|
Winding Down... It's
our last few weeks in New Zealand and Jeannine and I have
been pushing hard to try and get as much in as possible.
Since J had never been to Glenorchy (the advertised "Gateway
to Paradise"), we decided to hike half way up the Routeburn
Track and spend the night. Because of snow in the mountains,
we could only get to the second hut before the ice started
coming up to our waists. The scenery this time of year was
dramatically different from when Dave and I were there in
the summer. Avalanche chutes were filled with snow, the
mountains were covered in white, and large parts of the
trail were practically destroyed due to the 7.1 Earthquake
that hit the area in July. At the Falls Hut, we encountered
only four other people--all Americans. It was a nice relief
from the noisy crowds a few months back and the perfect
weather made for a frosty, but beautiful evening.
After Glenorchy, we headed off
to Long Beach in Dunedin for a night out on the beach. We've
had some unusually warm weather lately and lucked out with a
gorgeous day in a place where the beaches are rarely used
due to the cold. Long Beach is unique because of the caves
that line the coastline. We gathered a group of friends,
packed plenty of beer and food, and camped out in one of the
caves for the night. Only in New Zealand.
Photos:
|
|
|
|
Ferns line the trail of the Routeburn Track.
|
|
|
|
The view from the Routeburn Falls Hut.
|
|
|
|
Jeannine takes on a steep portion of the trail.
|
|
|
|
J takes a break at our lunch spot..
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeannine and I pose at a land slide.
|
|
|
|
Lambs season is in full swing!
|
|
|
|
Clouds part for a moment to reveal several peaks
|
|
|
|
Up top near the Saddle on the Routeburn.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Another classic view..
|
|
|
|
Sunset from the Falls Hut.
|
|
|
|
An example of the damage to the trail from the Earthquake.
|
|
|
|
At the end of the trail..
|
|
|
|
|
|
Looking down on the valley...
|
|
|
|
The main cave at Long Beach..
|
|
|
|
Group shot.
|
|
|
|
Ed and Carl
|
|
|
|
|
|
Relaxing on the beach...
|
|
|
|
Jeannine feeds a lamb..
|
|
|
|
Our friend Madge at our goodbye dinner...
|
|
|
|
The rocks of Long Beach
|
|
|
|
|
|
WILSON! I mean, SLAZENGER!
|
|
|
| 
