and Tom was especially happy that he could be observing instead of concentrating on driving. 
On the way, we had a number of adventures from a traffic jam of sheep 
to a small bus crossing the white line on a curvy mountain road and sideswiping our bus, leaving the driver’s mirror missing and a huge pane of shattered glass. We had to pull over so the driver could punch out the pane before it splintered into his lap. He never missed a beat in the tour discourse as he continued with the history and high points of Milford Sound.Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) is a Fiord of spectacular beauty and natural grandeur. 
It is a deep, icy blue waterway flowing into the Tasman Sea and is part of the majestic Fiordland National Park. 
Carved over time by glaciers the deepest part of the Fiord is 400 metres, and the actual length of the Fiord is 16km from St Annes Point. 
It is a deep, icy blue waterway flowing into the Tasman Sea and is part of the majestic Fiordland National Park. Carved over time by glaciers the deepest part of the Fiord is 400 metres, and the actual length of the Fiord is 16km from St Annes Point. 
The Pride of Milford 
is the latest addition to the Milford Sound Red Boat fleet, and is a catamaran designed with extensive viewing decks where we could enjoy the magnificent scenery in relaxation and comfort. The flat bow design enabled us to get up close to nature and the large panoramic windows ensured unobstructed views of the Fiord. It was in a word spectacular!
is the latest addition to the Milford Sound Red Boat fleet, and is a catamaran designed with extensive viewing decks where we could enjoy the magnificent scenery in relaxation and comfort. The flat bow design enabled us to get up close to nature and the large panoramic windows ensured unobstructed views of the Fiord. It was in a word spectacular!The next big tour was of the wineries in the region of Queenstown. 
Queenstown is an international resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin lake formed by glacial processes that is shaped like a staggered lightning bolt, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains. We thought of Matt when we saw that for no particular reason, there was a bungee jumping gnome hanging in the corner of the vintners lobby. Bring back memories of Hope, Matt?
Locally, Queenstown has a reputation as one of New Zealand's wine and cuisine centers. For four hours we taste tested magnificent wines and toured the surrounding vineyards. We were able to observe the waterway where they filmed Lord of the Rings scenes, the King’s Columns in the first movie in particular.
Principal photography for all three films was conducted concurrently in many locations within New Zealand's conservation areas and national parks between 11 October 1999, and 22 December 2000.
Queenstown is an international resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin lake formed by glacial processes that is shaped like a staggered lightning bolt, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains. We thought of Matt when we saw that for no particular reason, there was a bungee jumping gnome hanging in the corner of the vintners lobby. Bring back memories of Hope, Matt?Locally, Queenstown has a reputation as one of New Zealand's wine and cuisine centers. For four hours we taste tested magnificent wines and toured the surrounding vineyards. We were able to observe the waterway where they filmed Lord of the Rings scenes, the King’s Columns in the first movie in particular.
Principal photography for all three films was conducted concurrently in many locations within New Zealand's conservation areas and national parks between 11 October 1999, and 22 December 2000.Directly across the highway, we were able to see bungee jumping off the Kawerau Suspension Bridge. 
Billed as the first commercial bungee site in the world, it is 23km outside of Queenstown. The Kawarau Bridge Bungee is situated on the main road between Queenstown and Cromwell, near the Nevis Bluff and the Gibbston Valley. The bridge platform is 43 metres above the Kawarau River and the jumper has the option of a head and shoulders splashdown in the river if he/she feels like cooling off.
Billed as the first commercial bungee site in the world, it is 23km outside of Queenstown. The Kawarau Bridge Bungee is situated on the main road between Queenstown and Cromwell, near the Nevis Bluff and the Gibbston Valley. The bridge platform is 43 metres above the Kawarau River and the jumper has the option of a head and shoulders splashdown in the river if he/she feels like cooling off.On the bus ride back from Queensland to Christ Church,
we saw some truly stunning landscapes
and observed Mt. Cook. 
New Zealand's highest peak was named Mt Cook (after the British explorer Captain James Cook) by Captain Stokes of the survey ship HMS Acheron. Mt Cook sits at the heart of New Zealand’s Alpine country, within the 700 square kilometres of Mt Cook national park, and is almost equidistant from Christchurch and Queenstown. At 3764 metres, it is the highest of the country's 27 mountains over 3000 metres. It is called Aoraki (or Aorangi, ao meaning land, rangi meaning sky or heavens) by the Maori. 
We flew from Christ Church back to Auckland then on to Perth via Sidney where our friends Vicci and Max were there to greet us. We have been staying in their home which has a balcony with a spectacular view of the Indian Ocean. More fun to follow…
we saw some truly stunning landscapesand observed Mt. Cook. New Zealand's highest peak was named Mt Cook (after the British explorer Captain James Cook) by Captain Stokes of the survey ship HMS Acheron. Mt Cook sits at the heart of New Zealand’s Alpine country, within the 700 square kilometres of Mt Cook national park, and is almost equidistant from Christchurch and Queenstown. At 3764 metres, it is the highest of the country's 27 mountains over 3000 metres. It is called Aoraki (or Aorangi, ao meaning land, rangi meaning sky or heavens) by the Maori. We flew from Christ Church back to Auckland then on to Perth via Sidney where our friends Vicci and Max were there to greet us. We have been staying in their home which has a balcony with a spectacular view of the Indian Ocean. More fun to follow…
I am seriously in awe of the beauty you two are seeing!! You capture it so beautifully too in your pictures. Sarah
ReplyDelete