A long overdue update

For blog

Hello all

Sorry I have not put anything up here until now. It’s been a combination of taking photos on mostly on my camera and not being able to get them off the camera and only having a brief time with internet access. 

A stop for 2 nights in Queenstown should allow me to post some pictures for you.  

Here’s a quick recap of the walking holiday so far. 

We started from Nelson and drove to the Abel Tasman national park. We had water taxi trip up the coast then spent 3 days walking back. It’s hilly! Possible 3 times that of Peak District. 

After a night stop, we walked along the a river including fording it several times (shorts got wet) we ended up at a place called the Ballroom. It’s an overhanging limestone cliff that you can get a lot of people under, but there was just the 12 of us. 

The next day we walked out and dove to Hokitika for a night in the big city, well a small but nice town. Staying backpackers accommodation allowed us showers and laundry, food and drink not prepared by us. 

The next day we were supposed to cycles a trail. But the predicted rain had arrived over night, and when it wasn’t raining, it rained very heavily. So the days activities we’re cancelled we chilled and eventually drove to our next stop. 

Day 7 had us in sea kayaks in a lagoon for a few hours. 

Day 8 got us to the Mt. Aspiring NP. We had a short walk alongside a river to drop our packs and walk up a side canyon to see the Rob Roy Glacier. Back to packs and continued to walk up the river to a mountain hut for the night.   

Day 9. Walked back from the mountain hut and then a long drive to get close to Milford Sound. 

Day 10. Drove to Milford Sound and a boat trip around the sound. Didn’t quite get to the open sea as it was a bit blowy out there. Views are stunning!!!! (As are most). It started raining just as we arrived back at the port. The mountains around us literally came alive with streams and water falls as we drove back to the same camp as night before.   

Day 11. Today is a drive back to Queenstown, we went through it on the way to Milford. Where we are having a break for 2 nights. 

Just arrived at the motel. Luxury!!!!  Beds instead of sleeping mats and bags.