Day 20

The beach in Wanaka

Anna and I hitchhiked to Queenstown (most pull overs invited us to lots of bbq's and we just wanted a ride, haha)

Anna and I met up with an english guy named Ally and we decided to go on a road trip to Paradise where parts of Narnia and Lord of the Rings was filmed. Paradise is near Glenorchy at the head of Lake Wakatipu and it is one of the most beautiful places anywhere in the world.

Ally is in love with his new car

We didn't make it all the way to Paradise (the picture shows why)

We went out for the famous Fergburger and wine at the beach, love it!

Day 19

Next destination: Wanaka (pop 5000).

During the 6 hours bus ride we made a stop at Knights Point that reminded me of the 12 apostles in Australia.

We made a stop in Haast region. The picture gives you a glimpse of the stunning nature refuge with enormous stands of rainforest thriving alongside extensive wetlands.

Thunder Creek where Norbert and Kimberly are getting their cameras ready for action! We saw lots of beautiful waterfalls on our way :)

This is a picture of Wanaka lake where I just checked in at YHA Purple Cow.

Day 18

The glacier hike on Franz Josef was an unforgettable experience! In small groups we walked a couple of kilometres through the rainforest and rocky hills to get to the ice. I joined group two together with a girl from England named Kimberly.
Our super cool and enthusiastic tour guide Kai from Singapore had a big axe with him to cut our way through the ice! Only that way we could get deep in the heart of the glacier. We walked up, down, under and between what they call huge waves of ice. I was amazed. On our highest point approximately 600 meters above sea level we had lunch.

Close to the ice we added crampons to our enormous heavy hiking boots so we could keep grip on the ice.

 

I brought a can of tuna and some biscuits that was so needed that it felt like a feast.

On our way back Kimberly and I met Jean and Rich from Toronto who are on their honeymoon. They were really good company so we went out for pizzas and beers at the nearest restaurant where Kai also joined us.

Later I jumped in the hot pools to relax together with Kimberly, Anna (a Swedish girl from my dorm) and Norbert (a Hungarian guy also from my dorm). Indeed a perfect way of ending a day of hiking.

Day 17

Blisters, dirty clothes and sunburned shoulders – I’m starting to feel like an authentic backpacker! The 10 hours in a bus from Nelson to Franz Josef only adds up. Driving down the west side of the south island was an experience due to the spectacular nature. The most impressive stop on the trip was indisputably the famous Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki (Info: Through a layering-weathering process called stylobedding, the Dolomite Point limestone has formed into what looks like piles of thin pancakes). Tonight I’m looking at a quiet evening at Rainforest Retreat Hostel with intensions of writing my homemade postcards - look forward my favored friends! Also I want to be prepared for my full day (8 hours) Franz Josef Glacier Guides tomorrow.

The view from my bedroom window at Rainforest Retreat!