...after another short walk around town I conclude that the whole area is overrun by Scots and Irishmen (I mean people working in bars and sales staff)...I post some more postcards and notice that this time both he mailbox and the stamps have a different postal service name on them. Must be a South Island thing. Glad that I put those in Auckland into the correct box!...I go to the Visitors Center to buy two tickets for huts in about to spend the night during my u...

...I wonder why locals call campsites "holiday parks"...for the first time I see the Fergburger empty! It is at 6am but still :)...I go on a trip to Milford Sound, New Zealand's most famed attraction. It's the world's second rainiest place so I'm not expecting pretty weather...indeed it's grey most of the time but at least there is hardly any rain and the way there is very scenic - it's five hours by bus from Queenstown to the sound. The d...

...I wake up tired and walk around Queenstown, wondering how on Earth they squeezed so many adrenaline activities in one place: you can do everything here from canyoning, rappelling, all kinds of surfing, cave exploring, jet boat rides, jet ski, skydiving, paragliding and everything else you can dream of...I find out that in limited time parking streets city police mark your tire with chalk and then check again if you're still there after a certain time has p...

...the sunrise is indeed amazing but I wake up a little late for it. Still, I take nice morning shots of the surrounding mountains and glaciers and there even is an avalanche coming down in the distance...I check out at the visitor center and drive the same way along the lake Pukaki back toward Tekapo. Views are amazing this time on account of clear weather....I marvel how many times I leave my valuables on the front seat (iPad, camera, phone) and go to eat in pe...

......I spontaneously decide to do the Mueller Hut route (2 day trek in the Mt Cook national park) and even find an available. Nuke bed in the hut but before I decide to book it gets taken. So I opt for a tent. Apparently there is snow and high winds up there (1800 m asl) but I feel I can survive the night. By the way the hut booking system is all electronic and works flawlessly online. Impressive....I drive to the trailhead along the crazily scenic lake Pukaki. ...