A New Zealand Journey, Part 2

Welcome back. Today’s blog post concludes last Friday’s guest photo travelogue by Ellen Haack on her recent tour, with husband Barry, of New Zealand’s South Island. 

After days in the RV, we were ready for a cruise of Milford
Sound, one of New Zealand’s foremost tourist attractions.

Milford Sound, on the southwest tip of South
Island, is really a fjord not a sound.

Did I mention there are overnight cruises of Milford Sound?

Moving up the west coast and inland, we found a quiet spot in
Queenstown, renowned for its bungee jumping, speed-boating
through narrow river canyons, night-life and the like.

In the Paparoa National Park, we were fascinated by the limestone
Pancake Rocks (or "Punakaiki" as the Maori would say it).

We hiked along a stream in Paparoa National Park.

The views along the northwest coast wouldn’t let us stop gawking.

We took a water taxi into Abel Tasman National Park
at the north end of South Island.

Abel Tasman National Park has many wide, sandy beaches.

The north end of South Island has numerous
coves, bays, inlets and islands.

At the Sunday Farmer’s Market in Motueka on the north coast,
we were tempted to try a bacon butty, whatever it is.

The north coast’s Mistletoe Bay was supremely serene.

Picton on the north coast has a population of about 3000.
From Picton, you can catch a ferry to New Zealand’s North Island.

In Blenheim in the northeast corner of the island,
we stopped in one of New Zealand’s main wine regions.

Returning to Christchurch to end our journey, we
passed through the Kaikoura Peninsula Nature Reserve
with, yep, more sea lions.

I hope you enjoyed this visit to New Zealand. Once again, my thanks go to Ellen and Barry Haack for their photos and travelogue, and to you for stopping by.