Christchurch, New Zealand

Tags

Australia, February 7th through the 21st, 2013, Avon river, Botanical Gardens, Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand

Four dudes I picked up in the South Pole on the way to Christchurch, New Zealand.

Plan A was to leave Hamner Springs at 9am and arrive in Christchurch at around 11:30am or noon at the latest. However, my car had other plans. Dead battery. Hmm. How did that happen? While reflecting on what I was going to do, I glanced in the rear view mirror and saw a light illuminated above my head. Ahh ha! Interior light and the door wasn’t open – meaning that was the cause of the dead battery.

My New Zealand Super Bowl Experience

Tags

49ers, Baltimore, Hamner Springs, rain, Ravens, San Francisco, sauna, spa

I had every intention of watching the Super Bowl today, but first I wanted to start my day with R&R at a place in New Zealand they call, “The Spa At Hanmer Springs.” So the plan for the day was a one hour massage; followed by soaking in the multiple hot spring pools they have at this facility, and about an hour or more in the dry heat sauna and steam rooms also available here. For two plus weeks, I had been playing the role of “Energizer Bunny” and although my body wasn’t telling me I was exhausted, I suspected that I was. Consequently, showing up in the town of Hamner Springs was perfect timing. Unbeknownst to me this morning, it was also going to rain all day, i.e., another reason to relax at a spa, then watch the Super Bowl.

Franz Josef Glazier And My “Oops” With The Police

Tags

Franz Josef, lake, motorcycle, New Zealand, police, river, sub-tropical forest

Franz Josef glazier up close.

I know everyone could give a hoot about Franz Josef and some dirty ice. HA! Admit it -from reading the post title, you’re all wondering if I got popped by the local police? Umm, yeah I guess you could say that. I got ticketed for speeding by a very nice Greymouth police officer named Brent. It could have been worse, i.e., I was EXCESSIVELY speeding. However, Brent reduced the speed on my ticket, whereby I was only fined $30. I think he did that because every other word out of my mouth was “sir” as in “yes sir.”

Hiking to Franz Josef Glacier

Tags

Franz Josef glacier, Hamner hot springs

I met Brian Sheppard, Irvine California resident, almost at the beginning of the Franz Josef Glacier trailhead. We hit it off immediately and hiked together to the FJ glazier’s edge. The juxtaposition of having sub tropical rain forest so close to a glazier is a stunning and almost an unbelievable sight. I took plenty of pictures and will post a more detailed thread about this experience later today or tomorrow because I am on the road this morning – heading to Hamner Springs. I will spend the remainder of my time relaxing in thermal pools, before making the short drive to Christchurch (for my flight to my next destination, Sydney, Australia).

Greymouth, New Zealand . . . Gateway To Stunning Beauty!

Tags

Coal Creek Falls, Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowhole, Truman Track

Close-up of Coal Creek Falls.

So, I keep thinking that the next place I go to in New Zealand wont be as nice as the last place I visited. Wrong! To date, that “doomer” expectation has been unequivocally false. Frankly, each new place I go to trumps the last place I went to; or, is equally as stunning or unique. I am running out of adjectives to describe what I am seeing in this country. I guess “Wow!” will have to suffice, because I think I am wearing out “beautiful.”  🙂

Coal Creek Falls

Tags

Coal Creek Falls, mixed beech-podocarp forest

Today, I hiked Coal Creek Falls. This was a moderate to easy hike of approximately 3.6 km. It takes you into the Coal Creek Valley and wanders through a mixed beech-podocarp forest past other falls following rain to Coal Creek Falls.

Arrival In Greymouth And Brunner Mine Site Tour

Tags

Americano, bridge, Brunner coal mine, coal, Greymouth, Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and Blowhole, train

Brunner Mine Chimney.

I left the Golden Bay and Abel Tasman National Park area this morning, driving south toward Greymouth, located on the west coast of New Zealand’s South Island. I have visited some amazing places in my life, but the stunning and remarkable places I was able to visit the last few days were unbelievably pictureesque. I could only hope that I would be rewarded with equally beautiful sites in the Greymouth area.

Wainui Falls And Waikoropupu Springs (And Something Priceless)

Tags

Abel Tasman National Park, cows, New Zealand, Pohara, Pupu Springs, Visa Priceless commercials, Waikoropupu Springs, Wainui Falls

Wainui Falls

Golden Bay, Abel Tasman National Park.

I again woke up early this morning – my circadian clock still on Denver time – planning to visit Wainui Falls in Abel Tasman National Park; and Waikoropupu Springs (known locally as “Pupu Springs”) in Takaka. I’m glad I got an early start because it turned out to be one of the hottest days since arriving in New Zealand on the 19th. Consequently, I had plenty of energy in my tank by getting an early start before it started heating up. My first hike was Wainui Falls in Abel Tasman National Park. By the by, all of these pictures will enlarge by clicking on them without significant loss of resolution.

New Zealands’s Grove And Milnthorpe Parks

Tags

Abel Tasman National Park, Bay Country Lodge, Department of Lands and Survey, Golden Bay, Grove Scenic Reserve, limestone, Milnthorpe Park, New Zealand, Rata Tree, Rimu Tree, sheep

Entrance to Grove Scenic Reserve

Michelle, the co-owner of Bay Country Lodge, located in Golden Bay, has provided me with a wealth of information about the Abel Tasman National Park area. Yesterday, she suggested two hikes to me: the Grove Scenic Reserve and the Milnthorpe Park Scenic Reserve. Grove is a very short walk of approximately 30 minutes, so I decided to wake up early this morning, where I could do that hike first and then do Milnthorpe, which is located approximately 25 kilometers away. Milnthorpe, with its numerous “walking tracks,” takes approximately 3-4 hours to complete. These are some of the pictures and comments I noted while hiking in these beautiful parks. All of the pictures will enlarge with no loss in resolution if you click on them.

Potpourri of New Zealand Pictures

Tags

Abel Tasman National Park, ferry, Flappers, hitch hikers, Korean, Nelson, New Zealand, Picton, San Francisco Giants, Snout Trail

Minji, my favorite Korean Giants fan

This evening’s post wont be too long on words, i.e., I have a great internet connection and I plan on taking advantage of it. Consequently, I am posting quite a few pictures. However, my first one deserves a more detailed explanation. I indicated on the Flap blog (where “Orange and Black Flappers” discuss all things San Francisco Giants 24/7) prior to this trip starting that I would attempt to locate a Giants fan in each country I am visiting on my RTW trip. Minji is my first fan identified.