April Adventures, Part Deux

As I've said, the first few posts will attempt to provide you, the intrepid reader, with a summary of what's been going on in the first few months of my New Zealand adventure. Next up, the second of a two-part look at April, the busiest month yet.

I'll start off by admitting something. I said that I would think of a better name for "the SIRT." But I haven't. So that's what we're going with, and if you don't like it, tough bananas for you. I'm in command here.

Anyway, what follows will be a day-by-day breakdown (with accompanying photos!) of the trip, outlining things we saw and did on the way. Enjoy!

Day 1: Invercargill to Queenstown

The Cherry Bomber. Good thing it was so fast, otherwise
I would have been swamped by ladies

Upon returning from Stewart Island, we hopped on a bus for the short trip back to Invercargill,, where we would picking up our rental car. Much to my excitement (literally clapping my hands with glee!), we were assigned a newish Cherry Red Toyota Yaris, henceforth known as "The Cherry Bomber." We hopped in and were on the road to Queenstown by about 10am, and my first attempt at driving on the right hand side of the road went reasonably well (aside from cutting off some dude within about 10 seconds of starting the car). We took a road called the Southern Scenic Route to Queenstown, and the views were truly impressive, all mountains and rugged coast. Some highlights of the drive included passing through Tuatapere, the self-proclaimed "Sausage Capital of the World," stopping at ocean lookouts at Monkey Island and McCracken's Rest, as well as stopping for lunch in the beautiful little community of Te Anau, where I'll be based for my end of year Milford and Kepler Track walks.

Tasman Sea raging at McCracken's Rest

View out the front of the car. Fear not, I did not take this
picture while driving.

Lake Te Anau from the boardwalk in, you guessed it,
Te Anau.

Lake Wakatipu

The last hour or so into Queenstown was also an incredible drive, the road was extra twisty as it hugged the shores of Lake Wakatipu. An amazing and exhilarating drive, and incredible views on the way as well. We got into Queenstown sometime in the evening, and the day was rounded off with a trip to the World Famous FergBurger, home of one of the best burgers I've ever had.

Some duster ruining the view. And posing like Jesus?
What an ass.

Need for Speed cam

Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains from
Queenstown Harbour

Day Two: Queenstown and the Nevis Highwire

The unquestioned main event of day two would be my attempt at the 134m high Nevis Highwire, the third highest bungee jump platform in the world. I hopped on a bus provided by the bungee comapny, AJ Hackett Bungy, at about 10 in the morning and headed off into the hills for what was one of the most thrilling experiences of my life.

The jump pod. Yes I am insane.

Upon arriving at the jump location (a remote canyon about 30 minutes out of town), I got my first look at the jumping platform - a cable car hung 200m or so above a river at the bottom of the canyon. I was fitted for my harness and was sent out to the cable car, and before I knew it, it was my turn to go. I honestly really didn't have time to think about it much, the operator strapped me in, and gave me the old "3,2,1 GO", and I was off on a freefall of about 8 seconds and reaching a speed of approx. 128 km/h. It was an absolute blast, and I can't wait for my next attempt at a jump! 

The view down from the pod/my final resting place
should anything go wrong

I like giraffes (photo courtesy of AJ Hackett Bungy)

The very definition of grace (photo courtesy of AJ Hackett Bungy)

Upon my return to town, we hopped in the car for a short drive out to the beautiful little town of Glenorchy, located on the northern tip of Lake Wakatipu. Again, it was an amazing drive, and the scenery in town was incredible. There was a lot of Lord of the Rings filming done in the area, and I hope to go back on some type of sanctioned tour in the near future.

Lakeside Rugby Club in the shadows of the mountains in Glenorchy

Day Three: Queenstown to the West Coast and Hokitika

Above the clouds at Crown Range Pass

After the action packed day two, this day was going to be dominated by driving. We had to make nearly 500km, but we'd be passing some incredible scenery on the way: Mt. Aspiring National Park, Haast Pass, Fox and Franz Joseph Glacier and of course, the rugged West Coast itself. I rode shotgun for the first part of the journey (until we stopped at Fox Glacier) and took in the sweeping vistas seemingly around every bend of the road. We stopped for a break just after Haast Pass, where I managed to fall (not really, just stepped off a particularly slippery rock) into the Haast River, but I did turn that mishap into a chance to climb up the side of Fantail Falls. My feet were already soaked, so I just finished wading across the river to get some close up pics of the falls that not many tourists (are stupid enough to try to) get. 

Lake Wanaka

Up close and personal (and wet) with Fantail Falls

Fox Glacier

The drive along the West Coast itself was incredible, the entire thing was a winding, twisting up and down roller coaster ride of a drive. The glaciers were also very impressive, and never having seen one before, getting to see two in one day was a great bit of fortune.

Reflection of the peaks surrounding Franz
Joseph Glacier in Pete's Pool

With ma Inukshuk

Lastly, the lone black spot on the trip: I got a speeding ticket just outside of Hokitika. I was really hoping for sympathy from the cop who nabbed me, but even my best charming glances couldn't crack through a stone-cold exterior. Bastard. We arrived in Hokitika (after a bit of a law-mandated break) at around 8pm, and were glad to just check into the hostel, grab dinner and a pint of delicious Monteith's (the beer of the West Coast, brewed in nearby Greymouth) and pack it in for the night.

Day Four: Hokitika to Christchurch

Climbing into Arthur's Pass National Park

Up early again on day four, we had to make the drive across the country through another beautiful stretch of road, Arthur's Pass. I know at this point you're thinking that I'd be tired of having my eyeballs molested with non-stop snow-capped peaks, lush forests and glimmering rivers, but you'll also be glad to know I soldiered through it to bring you the EXPERIENCE of it all. Leaving the West Coast at Kumara Junction, the road soon started climbing steadily into the mountains. Arthur's Pass National Park is (surprise!) another beautiful section of the country, and thanks to a road blockage, just past the small community of Arthur's Pass, we got to see it going in both directions! We were forced to backtrack about 100km back through the mountains, and instead came through to Christchurch via Victoria National Forest and Lewis Pass. Not a big deal really, just more things to look at in the end. We arrived in Chch pretty late, and as the city is still recovering from last year's devastating earthquakes, we decided once again to make it an early night.

Otira Viaduct from Death's Lookout

Devil's Punchbowl Falls (up close look courtesy of a
selective reading of posted warnings)

Post detour, heading into Lewis Pass

Sunset over some river in the Canterbury Plains

Day 5: Christchurch back to Dunedin

A truly unremarkable day. Not much to see between the two cities driving south along the East Coast, and thus not worth reporting on. Highlight of the day was a home-cooked lunch in Timaru, thanks to a classmate of my travelling companion. Other than that, not much going on (but I got to drive through Oamaru, heavily featured in the May recap).

That's all for probably the longest post yet, next up will be a look at May, spent in the location of my first teaching practicum, Oamaru.

Dave

Video courtesy of AJ Hackett Bungy