Queenstown, Glenorchy and Milford Sound

Arriving South Island
Queenstown boardwalk

View from the boardwalk

Jetboating on the Shotover river

Driving into Lord of The Rings country

Gondola above Queenstown

Early am Lake Te Anau

Milford Sound

Cruising

The south island was amazing. Queenstown is an awesome little resort town with a great atmosphere and gorgeous scenery. The afternoon we spent driving above Glenorchy brought us to some of the settings they used in the Lord of The Rings movies. It was specatcular on a clear day. We even went 4 wheeling in our two door hatch back rental car. Yeehaw.

Mt. Cook/Aoraki

The Piersons, Ordelheides and Flys ride again

Glacier walking-snowball fight not pictured

Bungy

We had a fantastic weekend hooking up with Ken and Crystal at Mt. Cook. Blessed with a perfect weather day, we took Dr. O's reccomendation of a helicopter ride over the top of Mt. Cook with a glacier landing. Spectacular and a highlight of the trip. On the way back to Queenstown, Crystal went bungy jumping at AJ Hackett Bungy, the original bungy jump. Shoshanna had gone the work before. Good on ya girls!!! Dixie wanted to go, but baby would not allow. I was not tempted into scaring myself to death.

The Routeburn

Heading out
Breakfast!!!!

Moonrise

Day 2

The top of the saddle

Magnificent view to the Tasman Sea

Near the Mackenzie Hut

5 and a half months pregnant- not bad!!

Chaddeus- mountain man

The road less traveled

Wildflowers

The Routeburn was an amazing trek. We got rained on and then snowed on. Quite different then the weather we are used to. The sun came out and we saw some amazing views. There is water running everywhere with so many types of flora and fauna. Chad and I pushed up the saddle peak and then raced to catch the women. I was ready to eat a meat and cheese sandwich if that tells you anything. Great memories and adventures.

The North Island NZ

Ready to raft
Us on the 21 foot waterfall- Yeehaw!!

Did it

Diving in to sledge

Surfing ready to perfect my roll

Crazy New Zealanders and tourists

Tongariro National park- AKA Mt. Doom

Geyser near Rotorua

Wai-o-tapu Thermal park

Chad and Sho- Mt. Doom

Near our lakestay B and B

Auckland

Beautiful waterfall- near the beach

Karikare Beach

We had a great time on the north island. Sledging was one of the funnest things I have ever done. Their is so much varied topography from the forest to thermal pools to beach etc... Our lake stay was great for early morning walks and checking out the birds. We got to Tongariro national park and it was all clouded and raining. We waited 30 minutes and it completely cleared off. Crazy weather changes in NZ. Our last night we ate at a top of the mountain view restaurant and watched the sun go down over Auckland. Good times.