Yesterday I left Te Anau - stopping by the wildlife sanctuary just outside of town. It only has birds, but it has some very cool - very Kiwi - very rare birds. For example, the Takahe - there are only about 200 left in the world. They also had Kea and Kaka and other pretty - colourful birdies.
Drove up to Queenstown - very Aspen-like (Aspen, Colorado that is). It's a ski-town, located in the mountains. However, Queenstown has had quite a bit of room to spread - around a lake - a few differences from Aspen. But it was a very busy little town, good feeling, pretty scenery. Also, home to the Lord of the Rings Shop.
Never been skiing... odd? A girl with the same name as one of the most well-known ski resorts in the --- world... might have something to do with my extreme klutzyness and aversion to pain and broken limbs.
Uhm back on track... lessee...
Oh yes. Spent the night in QT and then headed up to Glenorchy - drove around into Asipring National Park - towards Paradise - yes it's a name of a place - and the woods were mossy and green and gorgeous - very elfy. As in Lothlorien elfy - where they filmed part of Lothlorien!
The mountains around there are in the opening shots of the first two movies.
I took my first jet-boat ride up the river. AWESOME! Twisty - Swirley - Coldy - Rainy - but FUN FUN FUN! Also saw where they set up and filmed Isengard - right next to the river.
Took a couple of short tramps through the woods - good to make you extra cold and wet, what with the mountain rains. But really, honestly LOTS of fun. Very glad I did it. Was lucky too - group of only 6 of us and the driver - not the usual 14.
In Wanaka, another pretty little town, nestled in the mountains, wrapped around a lake. Nice little drive, LOTS of photo-ops - which you KNOW I took advantage of.
Spending the night here and then heading up north... somewhere... wherever I feel like!
/likes being an independent woman who can change her mind whenever she darn well pleases!
I know I would like to see Mt. Cook - New Zealand's tallest mountain. And my final destination before flying back up north is Kaikoura - again ;)
But we'll see which way I take to get there :)