Te Anau and the Topic of Conversation

William the Conqueror attracts a lot of curiosity when I park him outside cafes and shops. Taken today outside the Fiordland Bakery in Te Anau.

Captain Scott in CHCH before earthquake

Here's a photo I took of Scott of the Antarctic when I was in Christchurch earlier this month. The statue has fallen off its pedestal, one of the casualties of last weeks' quake.

William the Conqueror meets Fellow Seattle Bike Tourers

A meeting of folding bikes last week in Te Anau outside the Sandfly Cafe (apt name)

On to Tuatapere and the Humpridge Track

I booked a private tramp today: the Humpridge, which is at the bottom of Fiordlands NP, next stop Stewart Island. I had the choice of doing this one, or sticking around Te Anau for a few days then heading off on the Kepler Great Walk. I decided $51/night was a bit steep to sleep in a mountaintop bunk house with 30 of my closest smelliest hiker friends.

I'm going with Trips & Tramps again tomorrow for the shuttle to the town at the start of the 3 day trail. This one is a bit more expensive than the Great Walk, but I get my pack helicoptered into the first lodge, and there will be a hot shower and a warm bed with SHEETS! waiting for me.

Sounds like my sort of trip.

I've had to adjust my trip planning due to the earthquake in CHCH. There's still lots of conjecture and little hard information to go on. I have a flight from CHCH in just on 2 weeks' time. It makes no sense to go into the quake zone unless I have to. I have to figure out how to get to the airport, etc. All in good time.

Tuesday Feb 22 Christchurch earthquake

Today saw a 6.2 trembler in a lovely city that sure doesn't deserve it. This time there are many casualties. I spent the day in beautiful Fiordland NP, unaware of the tragedy in a city I'd visited just a few weeks' ago. My condolences to the citizens of CHCH. Beautiful NZ is a young country in geological terms. I suppose this is what "young" means.

Tasman Sea from Milford Sound

The cruise skipper claimed you could see the Sydney Opera House across the horizon if you looked hard enough. This is "the West Coast" of New Zealand, and the turnaround point for the Milford Sound boat rides.

Trips & Trails Tour to Milford Sound

Apparently 450,000 people visit Milford Sound each year. T&T does small van tours. I signed up for a bus and cruise trip. As I'm a YHA member, there's a little discount off list price. Here are my awestruck companions looking around the Hollyford Valley. We had many moments like this in achingly beautiful Fiordlands National Park.