"Say Hello To My Little Freind"Abel Tasmen National Park
Franz Joseph Glacier
Blue Ice and Cave Entrance
Just Me, "Chilling"
Thought This Looked Kinda Cool
"Pancake Rocks" Punakaiki, New Zealand
Blowholes at the Pancake Rocks
South Islands Beautiful West Coast
Once again I am back in Christchurch but only this time it is the end of the road, and my adventures, for a little while. In three days I have a grueling 20 some odd hour flight back to home sweet home. Now that everything thing is in order and I have my flights all sorted, I am super stoked, and to be perfectly honest, I am very excited to take a month and half holiday away from this 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, job that I have had for the last 6 months. Everyday wondering where I am going, where I am sleeping, whats tomorrow going to bring, making hard decisions like should I climb Franz Joseph or Fox Glacier? . . . jeezes what a stressful life I lead. Well seeing as I don't suppose I am getting any sympathy from anyone reading this I guess I will move on.
The Past few weeks have been somewhat hectic, while I was in Queesntown, trying to recuperate from Kepler Tramp, I got the final word that I was coming home for the summer. Seeing as for the first time in months I was actually playing with a schedule (that in it self took some time to absorb) I decided that I needed to travel up the West coast of the South island in order to be able to see all the sights I wanted to see before flying home. So just like that I jumped on a bus, and was of to Franz Joseph Glacier.
Franz Joseph Glacier is not only one of the fastest moving glaciers in the world but it is also one of the very few that descends so low in altitude, because at how fast its going, that you can be walking on solid ice and be surrounded by rain forests and be basically right on the doorstep to the ocean. I spent three days here and took a whole day guided hike up onto the glacier. The little hike was alright, mainly because it was the first time I have ever got to wear cramp-ons and have ice axes, if that's not a way to feel manly I am not too sure what is. But I do have my complaints about the whole ordeal, and I also will say I will never do a guided hike again with that many people in a group, but all in all it was a pretty memorable experience.
Next I moved further north up the west and after two days reached Nelson where I basically just relaxed and did alot of nothing. I know its hard to explain cause in every ones eyes I really haven't done too much for the past half a year but its exhausting. Everyday waking up and figuring out what to do to amuse yourself, buses, packing, seeing new things, and taking pictures isnt all fun a games ya know. So Nelson is where I found a nice little hostel and had a few days of laziness with nothing to fill my days but coffee, movies, and naps.
After a few days of the above schedule I started to feel a little like a waste so I booked a day trip out to the Abel Tasmen National Park to have a day of hiking and Kayaking. Seeing as I have never in my life been in a Kayak this was very interesting and entertaining for me. We paddled around a island marine reserve through perfect crystal clear turquoise waters and golden sandy beaches, I can see why this park is one of the most photographed places in New Zealand. I also made a new friend and I was thinking maybe she could be my escort at a certain somebodies wedding this summer (not sure if that confidential information or not) cause I know I sure don't have one of those! When that little seal jumped up on my Kayak it pretty much made my day worth while, not to mention the other in the group seeing me almost getting flipped into the freezing cold ocean by a baby seal. My guide was also amazed and said that in his 5 years of experience he had never seen something like that before. We continued to Kayak for the rest of the morning, had a ocean shore lunch, then a nice 10km coastal walk back to the bus to bring us back to our beds for the night.
The Past few weeks have been somewhat hectic, while I was in Queesntown, trying to recuperate from Kepler Tramp, I got the final word that I was coming home for the summer. Seeing as for the first time in months I was actually playing with a schedule (that in it self took some time to absorb) I decided that I needed to travel up the West coast of the South island in order to be able to see all the sights I wanted to see before flying home. So just like that I jumped on a bus, and was of to Franz Joseph Glacier.
Franz Joseph Glacier is not only one of the fastest moving glaciers in the world but it is also one of the very few that descends so low in altitude, because at how fast its going, that you can be walking on solid ice and be surrounded by rain forests and be basically right on the doorstep to the ocean. I spent three days here and took a whole day guided hike up onto the glacier. The little hike was alright, mainly because it was the first time I have ever got to wear cramp-ons and have ice axes, if that's not a way to feel manly I am not too sure what is. But I do have my complaints about the whole ordeal, and I also will say I will never do a guided hike again with that many people in a group, but all in all it was a pretty memorable experience.
Next I moved further north up the west and after two days reached Nelson where I basically just relaxed and did alot of nothing. I know its hard to explain cause in every ones eyes I really haven't done too much for the past half a year but its exhausting. Everyday waking up and figuring out what to do to amuse yourself, buses, packing, seeing new things, and taking pictures isnt all fun a games ya know. So Nelson is where I found a nice little hostel and had a few days of laziness with nothing to fill my days but coffee, movies, and naps.
After a few days of the above schedule I started to feel a little like a waste so I booked a day trip out to the Abel Tasmen National Park to have a day of hiking and Kayaking. Seeing as I have never in my life been in a Kayak this was very interesting and entertaining for me. We paddled around a island marine reserve through perfect crystal clear turquoise waters and golden sandy beaches, I can see why this park is one of the most photographed places in New Zealand. I also made a new friend and I was thinking maybe she could be my escort at a certain somebodies wedding this summer (not sure if that confidential information or not) cause I know I sure don't have one of those! When that little seal jumped up on my Kayak it pretty much made my day worth while, not to mention the other in the group seeing me almost getting flipped into the freezing cold ocean by a baby seal. My guide was also amazed and said that in his 5 years of experience he had never seen something like that before. We continued to Kayak for the rest of the morning, had a ocean shore lunch, then a nice 10km coastal walk back to the bus to bring us back to our beds for the night.
And that pretty much brings you all up to date, from Nelson I travelled to Hanmer springs to spend a day soaking in the thermal pools, then continued on to where I sit now, in Christchurch. I am not too sure how I am going to spend my last few days in New Zealand but I am sure I will come up with something. Thats one very amazing thing about this country, no matter where you are your always just a short hop, skip, and a jump anyway from pretty much anything you can possibly think of . . . . Hm maybe I will go surfing, or snowboarding, or swim with the dolphins, or take a tour of the hundreds of vineyards, or jump out of a airplane. Only time will tell.
Franz Joseph Glacier
Blue Ice and Cave Entrance
Just Me, "Chilling"
Thought This Looked Kinda Cool
"Pancake Rocks" Punakaiki, New Zealand 
Blowholes at the Pancake Rocks
South Islands Beautiful West CoastYa He Is Actually On My Lap, Seeing As I don't Know Much About Seals I Was Actually A Bit Nervous
