Queenstown

Alpine scenery on the Routeburn
Sutherland Falls on the Milford (can you find me?)

Lake Mackenzie on the Routeburn, view from the campsite

Daniel and Jen hiking on the Milford Track (the water gets as high as those markers during heavy rain)

Mitre (pronounced might-er) Peak in the Milford Sound, Fiordland

A view from the bow of the boat that took us to the northern tip of Lake Te Anau where the Milford Track started.

A view of Lake Te Anau on the day that the winds were blowing smoke from the Australian bushfires over New Zealand.

I forgot to bring my notes into town to record here, but the last three days went great on the Routeburn. We had incredible weather the first day, and the rain wasn't so bad yesterday - one of the highlights was seeing an awesome rainbow from the top of the mountain. It's a magnificent area and there are tons of alpine lakes. I met a lot of great people and really enjoyed getting out of the huts. The campsites were really well spaced out and in great areas; one was by Lake Mackenzie and the other by the Routeburn river. I had a great time shooting the breeze with the other campers.

I had a big surprise when I arrived in Queenstown and checked into the holiday park where I'm staying. As I was setting up my tent, who did I see in the next spot over? Jen and Daniel. Over a hundred kilometers away from the place we last met and 3 days later. We played a game of minigolf at a crazy course (I got good videos) and we're going to grab dinner later.

I don't particularly care for Queenstown, so I'm going to go to Stewart Island (the most southern part of the country) tomorrow and do a 3 day trip there. I'll have to come back through Queenstown anyway on my way north and then I'll do some more hiking in Mt. Aspiring National Park (the park that includes the Routeburn). Unfortunately I have to make a bus at 7:00a.m. in town tomorrow and it's a bit of a walk :( I'm starting to feel very fit and I've made it through 7 days without an blisters, so I'm going to start the overnight hike the day after I get into Oban, the small village on Stewart Island. Stewart Island is known for its wildlife, especially it's large population of Kiwi, the fat flightless bird that everyone adores here.

-Brian