7 days of smiles!

Leaving christchurch the scenic drive towards lake tekapo, another beautiful drive on a blue sky'd day, how withing afew hours you can be out of the city and into the mountainous world of new zealand. Lake tekapo, the most turquise of colours once again Our backpackers, the lounge witha view of the lake and the white capped mountains in the distance, how so many places can be so beautiful. As we went the afternoon wrighting journals as the clouds drew in, saddly unable to go on the sunset star gazing tour up at the mount john observatory.

Wednesday morning a walk up to mount john where the observatorys are, this is about to be announced as one of the best places in the southern hemisphere to veiw stars. The view from the top of mount john across the lake and the valleys and mountains, anher nice walk before leaving for the drive to mount cook. Incredable views, nothing like the whites of the mountains, that fresh mountain air, patches of blue and cloudy sky adding to the view towards mount cook area. The smiles that fill my face on these drives, i find myself having to repeat myself os much on the blogs as every drive and every place is just as beuatiful as the previous place.

Saddly the mount cook area grey very cloudy and wet....a rather steep drop in temperature from being at tekapo to hear, as we took a walk around the very small town of mount cook, very wet but shelter in the visitor centre. I have been very impressed with how much effort is put into the visitor centres they are like little museums i could spend all day in there. An evening at the backpackers as the sun set. The next morning spent walking, the hooker valley providing views of glaciated valleys, its rivers and its errosional processes. The end of the track to where the lake and mini ice bergs were off the hooker glacier, the water stained grey with the fluvial deposits. Walking on the morain carried down by the glacier. As the clouds cleared a little rainbows appearing. Walking back along the roacky track across suspension birdges and back to the car park a well spent morning. The next walk being to the tasmin glacier, the small pool pools in the deposited morian. the melt water of the glacier creating the lake and the retreating glacier i the distance. mount cook saddly hidden with cloud but still a nice place to sit and appreciate just how amazing the glaciers are and have been as you look back into the large valley that has been carved out. Driving back to tekapo in the afternoon and then a perfect evening as the skys were blue the sunset tour was going ahead.

The bus up to the observatory then watching the sun set in the east behind the mountain, from on top of mount john. Using special glasses to looking directly at the sun watching the glowing red/orange sphere disapear behind the mountain tops. The colours then appearing yellows and oranges lighting up the clouds. As the sky became darker and darker the moon glowing brighter and stars appearing as we got to look through several telescopes at the moon, mars and stars. Now i am able to identify the south cross and know that orian is upside down in the southern hemisphere and just how little i know about this very interesting topic. A free desert and drink as we happyly sat being little star gazers.

Leaving tekapo on friday, the dry and baren drive through omarama and past the dams, another landscape altogether never surprised anymore and the vast changes in scenary. There just isnt enough time to wright about it all as every meter is incredable along those drives. I took a trip back to those moraki boulders, thats one of those place you could visit and visit and never get boared once. Its one of the places ive been fortunate anough to visit twice. This time showing the firend im traveling with them. A natural playground as kids jump of the boulders into the sea, and the rest walk round taking photos.

Theres nothing like walking at the beach and exploring.

Now im back in christchurch tomorow i leave for wellington. Leaving the south island.

An island that has brung so many smiles and memories, onto the next island, where volcanic geography is yet to be ticked of my list. Onto the next explore. I have a feeling im not finished in this incredable place, malburough and nelson yet to be seen and stewart island...ill be back! To the poeple ive meet down hear;other peoples generosity is an amazing thing and my thank you's to everyone in the south island who i sayed with and or who helped me along my adventures.

The next blog will be from the north, exactly 1 month left to go!