Well, I am a few days behind with my posting. Finding accommodation with good internet service at a reasonable cost has been a challenge, so I have concentrated on eating and drinking, instead of posting!
We stayed in Wanaka in the centre of the South Island and had a terrific view of the lake from our room. In fact, we had a terrific room as we had been upgraded as the serviced apartment building we had booked into was very full. What a great view....
If the weather rhyme was anything to go by, the red sky in the morning meant the shepherds would be sending us a warning....
On the suggestion of a certain Mr James, we went on a jet boat / helicopter ride with Wanaka River Journeys. The boat travels up the river at 40 – 7- kph and I am told is relatively tame compared with some others....
The boat travels in just a few inches of water and needs to maintain a certain speed to keep it from grounding on the gravel. Fed by the glacier on the top of Mount Aspiring, the waters are a terrific colour....
The boat stopped part way up the river and we met the helicopter that took Jackie and I to see the glacier. We both enjoy helicopter rides....
Wanaka River viewed from above. The blue shows the current position of the river channel, which can move when the river floods in the spring snow-melt season....
Jackie in the front seat, nearing the summit....
The glacier and the waterfall run-off....
The two of us on an adjacent summit across from mount Aspiring....
Back down at river level, we looked up at the glacier and its waterfall....
Jeez, those crows feet are getting worse....
The river trip includes a lot of information about the geology and nature in the area. We went on a guided walk at the head of the river (or at least the furthest the boat could reach)....
Another of the jet boats rushing by....
In the afternoon, the wind picked up and create a considerable amount of dust from the gravel in the river bed....
How to park a jet boat....
Later in the day, we went to see one of the many waterfalls in the South Island....
After leaving Wanaka at 3pm and driving about 250 km the day was very busy. We went to bed very tired at the end of that day!
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7 comments:
Concentrated on eating and drinking would be my number one priority.
Fantastic photos!
Thanks for sharing!
Your pictures are proof positive that NZ is a beautiful place. Loved the two great views, water top and airborne.
Hey those are laugh lines and only prove you are enjoying life.
You may have been tired but it looks so worth it.
Such beautiful pictures Gary. You are making me want to go to New Zealand even more than I already did.
NZ Tourism should be knocking on your door to use some of your photos!!
Sounds like a great day and some super pictures to remember it by.
Your pictures make we mant to return to New Zealand soon. It has been almost a year already since I went down under. What a fantastic scenery!
Gary:
Great scenery and you know how to capture it. You managed to have great weather, maybe you "booked" that in advance too.
We have the same rhyme: "Red sky in morning, sailor's take warning, Red sky at night, sailor's delight"
amazing what we can remember. See, you still have some memory cells left.
You're having a great vacation, wished we were there
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
Rex – Priorities sometimes have to change!
Patti – Laugh lines, maybe. I am glad you like the pictures.
Trobairitz – Thanks for the kind words about my pictures. If they like my pictures, NZ Tourism can find me if they want.
Canajun – It really was a great day.
Sonja – No doubt you will return one day.
Bob – If I could have arranged the weather, my name wouldn’t be Gary! That rhyme must work the whole world over.
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