It’s a very short plane ride on Qantas Airlines to Christchurch. We were picked up with our Australian Pacific Tours bus and did a tour of the city, including the Canterbury Museum and Christchurch Botanic Gardens. The next morning we took the Franz Alpine train for 136 km or two and a half-hours. After crossing the Canterbury Plains, we climb through alpine foothills up remote gorges, through tunnels, Waimakariri Gorge, and high mountain passes to Arthur’s Pass. We have gone through some of the most spectacular alpine scenery. Many of the pictures were taken from an open observation car. We then are met again by the bus and stop for lunch at Hokitika, which has an abundance of gift shops and New Zealand jade. Think I resisted? This area is part of the Westland National Park, which together with Mt. Cook, has been designated a World Heritage Area to be protected for all time. We are warned that the parking areas may be terrorized by Keas or mountain parrots. They seem to love anything shiny and specialize in destroying rubber molding around car windows. We also hear the story of one man who was transporting a few of them in a cage on the back seat of his car. After seeing white "fluff" floating through the air outside, he unfortunately didn’t check until he arrived, and found the backseat had been destroyed! The white fluff had been upholstery stuffing. BUT it is a rather pretty bird! The Franz Josef Glacier itself is located 400 meters above sea level and is in a temperate rain forest. There are many trails for hiking and some do use a short trail to go up to the glacier. These glaciers are dynamic and always in motion. Some had decide to take a helicopter ride but since its turned cloudy, it is postponed until the morning. We stayed the night at the Franz Josef Glacier Hotel, located in the park, with postcard views everywhere you look. Franz Joseph is a SMALL town, a grocery store, a couple of souvenir shops, a café (which has Internet access which consists of 2 computers on a table) and a couple of hotels.

The next day is spent mainly on the bus, but with frequent photo stops! We see Fox Glacier, Mt Tasmin and Mt Cook. Stops are made at Bruce Bay, Thunder Creek Falls and South Westland. Going past Hawea and Lake Wanaka and over Haast Pass, we are heading for Queenstown. We also see Kawarau Suspension Bridge, the original home of bungee jumping. (If you look carefully at the picture, you can see someone who has jumped). They once offered a free jump to anyone, who would jump nude, but there were so many takers, the scheme had to be abandoned. No wonder I didn’t jump!! The bridge is 43 meters tall, and it looked every bit of that from the top!

Queenstown is a beautiful city and is probably one of the most popular tourist areas on the South Island. It is set on the edge of a glacial lake beneath the Remarkables Mountains, and with access to so much, the town has become a lovely and busy place to visit. You can find almost any kind of activity here from jet boating, white water rafting, trekking, heli-skiing, and parapenting and the already mentioned bungee jumping. There are lots of upscale shops to browse, along with the regular souvenir stores. I’d love to return here!

The next day we are heading towards the Fiordland National Park, which is the largest park in New Zealand and Milford Sound. It takes several hours to reach there, but we are having a beautiful day in an area where rain is NOT uncommon. We are seeing so much gorgeous scenery, it is difficult to absorb. We board the Lady Stirling for a luncheon cruise. Milford Sound is rather an overpowering place and you run out of film easily! One option we chose was to return to Queenstown by a SMALL plane. It only held 6 passengers plus the pilot. What I did see (having my eyes closed a lot) was just gorgeous. The plane heads out to sea before turning around and going through the passes, and the sight of a cliff straight ahead of you is breathtaking! AND scary at the same time. It’s a beautiful ride, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone…even better when you can see most of it. The gentleman behind me almost went to sleep. How he accomplished that I will NEVER know. My husband took most of these pictures, since I felt it was my responsibility to hang onto the plane.

We had a free morning to do nothing or something and decided to go for a boat ride. Not just any boat, but the Kawarau Jet Boat Ride. There is lots of excitement with speed, sharp turns and even some 360 turns!

This afternoon we start out for Mt Cook, also known as the "cloud piercer". This is the tallest mountain in New Zealand at 12,316 or 12.340 according to your resources. (But it lost a few feet a few years ago). Again some sunshine and spectacular views….one after another. It’s my birthday and we are staying at the Hermitage, which is on Mt Cook. There are hiking trails, but its cloudy and difficult to see a lot. It was in this National Park that Edmund Hillary, developed the climbing skills that took him to the top of Mt Everest in 1953.  The Hermitage commands a grandstand position looking up the valley to Mt Cook. This is one hotel where every moment is spent looking outwards.  I think Bobbie was responsible for my special birthday dessert with my name written in chocolate! ;o)

It’s our last day in New Zealand and we must go to Christchurch to catch the plane to Sydney. But a stop first at Good Shepherd Church at Lake Tekapo. And then a stop at the Tin Shed. You’d never pick it out, but it’s a wonderful shopping opportunity. Just a barn but loaded with mainly wool merchandise. I discovered that by mailing things home, they would subtract the GST and it was even cheaper. And I didn’t have to carry them with us. Qantas thinks our luggage is getting heavier…..I have NOOOOOO idea why!

For more information on our tour and the hotels we stayed in, please see below.

Next stop: Sydney, Australia