02 Mar to 29 Mar 2003.
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There are a number of stopping points along the inwards coach drive.
This lake is one of them.
The route is flanked by spectacular mountains.
The first view is past the waiting boats.
As each is loaded up it sets of with its cargo of tourists.
The whole voyage is spectacular.
After the Milford Sound voyage we walked along a section of the track, seen here.
Then we branched off, to climb to a viewpoint.
The plateau which offered the views was a boggy area.
As usual, the DoC had put in fine boardwalks to keep the tourists feet dry!
The care with which the boardwalks are built shows well in this photo.
They take you into some fine locations.
We walked a short section of the track, from the shore of Lake Te Anau up to the Luxmoore hut.
This is a fallen tree on that path.
On the way back down we had a close encounter with six Keas.
Back at the lake shore we climbed aboard our transport for the return journey to Te Anau.
View through the coach windscreen.
Shortly after this we changed our mode of transport.
The Kingston Flyer.
The Kingston Flyer stopped at a station with a NZ Cabbage Tree.
(Ti Kouka)
The main street.
We stopped here again for lunch while heading northwards.
The original home of A J Hackett Bungee Jumps
The river below, where they lower you into an inflatable boat after your jump.
It starts with fine views of Mount Sefton.
At one point the track follows along a ledge towards a suspension bridge.
(Called a "Swing bridge" in NZ)
Then across the bridge.
This is a path equipped with all mod cons.
The path takes you to Hooker Lake.
The backdrop of Mount Cook is permanent. The "ice swan" in the lake is a one-off experience,
After a pleasant lunch stop in the sunshine, it is time to turn and go back down again.
The next day, as we headed north, we stopped to climb to a lookout point on Mount John by the shore of Lake Tekapo.
Click on the image to see the panorama full size.
Just after that ascent we took some group photos.
One of them.
And the other.
For names of missing people, click here.
The view of the lake behind the altar.
Around the crater rim of Lyttelton Harbour.
Click on the image to see the panorama full size.
View Photo Set 1/2 | Set 2/2