven in Nelson Harbour while admiring the sunset go down from the nearby beach...we wouldn’t break the bank either, the damage was only $6 each in return of heaps of calories. We also enjoyed many succulent lamb’s chops on the barbie (any meats over here taste way better than anywhere else) and the fresh catches of the day courtesy of the abundance of the stock on NZ lakes, rivers and sea plus a bit of effort from Chris side (had to say so otherwise no more fish for me!);


10. sorry to disappoint you but our last but not least it’s not going to be the much acclaimed Milford Sound (been there) but instead, although quite similar landscape, at the top of the south, the Marlborough Sounds with its inlets and winding roads snaking along the picturesque coastline like along the magnificent Queen Charlotte Drive, only 36km but a very loooong drive.

Random numbers:

• get your wallet ready if you want some adrenaline pumping through your veins at Queenstown: tandem skydive 9000ft $249, bungy $165, 2 hours horse ride $ 105, glacier guide 4h $89, jet safari $199, rafting $169 even shearing a sheep (which I can’t see all the excitement of doing it) will cost you $105;
• an acqua taxi ride at Abel Tasman NP to Bark Bay kayaking your way back will splash $175 of your budget or a one way to Totaranui $38 and you will have to use your own legs to come back. Departure base is Marahau and, in high season only, Kaiteriteri;
• didn’t quite get what was the difference between the many companies cruising the Milford Sound (some tour up to $105 each) but we grabbed a get1-get1free offer with our rental car Jucy at $55 for the two, not bad init;