Today was my longest travel day as I drove from Queenstown to Franz Josef where I will spend a couple of days to visit Franz Josef Glacier. According to my research the total driving time for this journey day was supposed to be about 5 hours but as I like to stop and take loads of photos... it took me over 7 hours!
The day started with me taking in views of the sunrise and Lake Wakatipu from my room at Butterfli Lodge Backpackers. Beautiful sunrises always inspire me to get out and about so I quickly got ready for the day and went for an early morning wander around Queenstown and ate breakfast at Vudu Cafe with its great decor and delicious food! After breakfast I quickly hit the road headed for Franz Josef. I love being on the open road with no set plan...I enjoy the freedom of stopping on a whim if something interests me. En route to Franz Josef I visited the historic mining town of Arrowtown to wander the streets and shops, do some bird photography (see photos following) and grab a tasty cinnamon bun for the road fromProvisions of Arrowtown Cafe. Oh and I just missed an earthquake that hit the area the following day! Then, by late afternoon I was driving along the Tasman sea off the west coast of the south island. Of course, I made a point of keeping an eye out for whales (I always have my binos on hand :) but, unfortunately didn't spot any. I finally reached the quaint town at Franz Josef just around sunset, settled into my very comfortable cottage at Ten Cottages and went for a wonderful curry dinner at the restaurant, Alice May, just down the road from my cottage.
This New Zealand Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa) kept flying around me and chattering away while I was making my way down to the beach, for a break from driving, at Ship Creek
One of the main reasons I decided to stay in Milford Sound at theMilford Sound Lodge was so I could enjoy the area before the day tripping crowds started to roll in on their big coaches. I was up early again today and after another quick breakfast of oatmeal and coffee I bundled up in my cozy New Zealand wool hat, gloves and top, grabbed my camera and took the short 10 minute stroll to the Sound.
Upon arriving, I wandered around for a while looking for birds and taking in the peace, then after finding a lovely spot along the shore, I decided to settle in and take a time lapse of the rising sun and mist and clouds moving through the Sound in the early morning hours. It was certainly chilly, the south island is definitely in the depths of autumn and temperatures in the early morning can be less than 5C, but it was gorgeous!
Here is the time lapse video I created from an hour and twenty minutes of photos in the early hours of Milford Sound: Note: Best viewed in HD
This place is so gorgeous and I'm so glad I got to experience it! Here are some more photos I took including a White Heron/Kotuku (Ardea modesta), which is apparently rare in New Zealand although often seen in estuaries, and a rather friendly Weka (Gallirallus australis).
Once I was satisfied that I'd really absorbed the beauty of this place (and activity in the Sound was picking up as the first coaches rolled with people arriving to go on boat rides around the Sound!) I decided it was time to pack up and hit the road. I checked out of the lodge, loaded up the car and was soon on the road again to drive back to Queenstown. Yet again, I had a lovely, sunny day making many stops along the way to take in the beautiful landscape.
I arrived in Queenstown shortly before sunset and after a quick dinner at my hostel, I finished off the day with a brisk walk to the base of Bob's peak where I took the 450 m gondola ride with views of Queenstown. I joined a stargazing tour where our very informative guide taught us bout our nearest and brightest stars and showed us the rings of Saturn and a globular cluster through very powerful telescopes. Very cool and a fascinating way to end the day...especially the hot chocolate and marshmallows they provided at the end of the tour!
Views around a very peaceful early morning Milford Sound
Taking it all in in the early morning hourse, Milford Sound
This Weka (Gallirallus australis) was wandering around the rocky shore and didn't seem at all concerned about my presence even walking straight toward me to pass m at one point
