Click a picture for a larger image.
The Road from Te Anau to Milford Sound |
Vanessa takes a photo among the rocks and alpines herbs near the entrance
to the Homer tunnel. |
A selection of alpine herbs growing in the damp alongside the entrance to
the Homer tunnel. |
 The
entrance to the Homer Tunnel. Seeing the size of my Isuzu on the road gives
a little idea of how big the nearby mountains are. Note the snow behind the
road. The concrete extension out of the mountain is to protect the tunnel
entrance from avalanche. In winter controlled avalanches are set off with
explosives to protect the road and road users. |
 A
kea at the entrance to the Homer tunnel. A very clever and cheeky mountain
parrot. This one ended up sitting on the wing mirror on the door of my Isuzu
just inches from where I was sitting. Earlier I almost had to turn on the
wipers to stop it playing with them and had to chase it away from my tyres.
They have been known to let tyres down. |
Milford Sound |
 A
misty day with occasional drizzle means the mountain tops are hidden but the
view is still dramatic. The layering of shades is very pleasing. |
 The
drizzle also means plenty of waterfalls. Most disappear in fine weather but
since rainfall here is measured in metres you wont have to wait long for
more rain. |
 These
are the Stirling falls, 155m in height. These fiords were carved out by
gigantic glaciers. As they progressed they wore out U shaped valleys. When
the glaciers melted the sea water came in and created deep sounds with
nearly vertical walls. This means the boats can get right up next to the
cliffs. As you can see in this
animated GIF standing in the prow of a boat can get you very wet. |
Back from Milford Sound to Te Anau |
 This
a view of the upper Hollyford river. The mist and spray again give a lovely
layered effect. The stunted Beech in the middle almost looks like a bonsai
tree. |
 The
high rainfall here is reflected in the number of epiphytes and the moss
growing on the trees in this area. |
 The
mirror lakes. Enough said. |
Walter Peak |
 A
long, hot and dusty ride in our 4wd ends in time for lunch and a bottle of
wine on the terrace at Walter Peak. Road access is very limited and the
normal access is by the vintage steamship Earnslaw (back left) across Lake
Wakatipu from Queenstown (back right). |
 Walter
Peak station below Walter Peak mountain. |
 A
panorama of Lake Wakatipu from Mount Nicholas station. Walter Peak is along
the road to the right and Te Anau is over a pass behind the photographer. |
 Two
merino lambs show the way back to Te Anau. |
Kepler |
 Beech
forest near the start of the Kepler track. Note how this is dryer than the
picture above of forest just west of here. |
Invercargill |
 A
Campbell Island Teal. The worlds rarest duck. Only around 20 exist in the
wild. This one at Invercargill Aviary is a recent proud parent adding to the
hopes of survival for this species. |
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