Travelling the world for 6 months... My sabbatical leave experience
#181
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Programs: BA Bronze, Emirates Silver, Virgin Silver, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,399
I thought they were Mozzarella sticks?
Yes, I think the singing is compulsory from reading the reviews on Trip Advisor!
We did your journey to the South Island the opposite way - we flew CHC to WLG but thankfully it was a no issues flight unlike yours! Sounds like they've change the security at Wellington Airport - it used to be at the gate but from what you've said, looks like they've got a central one now?
Definitely agree on the first comment !
For the bus ride back to the hotel in Rotorua, yes indeed, we had to sing... Fortunately (for me) there was another French onboard the bus and she was the one singing. The driver was asking a song from every country. Looks like you had the same :-)
For the bus ride back to the hotel in Rotorua, yes indeed, we had to sing... Fortunately (for me) there was another French onboard the bus and she was the one singing. The driver was asking a song from every country. Looks like you had the same :-)
We did your journey to the South Island the opposite way - we flew CHC to WLG but thankfully it was a no issues flight unlike yours! Sounds like they've change the security at Wellington Airport - it used to be at the gate but from what you've said, looks like they've got a central one now?
#182
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: In between BRU, AMS, DUS and LUX...
Programs: AF/KL Plat, BA Gold, A3 Gold, IHG Diamond, MR Gold, HH Diamond, ALL Platinum
Posts: 1,044
I thought they were Mozzarella sticks?
Yes, I think the singing is compulsory from reading the reviews on Trip Advisor!
We did your journey to the South Island the opposite way - we flew CHC to WLG but thankfully it was a no issues flight unlike yours! Sounds like they've change the security at Wellington Airport - it used to be at the gate but from what you've said, looks like they've got a central one now?
Yes, I think the singing is compulsory from reading the reviews on Trip Advisor!
We did your journey to the South Island the opposite way - we flew CHC to WLG but thankfully it was a no issues flight unlike yours! Sounds like they've change the security at Wellington Airport - it used to be at the gate but from what you've said, looks like they've got a central one now?
I only departed from 3 domestic airports in NZ : AKL, WLG and ZQN (Queenstown). I just landed in CHC but I did not depart from there.
From what I understand (but maybe a New Zealander on this forum can comment better), it seems like only the destinations operated by a Jet aircraft (such as NZ Airbus 320 family aircrafts), have a security screening point. So basically only flights from and to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown. The other domestic destinations seem to be operated by regional propeller aircrafts, such as ATR and Q200 and Q400 and do not seem to require security check, as the boarding gates for those flights are in the public spaces of the airports.
In Wellington, there was a centralized security screening area for the domestic departures to AKL, ZQN, CHC and DUD operated by jet airccrafts, as a well as a centralized screening area at the other side of the terminal for all international flights. In between were located some regional boarding gates directly in the public area. But looking at Wellington's airport website now, I can see the following:
Gates 13 to 17 were in a "secured area" for sure and those were gates for the Air New Zealand flights heading to AKL, DUD, ZQN and CHC and operated by Airbus 320 jets. I am pretty sure that the gate area 3-12 is mostly used for Air New Zealand regional flights, operated by propeller aircrafts, plus Sounds Air, a small regional airline and does not require security screening, such as the central gates 18-19-20.
I am however not sure about the gates 21-29, as I think they are mostly used for domestic flights operated by JetStar and other airlines, and given those are jet aircrafts, I am pretty sure there is a security screening, such as for all the international gates.
#183
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,497
We did your journey to the South Island the opposite way - we flew CHC to WLG but thankfully it was a no issues flight unlike yours! Sounds like they've change the security at Wellington Airport - it used to be at the gate but from what you've said, looks like they've got a central one now?
#184
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Programs: BA Bronze, Emirates Silver, Virgin Silver, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,399
Thanks for confirming that Top of climb I did think it weird the first time we flew from WLG that the security was at the gate rather than a central place which I'd seen in every other airport I had (until that point) flown from.
#185
I can imagine😉 I would love to see what happens when people try to sell "original Italian" products you get in some countries (like Mozzarella or Parmesan in bags) on an Italian market. On best case you take everything back hone, in worst case it will be very painful.
#186
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: In between BRU, AMS, DUS and LUX...
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Posts: 1,044
New Zealand Part 3: Unexpected Christchurch
I arrived quite late that evening in Christchurch (well... around 22:00 or so...) and the city was pretty desert. It felt like I was walking in an empty industrial area at night to reach my hotel which was close to the central bus station.
If I had to use one word to describe the city of Christchurch, it would certainly be "Unexpected" - and I was not really sure what to expect before landing there actually !
Most of New Zealand sits between the Indo-Australian and the Pacific tectonic plates (where there are tall, sharp mountains, there is usually a reason behind this !) and for the ones who may not know this, the region of Christchurch suffered pretty badly in February 2011, February 2016 and November 2016 from pretty big earthquakes and you can still observe several years later the aftermath of those quakes, with some parts of the city still fenced off, due to compromised buildings, which clearly contrasts with the brand new buildings popping up right next to those. Add this a lot of street art at every street corner and it gives an interesting feeling to the place.
I stayed 2 nights in total in Christchurch, which gave me one full day to visit the city as I was heading to cross the South Island "Alps" the next day by train.
I spent most of my time walking in the city as most of the places of interest were within walking distance (My google fit history says that I walked about 30000 steps that day. I remember sleeping well for sure !)
The morning walk was focused in sightseeing around the central area of the city. The weather was just perfect.
New vs. Old
You can play Space Raiders in the street
Christchurch temporary cathedral
Inside the temporary cathedral
Some empty lots have been converted into skate parks and playgrounds
Christ's college
Canterbury museum entrance
After booking some excursions in the milford and doubtful sound for later in the week using the i-site of Christchurch, I had a Japanese lunch in a small restaurant next to it and headed inside the Christchurch art gallery to cool down a bit...
Christchurch Art Gallery
From classical...
... to more contemporary art !
I have to confess that I did not really understood everything in that section of the museum !
I then continued my walk towards Catherdal square, where signs of the earthquake(s) were still very visible...
It's like if the time suddenly stopped that day...
The former Cathedral
But a new CBD was build right across the street... The contrast was sharp between both places !
The new central business district of the Christchurch
it was free cone day !
I did not queue for a free ice cream (I am not THAT cheap - and also did not have the time... :-D)
The small Avon river, which goes along the city gave a bit of a fresh feeling that day...
Bridge of remembrance
The Avon river
Christchurch i-site
I enjoyed the rest of this lovely afternoon in the Botanic gardens, after stopping one more time at the i-site on the way. This is where I met Hercules, another solo traveller, from the region of Cape Town in South Africa who was backpacking across NZ. After talking a bit while walking in the gardens, we discovered that we were both taking the same tranzalpine train the next morning to get to Greymouth...
View on the Canterbury museum from the gardens
The NZ world peace bell
After enjoying a pizza downtown and a couple beers, Hercules and I both called it a day and I was back at my hotel after a short stop at the local supermarket to pack a few supplies for the next part of the trip...
Very interesting place which was Christchurch. Looking back at the pictures more than one year later, it felt I was visiting a small part of England somewhere in the California Silicon Valley. The devastation of the several past earthquakes are still clearly visible and this gives a one of kind feeling to the place.
I wish I would have had more time to visit around the city, like the Banks Peninsula, located about 75 km away from the city, where I discovered during that trip that the French attempted to colonize back in the 19th century.
Coming next : The train journey across the New-Zealand Alps, and the road trip between Greymouth to Queenstown.
If I had to use one word to describe the city of Christchurch, it would certainly be "Unexpected" - and I was not really sure what to expect before landing there actually !
Most of New Zealand sits between the Indo-Australian and the Pacific tectonic plates (where there are tall, sharp mountains, there is usually a reason behind this !) and for the ones who may not know this, the region of Christchurch suffered pretty badly in February 2011, February 2016 and November 2016 from pretty big earthquakes and you can still observe several years later the aftermath of those quakes, with some parts of the city still fenced off, due to compromised buildings, which clearly contrasts with the brand new buildings popping up right next to those. Add this a lot of street art at every street corner and it gives an interesting feeling to the place.
I stayed 2 nights in total in Christchurch, which gave me one full day to visit the city as I was heading to cross the South Island "Alps" the next day by train.
I spent most of my time walking in the city as most of the places of interest were within walking distance (My google fit history says that I walked about 30000 steps that day. I remember sleeping well for sure !)
The morning walk was focused in sightseeing around the central area of the city. The weather was just perfect.
New vs. Old
You can play Space Raiders in the street
Christchurch temporary cathedral
Inside the temporary cathedral
Some empty lots have been converted into skate parks and playgrounds
Christ's college
Canterbury museum entrance
After booking some excursions in the milford and doubtful sound for later in the week using the i-site of Christchurch, I had a Japanese lunch in a small restaurant next to it and headed inside the Christchurch art gallery to cool down a bit...
Christchurch Art Gallery
From classical...
... to more contemporary art !
I have to confess that I did not really understood everything in that section of the museum !
I then continued my walk towards Catherdal square, where signs of the earthquake(s) were still very visible...
It's like if the time suddenly stopped that day...
The former Cathedral
But a new CBD was build right across the street... The contrast was sharp between both places !
The new central business district of the Christchurch
it was free cone day !
I did not queue for a free ice cream (I am not THAT cheap - and also did not have the time... :-D)
The small Avon river, which goes along the city gave a bit of a fresh feeling that day...
Bridge of remembrance
The Avon river
Christchurch i-site
I enjoyed the rest of this lovely afternoon in the Botanic gardens, after stopping one more time at the i-site on the way. This is where I met Hercules, another solo traveller, from the region of Cape Town in South Africa who was backpacking across NZ. After talking a bit while walking in the gardens, we discovered that we were both taking the same tranzalpine train the next morning to get to Greymouth...
View on the Canterbury museum from the gardens
The NZ world peace bell
After enjoying a pizza downtown and a couple beers, Hercules and I both called it a day and I was back at my hotel after a short stop at the local supermarket to pack a few supplies for the next part of the trip...
Very interesting place which was Christchurch. Looking back at the pictures more than one year later, it felt I was visiting a small part of England somewhere in the California Silicon Valley. The devastation of the several past earthquakes are still clearly visible and this gives a one of kind feeling to the place.
I wish I would have had more time to visit around the city, like the Banks Peninsula, located about 75 km away from the city, where I discovered during that trip that the French attempted to colonize back in the 19th century.
Coming next : The train journey across the New-Zealand Alps, and the road trip between Greymouth to Queenstown.
#188
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Programs: BA Bronze, Emirates Silver, Virgin Silver, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,399
We loved our visit to Christchurch and good to see your photos of it to see how the city has come on since our visit there - there was early signs of the recovery then but it seems to have come on leaps and bounds in the past few years.
#189
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: In between BRU, AMS, DUS and LUX...
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New Zealand Part 4: The Tranzalpine train ride to Greymouth, FJ and Fox Glaciers...
After my full day in Christchurch, I was ready to explore the real nature of the south island where I would start my road trip in Greymouth where I booked a rental car weeks in advance.
To reach Greymouth, at the other side of the island, I booked a "scenic" train ride on the Tranzalpine train which departed Christchuch around 8 in the morning and operated by KiwiRail
Day 2: The Tranzalpine train, Road from Greymouth to Franz Joseph Glacier
Unlike in most of Europe, travelling by train is not a very common thing in NZ. It's pretty much like in the US, to travel by train to take the time to travel, and enjoy the scenic views during the journey. The tranzalpine train is one of the 3 main train journeys one can take in New Zealand and goes daily between Christchurch, on the pacific side of the south island to Greymouth, on the tasman sea, crossing the New Zealand Alps, and includes a 10-minute stop at Arthur's pass almost half way. After an hour stop in Greymouth it travels back to Christchurch, allowing day visitors to Arthur's pass NP to come back to Christchurch. The - comfortable - train is mostly designed for tourists, and is equipped with a small restaurant carriage and a scenic carriage exposed to the outside and the entire journey takes about 5 hours and half.
The South-African traveler I met the day before Hercules was also booked on that train and I met him at the station the morning of the departure.
The Christchurch train station is located quite outside the center of the city and it was a 15-min Uber ride from my hotel. I arrived quite early that morning and only a few passengers were there, so I did not have to queue for long before getting my boarding pass.
Christchurch train station - basically two tracks, and one platform !
Inside the station
...And the station's platform
About 20 minutes later the small station started to get more crowded and we were invited to drop our bags at the dedicated car...
The scenic car, too bad it was located right behind the smoky diesel engines...
We eventually started boarding 15 min before departure, although seats were assigned, most of the people spent the ride in different places of the train, including the scenic car located in the front. The train was not full that day.
Each seat was equipped with a power plug and a 3.5 mm jack to follow comments during the journey.
Legroom
Food menu
The train-rides you can take in NZ
After 45 min or so after departure I went to see my new friend Hercules in the scenic car, which was quite crowded. Too bad the car was located right behind the diesel engines...
The restaurant car
After the first few nice views we decided to enjoy some breakfast in the restaurant car...
We left Christchurch with a sunny weather, but it quickly became very cloudy and grey as we were reaching the mountainy part... The views were still nice, but the pictures were not astonishing. I alsways have a hard time taking good pictures when the sky is grey or white...
Around 10:40 we stopped at Arthur's pass station, and a few passengers disembarked. The schedule is made in such a way that you can enjoy a bit Arthur's pass National park for a day trip and catch the train back to Christchurch later in the afternoon.
Arthur's pass station
The rest of the journey was quite uneventful, the landscapes were nice indeed, but nothing breathtaking. We chatted a bit with the friendly crew and they said that while the enjoy working on this line, they found that the best train ride in NZ is actually the Pacific coastliner.
The cows had a different color after the pass :-)
The scenic car got less crowded in the second part of the trip
This guy came out of nowhere really !
Approaching Greymouth
Greymouth station. Litterally cutting the city in two parts.
We reached Greymouth around 13:30 and I said goodbye to Hercules who was connecting to a coach to get to Queenstown. I rented my small SUV at the local Hertz facility and given that Greymouth is the biggest city in the area (and it's not really that big...) before Queenstown, I took the opportunity to grab some supplies at the local supermarket for the next couple days before heading south.
After an hour driving along the Tasman sea coast, I reached the small town of Hokitika where the local i-side advised me of a nice place to visit in the area : The Hokitika gorge, located about 20 min away from the city, which gave me the opportunity to strech my legs before continuing the drive to Franz Joseph Glacier where I would spend the next 2 nights.
Hokitika
It's not a kiwi !
Hokitika gorge
Then it was a couple hours more driving to reach the village of FJ Glacier, with some more scenic spots on the way...
On the way to FJ Glacier
"Downtown" FJ Glacier.
I enjoyed dinner at the restaurant "Full of Beans" located on the main street. Friendly staff, great food, affordable prices, that's the type of places I like !
Day 3: Franz Joseph Glacier area
After a good night sleep followed by a quick breakfast and buying the picnic for the day at the local supermarket, I drove to the near-by Franz Joseph Glacier parking lot to have a walk until the Glacier view point.
Guess who pollutes more between the helicopter and the drone...
The only way to reach the glacier nowadays is - unfortunately - by helicopter, and this is the only way as the local authorities judge that it is too dangerous to climb the glacier. I did not book a helicopter ride most of the shops in both FJ and Fox glacier cities offer the option to book a ride, and actually, I would not support this type of tourism. Let me explain why : I think that you need to deserve visiting the glacier. If it's too hazardous to visit it on foot and climbing it - so be it. But just heading there with a noisy and polluting helicopter is not the way to go in my opinion. i found this even more hypocritical from the authorities that along the path and indicated where the glacier was ending in the past, explaining on the way that the glacier will eventually disappear soon if we don't dramatically reduce our carbon emissions. The irony of this is that one reading the sign can at the same time enjoy the numerous helicopter sounds doing the shuttle between the valley and the glacier generating noise and atmospheric pollution.
My rant will however stop here, and I will let you enjoy the views here below. The various more or less complicated hikes in the area are very nice and well indicated, too bad that the weather was so grey that day. I was also lucky to meet on the way a couple of Americans who just retired and spent their first vacation since retirement visiting New Zealand and did a couple hikes/walks with them that day...
The path stops here. No way to go further, besides with the help of a chopper...
After the main glacier walk, we decided to do another short walk, in the forest this time...
Reflection pond on the Glacier
And with the other camera...
Another day, another bridge...
After a good 3 hours of walking I wanted to see something else and have my picnic near the sea nearby rather than on the parking lot... so I started another 30 min driving. But the fatigue and the straight empty road (after a series of mountainy curves) helping, I felt asleep and ended up in some sort of ditch. Thank god, nothing happened, I woke up immediately as I went offroad, I was not driving very fast, there were no other cars and ground was stable so I was able to get out after getting my adrenaline shock ! But that episode certainly gave me a good lesson !
I was lucky that the road was empty and the ditch not very low !
The cows certainly gave me the look...
I eventually reached the sea by 16.20 after a good 15 min driving on an unpaved road and had a very late, but well deserved lunch !
You've reached your destination !
There was a backyard next to the beach parking lot with a small hiking trail and got to play a bit with the drone.
I cannot really remember the explanations I read about those corroded pipes...
View from above
On the way back to Franz Joseph village, I stopped at another view point where I continued playing with the drone and play more with the active track, but unfortunately, the clouds prevented me to get nice shots...
A well deserved dinner !
Day 4: Lake Matheson and the drive to Queenstown...
After a good night sleep I woke up with for once a clear weather on the mountain. Unfortunately it did not last long and once I arrived at the various view points and my destination for the morning, Lake Matheson, the sky covered again...
Lake Matheson is known to be, at least on clear and non-windy days, the perfect postcard picture of new zealand as the Glaciers reflect perfectly on the lake. The day I was there, there was a slight breeze and the sky was not that clear... so while the pictures were nice, I won't be getting the perfect one on this trip !
Suspended bridge on Lake Matheson trail
Lake Matheson trail
That's where you can get "the view of the views"...
... but not today !
Well, at the end of the walk, I was still able to zoom towards a small cloud opening...
That's the best I got !
After the walk I went back to the car and started to drive south to Queenstown, and the drive was expected to be pretty long (like 4 or 5 hours IIRC). I was feeling a bit nervous following the small incident I experienced the day before but fortunately (for me and for them), right at the exit of Fox Glacier village, I found 3 German teenagers hitch-hiking. I never take hitch-hikers, at least in Europe. But in NZ, it felt very natural that for whatever reason I stopped without thinking. The only condition I told them : We stop on the way if we find some nice spots. To which they indeed agreed...
And some nice spots on the way there were... (And some heavy rain too...)
Kinghts point lookout
Buckle-up kids !
Roaring billy falls, started to rain quite badly while we were walking...
Thunder creek falls
Lake Wanaka
"The neck", between Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea
Lake Wanaka, In the town of Wanaka where I dropped the two girls.
While the German guy wanted to go until Queenstown, the ladies initially wanted to stop in the small town of Haast for the night. But when we got there the weather was just terrible (and there was literally not much to do in town anyway) so they decided to continue the ride until Wanaka.
We reached Queenstown at the end of the day, and arrived right before another big storm. We had all types of weather in those 5 hours drive really !
"Cardrona bra fence", Somewhere between Wanaka and Queenstown
View on Queenstown
Well at least I did not fall asleep with those kids in the car and did my good samaritan by driving them to their destination. I spent the next couple days visiting Queenstown and the area and slept in the comfortable Holiday Inn Queenstown during this time. But that's for later...!
To reach Greymouth, at the other side of the island, I booked a "scenic" train ride on the Tranzalpine train which departed Christchuch around 8 in the morning and operated by KiwiRail
Day 2: The Tranzalpine train, Road from Greymouth to Franz Joseph Glacier
Unlike in most of Europe, travelling by train is not a very common thing in NZ. It's pretty much like in the US, to travel by train to take the time to travel, and enjoy the scenic views during the journey. The tranzalpine train is one of the 3 main train journeys one can take in New Zealand and goes daily between Christchurch, on the pacific side of the south island to Greymouth, on the tasman sea, crossing the New Zealand Alps, and includes a 10-minute stop at Arthur's pass almost half way. After an hour stop in Greymouth it travels back to Christchurch, allowing day visitors to Arthur's pass NP to come back to Christchurch. The - comfortable - train is mostly designed for tourists, and is equipped with a small restaurant carriage and a scenic carriage exposed to the outside and the entire journey takes about 5 hours and half.
The South-African traveler I met the day before Hercules was also booked on that train and I met him at the station the morning of the departure.
The Christchurch train station is located quite outside the center of the city and it was a 15-min Uber ride from my hotel. I arrived quite early that morning and only a few passengers were there, so I did not have to queue for long before getting my boarding pass.
Christchurch train station - basically two tracks, and one platform !
Inside the station
...And the station's platform
About 20 minutes later the small station started to get more crowded and we were invited to drop our bags at the dedicated car...
The scenic car, too bad it was located right behind the smoky diesel engines...
We eventually started boarding 15 min before departure, although seats were assigned, most of the people spent the ride in different places of the train, including the scenic car located in the front. The train was not full that day.
Each seat was equipped with a power plug and a 3.5 mm jack to follow comments during the journey.
Legroom
Food menu
The train-rides you can take in NZ
After 45 min or so after departure I went to see my new friend Hercules in the scenic car, which was quite crowded. Too bad the car was located right behind the diesel engines...
The restaurant car
After the first few nice views we decided to enjoy some breakfast in the restaurant car...
We left Christchurch with a sunny weather, but it quickly became very cloudy and grey as we were reaching the mountainy part... The views were still nice, but the pictures were not astonishing. I alsways have a hard time taking good pictures when the sky is grey or white...
Around 10:40 we stopped at Arthur's pass station, and a few passengers disembarked. The schedule is made in such a way that you can enjoy a bit Arthur's pass National park for a day trip and catch the train back to Christchurch later in the afternoon.
Arthur's pass station
The rest of the journey was quite uneventful, the landscapes were nice indeed, but nothing breathtaking. We chatted a bit with the friendly crew and they said that while the enjoy working on this line, they found that the best train ride in NZ is actually the Pacific coastliner.
The cows had a different color after the pass :-)
The scenic car got less crowded in the second part of the trip
This guy came out of nowhere really !
Approaching Greymouth
Greymouth station. Litterally cutting the city in two parts.
We reached Greymouth around 13:30 and I said goodbye to Hercules who was connecting to a coach to get to Queenstown. I rented my small SUV at the local Hertz facility and given that Greymouth is the biggest city in the area (and it's not really that big...) before Queenstown, I took the opportunity to grab some supplies at the local supermarket for the next couple days before heading south.
After an hour driving along the Tasman sea coast, I reached the small town of Hokitika where the local i-side advised me of a nice place to visit in the area : The Hokitika gorge, located about 20 min away from the city, which gave me the opportunity to strech my legs before continuing the drive to Franz Joseph Glacier where I would spend the next 2 nights.
Hokitika
It's not a kiwi !
Hokitika gorge
Then it was a couple hours more driving to reach the village of FJ Glacier, with some more scenic spots on the way...
On the way to FJ Glacier
"Downtown" FJ Glacier.
I enjoyed dinner at the restaurant "Full of Beans" located on the main street. Friendly staff, great food, affordable prices, that's the type of places I like !
Day 3: Franz Joseph Glacier area
After a good night sleep followed by a quick breakfast and buying the picnic for the day at the local supermarket, I drove to the near-by Franz Joseph Glacier parking lot to have a walk until the Glacier view point.
Guess who pollutes more between the helicopter and the drone...
The only way to reach the glacier nowadays is - unfortunately - by helicopter, and this is the only way as the local authorities judge that it is too dangerous to climb the glacier. I did not book a helicopter ride most of the shops in both FJ and Fox glacier cities offer the option to book a ride, and actually, I would not support this type of tourism. Let me explain why : I think that you need to deserve visiting the glacier. If it's too hazardous to visit it on foot and climbing it - so be it. But just heading there with a noisy and polluting helicopter is not the way to go in my opinion. i found this even more hypocritical from the authorities that along the path and indicated where the glacier was ending in the past, explaining on the way that the glacier will eventually disappear soon if we don't dramatically reduce our carbon emissions. The irony of this is that one reading the sign can at the same time enjoy the numerous helicopter sounds doing the shuttle between the valley and the glacier generating noise and atmospheric pollution.
My rant will however stop here, and I will let you enjoy the views here below. The various more or less complicated hikes in the area are very nice and well indicated, too bad that the weather was so grey that day. I was also lucky to meet on the way a couple of Americans who just retired and spent their first vacation since retirement visiting New Zealand and did a couple hikes/walks with them that day...
The path stops here. No way to go further, besides with the help of a chopper...
After the main glacier walk, we decided to do another short walk, in the forest this time...
Reflection pond on the Glacier
And with the other camera...
Another day, another bridge...
After a good 3 hours of walking I wanted to see something else and have my picnic near the sea nearby rather than on the parking lot... so I started another 30 min driving. But the fatigue and the straight empty road (after a series of mountainy curves) helping, I felt asleep and ended up in some sort of ditch. Thank god, nothing happened, I woke up immediately as I went offroad, I was not driving very fast, there were no other cars and ground was stable so I was able to get out after getting my adrenaline shock ! But that episode certainly gave me a good lesson !
I was lucky that the road was empty and the ditch not very low !
The cows certainly gave me the look...
I eventually reached the sea by 16.20 after a good 15 min driving on an unpaved road and had a very late, but well deserved lunch !
You've reached your destination !
There was a backyard next to the beach parking lot with a small hiking trail and got to play a bit with the drone.
I cannot really remember the explanations I read about those corroded pipes...
View from above
On the way back to Franz Joseph village, I stopped at another view point where I continued playing with the drone and play more with the active track, but unfortunately, the clouds prevented me to get nice shots...
A well deserved dinner !
Day 4: Lake Matheson and the drive to Queenstown...
After a good night sleep I woke up with for once a clear weather on the mountain. Unfortunately it did not last long and once I arrived at the various view points and my destination for the morning, Lake Matheson, the sky covered again...
Lake Matheson is known to be, at least on clear and non-windy days, the perfect postcard picture of new zealand as the Glaciers reflect perfectly on the lake. The day I was there, there was a slight breeze and the sky was not that clear... so while the pictures were nice, I won't be getting the perfect one on this trip !
Suspended bridge on Lake Matheson trail
Lake Matheson trail
That's where you can get "the view of the views"...
... but not today !
Well, at the end of the walk, I was still able to zoom towards a small cloud opening...
That's the best I got !
After the walk I went back to the car and started to drive south to Queenstown, and the drive was expected to be pretty long (like 4 or 5 hours IIRC). I was feeling a bit nervous following the small incident I experienced the day before but fortunately (for me and for them), right at the exit of Fox Glacier village, I found 3 German teenagers hitch-hiking. I never take hitch-hikers, at least in Europe. But in NZ, it felt very natural that for whatever reason I stopped without thinking. The only condition I told them : We stop on the way if we find some nice spots. To which they indeed agreed...
And some nice spots on the way there were... (And some heavy rain too...)
Kinghts point lookout
Buckle-up kids !
Roaring billy falls, started to rain quite badly while we were walking...
Thunder creek falls
Lake Wanaka
"The neck", between Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea
Lake Wanaka, In the town of Wanaka where I dropped the two girls.
While the German guy wanted to go until Queenstown, the ladies initially wanted to stop in the small town of Haast for the night. But when we got there the weather was just terrible (and there was literally not much to do in town anyway) so they decided to continue the ride until Wanaka.
We reached Queenstown at the end of the day, and arrived right before another big storm. We had all types of weather in those 5 hours drive really !
"Cardrona bra fence", Somewhere between Wanaka and Queenstown
View on Queenstown
Well at least I did not fall asleep with those kids in the car and did my good samaritan by driving them to their destination. I spent the next couple days visiting Queenstown and the area and slept in the comfortable Holiday Inn Queenstown during this time. But that's for later...!
#190
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
Programs: BA Bronze, Emirates Silver, Virgin Silver, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,399
i think the train journey is much more scenic in wintertime.
Yikes at you going off the road - I remember that feeling too of very quiet roads with not much to do (because the car was in cruise control) and thus having to stop every 90-120 minutes to get a coffee/stretch the legs. You actually longed for twisty roads as it meant your concentration levels stayed high!
Great photos and I like the cloudy ones too!
Yikes at you going off the road - I remember that feeling too of very quiet roads with not much to do (because the car was in cruise control) and thus having to stop every 90-120 minutes to get a coffee/stretch the legs. You actually longed for twisty roads as it meant your concentration levels stayed high!
Great photos and I like the cloudy ones too!
#191
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: NCL
Programs: BAEC and Hilton mostly
Posts: 652
Loved the latest report (actually, all of them...) - Mrs. T and I were in Queenstown a couple of years ago on the QR fare deal.
Many years ago, working on a death march IT project, I also managed to go off the road on the way home while driving. Shocking!
The rusty pipes look like the remains of steam engines?
Many years ago, working on a death march IT project, I also managed to go off the road on the way home while driving. Shocking!
The rusty pipes look like the remains of steam engines?
#192
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: In between BRU, AMS, DUS and LUX...
Programs: AF/KL Plat, BA Gold, A3 Gold, IHG Diamond, MR Gold, HH Diamond, ALL Platinum
Posts: 1,044
i think the train journey is much more scenic in wintertime.
Yikes at you going off the road - I remember that feeling too of very quiet roads with not much to do (because the car was in cruise control) and thus having to stop every 90-120 minutes to get a coffee/stretch the legs. You actually longed for twisty roads as it meant your concentration levels stayed high!
Great photos and I like the cloudy ones too!
Yikes at you going off the road - I remember that feeling too of very quiet roads with not much to do (because the car was in cruise control) and thus having to stop every 90-120 minutes to get a coffee/stretch the legs. You actually longed for twisty roads as it meant your concentration levels stayed high!
Great photos and I like the cloudy ones too!
I think you're right the transalpine ride must been very beautiful in the winter (but it might be more crowded though)
#193
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: In between BRU, AMS, DUS and LUX...
Programs: AF/KL Plat, BA Gold, A3 Gold, IHG Diamond, MR Gold, HH Diamond, ALL Platinum
Posts: 1,044
Loved the latest report (actually, all of them...) - Mrs. T and I were in Queenstown a couple of years ago on the QR fare deal.
Many years ago, working on a death march IT project, I also managed to go off the road on the way home while driving. Shocking!
The rusty pipes look like the remains of steam engines?
Many years ago, working on a death march IT project, I also managed to go off the road on the way home while driving. Shocking!
The rusty pipes look like the remains of steam engines?
The reason for the rusty pipes was explained on some signs during the small walk, but I cannot recall the exact reason. I think you might be right, could be old steam engine pipes which were left there...
#194
Join Date: May 2014
Location: MEL
Programs: QF WP, VA
Posts: 73
At the end of this feast, I was able to roll like a barrel to the other end of the lounge to drop my belongings and visit the place...
This lounge was very nice, I like the furniture and the outside views it offered. Different sections, like a business center and a couple conference rooms are available and besides the bar, you can get a drink from the couple of self-serve areas available. I do not recall seeing a self-service buffet though, most of the food has to be ordered at the restaurant.
This lounge is also famous for having two "old-fashioned" flip-board displays. Only one was working when I was there, but I just love the sound of those things when they actuate...
This lounge was very nice, I like the furniture and the outside views it offered. Different sections, like a business center and a couple conference rooms are available and besides the bar, you can get a drink from the couple of self-serve areas available. I do not recall seeing a self-service buffet though, most of the food has to be ordered at the restaurant.
This lounge is also famous for having two "old-fashioned" flip-board displays. Only one was working when I was there, but I just love the sound of those things when they actuate...
Re: QF F lounge buffet - To the right of the library on the back wall is a small buffet, I think done more so for decoration, just in case. Most of the time I have grabbed the a drink or something the severs either point out the dining area or even better, offer you to bring something back from there for you to eat at the sofa areas..
#195
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: In between BRU, AMS, DUS and LUX...
Programs: AF/KL Plat, BA Gold, A3 Gold, IHG Diamond, MR Gold, HH Diamond, ALL Platinum
Posts: 1,044
New Zealand Part 5: Queenstown region + Te Anau, gateway to Fjordlands
I haven't updated my trip report for quite some time now and I needed to have a cold november sunday afternoon doing nothing at home to continue reporting my adventure a couple years ago. For my defence, I did not really see the time fly for the last few months, the girlfriend moved in with me, I have been quite busy at work and we both managed to take some holidays last month in neighbouring Germany right before they closed off their borders to tourists. This is was the first time since our long weekend in NYC mid-March, right before the different lockdowns started across Europe that we managed to take some time off. And when I had some time for me, I decided to build a miniature airport using some of the miniature aircraft models I've been collecting for the last 10 years !
Going back to the trip report now, where I stopped it arriving the beautiful region of Queenstown, New Zealand... capital of all types of Extreme sports you could think of !
After a restful night at the Holiday Inn, Queenstown, I decided to bypass the visit of this relatively small city for now and just pack a few supplies for the day at the local supermarket. Queenstown is located along the lake Wakatipu and surronded by montains. In terms of landscapes, the region reminded me a bit the area of Annecy in France, where I used to live for 5 years. The only difference here was that the city was smaller - and there was only nature around it - Queenstown being by far, THE city of this area. After stopping for some time in the heights of Queenstown, I drove along the lake towards the north, with at the end of the main road, the small village of Glenorchy.
Not bad of a view when waking up...
Queenstown heights
Queenstown heights
Queenstown to Glenorchy road
Glenorchy - as written on the sign !
Picnic in Glenorchy !
Lake Wakatipu
Sheep, sheep, sheep...
The horse, guarding the sheep...
Another sheep...
Not a sheep !
Once in Glenorchy, there is only about 10 km of paved road left until you reach a gravel roal towards a place called "Paradise". Besides the name of this place, this area is also famous to some Lord of the rings fans as some of the scenes got shot in those fields and forest. I was hesitating with my rental 2x4 SUV to do some ford crossing. Luckily for me, the vehicle was high enough that I could cross easily the first few ones, after taking a careful look first on how the other cars were crossing it ! (The only time I drove in those conditions was in Iceland, but I had a 4x4 jeep back then). I was not the only one hesitating - A couple of Taiwanese tourists, equipped with a compact rental car asked me politely if they could come with me as I had a higher vehicle ! Here we were... in Paradise !
A picture in Paradise !
Somewhere beyond Paradise
Paradise from above...
After the the 4th or 5th ford crossing, we reached a point where I was not feeling that comfortable anymore to continue as I was afraid getting stuck in the middle of nowhere (Maybe it was Paradise, but I am not sure the rental car insurance company would have understood it that way !)
The couple of Taiwanese tourists I picked up on the way...
Maybe we could have crossed this, but I preferred not to !
After bringing back my new Asian friends back to their car, I drove back to Glenorchy and stopped on the way to take some conservative drone shots.
I then spent the evening and had some food for dinner in Queenstown, where the lakefront walk was quite loaded with tourists - the opposite of the situation I felt during the rest of my day ! There was a pleasant atmosphere nonetheless...
Queenstown lakefront
Sunset in Queenstown
Unfortunately for me, next day's weather was not as good as previously and the sun did not really show up until late in the day. I spent the morning in the Queenstown gardens and enjoyed a very good fish and chips at Erik's a place I saw the night before.
I saw this place the evening before...
...and can confirm it was good !
Queenstown gardens
My guide book recommended to visit the small village of Arrowtown located about 20km from Qtown. On my way I could see one of the various extreme sports and activities the region had to offer(although I did not do any), like canyon jetting near Arthur's pass.
Arthur's pass
Canyon jetting - (very noisy btw)
Arrowtown is the kind of place which looks like coming straight from a far west movie. It is certainly touristic, and to some extent, some would say fake. But I enjoyed the fact it was not too crowded and the place had some charm associated with it. I enjoyed an ice cream and a small walk in the town and in the park where some historic Chinese settlements could be visited. The sun eventully showed up at the end of the day...
Historical settlements of Arrowtown
As the sky opened at the end of the day, I drove back towards Queenstown and went to the Remarkables ski area - there was indeed no snow, but I've heard that this one of the best spots in the area for sightseeing. I was not disappointed !
Road to the top
Next stop : Fjordlands !
Going back to the trip report now, where I stopped it arriving the beautiful region of Queenstown, New Zealand... capital of all types of Extreme sports you could think of !
After a restful night at the Holiday Inn, Queenstown, I decided to bypass the visit of this relatively small city for now and just pack a few supplies for the day at the local supermarket. Queenstown is located along the lake Wakatipu and surronded by montains. In terms of landscapes, the region reminded me a bit the area of Annecy in France, where I used to live for 5 years. The only difference here was that the city was smaller - and there was only nature around it - Queenstown being by far, THE city of this area. After stopping for some time in the heights of Queenstown, I drove along the lake towards the north, with at the end of the main road, the small village of Glenorchy.
Not bad of a view when waking up...
Queenstown heights
Queenstown heights
Queenstown to Glenorchy road
Glenorchy - as written on the sign !
Picnic in Glenorchy !
Lake Wakatipu
Sheep, sheep, sheep...
The horse, guarding the sheep...
Another sheep...
Not a sheep !
Once in Glenorchy, there is only about 10 km of paved road left until you reach a gravel roal towards a place called "Paradise". Besides the name of this place, this area is also famous to some Lord of the rings fans as some of the scenes got shot in those fields and forest. I was hesitating with my rental 2x4 SUV to do some ford crossing. Luckily for me, the vehicle was high enough that I could cross easily the first few ones, after taking a careful look first on how the other cars were crossing it ! (The only time I drove in those conditions was in Iceland, but I had a 4x4 jeep back then). I was not the only one hesitating - A couple of Taiwanese tourists, equipped with a compact rental car asked me politely if they could come with me as I had a higher vehicle ! Here we were... in Paradise !
A picture in Paradise !
Somewhere beyond Paradise
Paradise from above...
After the the 4th or 5th ford crossing, we reached a point where I was not feeling that comfortable anymore to continue as I was afraid getting stuck in the middle of nowhere (Maybe it was Paradise, but I am not sure the rental car insurance company would have understood it that way !)
The couple of Taiwanese tourists I picked up on the way...
Maybe we could have crossed this, but I preferred not to !
After bringing back my new Asian friends back to their car, I drove back to Glenorchy and stopped on the way to take some conservative drone shots.
I then spent the evening and had some food for dinner in Queenstown, where the lakefront walk was quite loaded with tourists - the opposite of the situation I felt during the rest of my day ! There was a pleasant atmosphere nonetheless...
Queenstown lakefront
Sunset in Queenstown
Unfortunately for me, next day's weather was not as good as previously and the sun did not really show up until late in the day. I spent the morning in the Queenstown gardens and enjoyed a very good fish and chips at Erik's a place I saw the night before.
I saw this place the evening before...
...and can confirm it was good !
Queenstown gardens
My guide book recommended to visit the small village of Arrowtown located about 20km from Qtown. On my way I could see one of the various extreme sports and activities the region had to offer(although I did not do any), like canyon jetting near Arthur's pass.
Arthur's pass
Canyon jetting - (very noisy btw)
Arrowtown is the kind of place which looks like coming straight from a far west movie. It is certainly touristic, and to some extent, some would say fake. But I enjoyed the fact it was not too crowded and the place had some charm associated with it. I enjoyed an ice cream and a small walk in the town and in the park where some historic Chinese settlements could be visited. The sun eventully showed up at the end of the day...
Historical settlements of Arrowtown
As the sky opened at the end of the day, I drove back towards Queenstown and went to the Remarkables ski area - there was indeed no snow, but I've heard that this one of the best spots in the area for sightseeing. I was not disappointed !
Road to the top
Next stop : Fjordlands !