North Island
In March 2016 we went on a hiking tour across New Zealand which took us on from Auckland to the southernmost point Milford Sound. We started with a hike on one of the tracks in the Whirinaki Forest. It is famous worldwide for its Jurassic-like rainforest before we visited the extraordinary thermal parks close to Lake Rotorua. Next day we began
the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk through deep rainforest. After two days hiking we could relax and sit back on a boat ride. Next morning we hiked up to a spectacular Lookout over Lake Waikaremoaona. We continued our tour to Lake Taupo and spent the night at a Skihotel preparing our backpacks for the crossing of the volcanic wonderland of Tongariro National Park. The tour on the North Island ended in Wellington. Early in the morning we had a spectacular flyover to Nelson on the South Island.
the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk through deep rainforest. After two days hiking we could relax and sit back on a boat ride. Next morning we hiked up to a spectacular Lookout over Lake Waikaremoaona. We continued our tour to Lake Taupo and spent the night at a Skihotel preparing our backpacks for the crossing of the volcanic wonderland of Tongariro National Park. The tour on the North Island ended in Wellington. Early in the morning we had a spectacular flyover to Nelson on the South Island.
South Island
In the South Island we survived a three day walking and kayaking tour through the Abel Tasman NP under pouring rain and thousands of hungry sandflys. Fortunately Petrus was gracious so we could at least enjoy once a colorful sunset on our beach campsite. Afterwards we continued our tour to the Pancake Rocks and Cape Foulwind. We went biking the West Coast Cycle Trail to Hokitika with coffee break at a Wild West Cowboy Paradise Tavern. Next day we drove down to Fox Glacier for a helihike on the Glacier. Phuu, we were absolutely lucky with the weather. Before our arrival helihikes have been cancelled for almost two weeks due to strong winds and heavy rains. The morning our helihike was scheduled the glacier was speckled with sunlight. Same afternoon winds and rain returned and helihikes have been revoked again. Anyway it was a spectacular and dearly bought adventure. Next day's highlight was the filmset of next Prometheus movie "Alien Covenant", which was set up at Milford Sound. Milford Sound itself was quite unspectacular. In Queenstown we had one day off. Finally, we could take a longer sleep before we were heating on a jetboat through tight river gorges. As we saw ourselfs already as flat flys sticking at the gorge walls, we went to the one and only Burger place "Fergburger" to celebrate our survival. The morning after we were lucky returning into the wild of New Zealands southern Alps with a two day hiking tour to Aspiring Hut. We spent the night at the most cosy hut of the tour with a hugh window front row giving a spectuluar view to the surronding glaciers. The trek guided us trough deep moorland and green meadows where we were ogled by curious cows. Our last days we went hiking into Mount Cook National Park. On our way to Christchurch we had a last stop on Lake Tekapo where we enjoyed the very last walk to the Observatory peak. Saying Goodbye to everyone after more than three weeks was very hard and sad. We really enjoyed the companienship with our team members and guides Linda and Dave.
Christchurch
After two heaviest earthquakes in 2010 and 2011 Christchurch still finds itself in the state of reconstruction. But people and city spread charme and optimism.
