Te Anua - jan 18-19

Doing a little "brochure tourism" to end the trip - variety of boats, float planes and buses. Feeling sore from the hike, so overcompensating with lazy mans way of seeing NZ. Fine westher, in a place that gets 6m of rain annually, sorta makes up for mt cook (still cloudy).

First adventure (after sleeping in the circus caravan) is boat ride in Doubtful Sound. Took first boat across lake Manapouri, snow-covered mountains dropping straight into the lake, then a coach bus over the pass to doubtful sound and boat #2. Cool fjord with a few waterfalls off the 2500+' mountains and seals playing on the rocks in the tasman sea. Furthest south I've ever been, and not essy to get here.

Second adventure- glowworms. Another boat, from Te Anau to a cave with a rushing river running through it. And when you turn out the lights, thousands of little blue glowworms! Had a boat ride inside the cave, making it a 4 (+2 repeats) boat day.  Learned a new song too.

Brochure #3 has us on a mystery flight. Took off from the lake out over the south fjord, then over the park, the alps to doubtful sound. Amazing that 99% of this park is inaccessible/unexplored. Great views of hidden lakes and gorges, and a cool cloud layer at one point. An extra landing at a secluded beach - another win.

After a quick lunch in town, got dropped off at rainbow bridge then walked 6km along the kepler track. Nice to be back in the bush, different when its not as wet. Then did NOT get a jetboat ride back up the waiau river (aka arduin river in LOTR) to te Anua. Had to walk back, then hitched a ride in the back of a pickup to our car, to drive back to ZQN. Watched 1st half of Pats at dinner, 2nd half at ZQN hotel. 28-16 victory. 

Comments

  1. LisaJanuary 18, 2026 at 6:25 AM

    perfect way to round out the adventure. that scenery wow.

    ReplyDelete

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