Leg 9 - Sampling the beauty of New Zealand
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New Zealand is truly a special place, and a person with a little wanderlust and a sense of
adventure could easily spend a lifetime exploring its splender. With no import tax on autos, it is
relatively inexpensive and easy to buy (and later resell) a serviceable car at the weekly auction.
Armed with a newly acquired Nissan, a tent, a camera and some hiking boots, I set out on a
whirlwind tour of the South island.
adventure could easily spend a lifetime exploring its splender. With no import tax on autos, it is
relatively inexpensive and easy to buy (and later resell) a serviceable car at the weekly auction.
Armed with a newly acquired Nissan, a tent, a camera and some hiking boots, I set out on a
whirlwind tour of the South island.
I passed in awe from the serenity of the Queen Charlotte & Marlborough Sounds on the northern
coast, to the charm of England-influenced cities of ChristChurch and Dunedin, to the mid-plain
agricultural mecca of the Canterbury region.
coast, to the charm of England-influenced cities of ChristChurch and Dunedin, to the mid-plain
agricultural mecca of the Canterbury region.
Canterbury is home to the lakeside resort cities of Queenstown and Wanaka whose lakes mirror
the magic of the impressive Southern Alps. Continuing up into the snow-capped mountains that
form the spine of the south island, I was struck by their magesty, and humbled by their
immensity. Glaciers, waterfalls, rivers, lakes...powerful images everywhere.
the magic of the impressive Southern Alps. Continuing up into the snow-capped mountains that
form the spine of the south island, I was struck by their magesty, and humbled by their
immensity. Glaciers, waterfalls, rivers, lakes...powerful images everywhere.
On the southwestern side is the region known as Fjordland, and although the pictures don't do
the region justice, words fair even worse in trying to capture the beauty, variety, and pristinity of
the area. Stewart island off the south coast, the port town of Bluff (famous for its bluff oysters),
the Catlins, the Haast Pass, the three varieties of penguins, the tiny Hector dolphins, the
Punakaiki rocks...all have a beauty and a story of their own - far too many tales to tell and things
to describe in a short letter.
the region justice, words fair even worse in trying to capture the beauty, variety, and pristinity of
the area. Stewart island off the south coast, the port town of Bluff (famous for its bluff oysters),
the Catlins, the Haast Pass, the three varieties of penguins, the tiny Hector dolphins, the
Punakaiki rocks...all have a beauty and a story of their own - far too many tales to tell and things
to describe in a short letter.
Hopefully this little sampling of pictures will entice you to visit this magic land.
| As always, just click on any picture for full size impression |