Around the World in Many Days, VI: New Zealand
After more than a week of exploring primarily the coastal regions of the south island, we ventured inland and made our way to the island's most prominent feature, the Southern Alps, a 500-kilometre-long mountain range bisecting the island from northeast to southwest, with numerous peaks above 3000 metres in height.
R S
11 chapters
15 Apr 2020
[New Zealand] Chapter LXI: During which we cross the Southern Alps
February 25, 2018
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Along the Southern Alps, 25 February to 1 March 2018
After more than a week of exploring primarily the coastal regions of the south island, we ventured inland and made our way to the island's most prominent feature, the Southern Alps, a 500-kilometre-long mountain range bisecting the island from northeast to southwest, with numerous peaks above 3000 metres in height.
We came from the southwest, entering the region via Lindis Pass, and emerged from it four days later to the northwest, back to the coast via Arthur's Pass, after hiking a couple of days around the foothills of the range's highest peak (Aoraki Mount Cook) and driving a couple of days in a rather circuitous route, for the only roads going north are quite a way away from the mountains themselves, to the east.
What we saw there is probably best expressed by the photographs below.
Accommodations:
- "Highcountry Getaway" holiday house, Twizel (3 nights; very nice, but for the lack of wifi)
- Bealey Hotel, Bealey (1 night; depressing)
Photo captions: (a-i) seen along the road north; (j-qq) hiking near Aoraki Mount Cook (N.B. it's not the same mountain/lake/river in all the photos, not at all); (rr-ww) hiking to Devil's Punchbowl, a 131-metre-tall waterfall; (xx-zz) bungy jumping, a big industry in New Zealand
1.
[New Zealand] Chapter LVII: In which we do not come face to face with an erupting volcano
2.
[New Zealand] Chapter LVIII: In which we run great risk of getting seasick
3.
[New Zealand] Chapter LIX: In which we find out that, even at the antipodes, friends might find you
4.
[New Zealand] Chapter LX: In which Milford Sound becomes outrageously long
5.
[New Zealand] Chapter LXI: During which we cross the Southern Alps
6.
[New Zealand] Chapter LXII: In which a slight glimpse is had of the north of the south island
7.
[New Zealand] Chapter LXIII: In which N and R and car travel by the Interislander ferry
8.
[New Zealand] Chapter LXIV: In which we undergo, at a speed of 100 km/h, a course of Kiwi geology
9.
[New Zealand] Chapter LXV: In which nobody succeeds in making us want to listen to tour guides
10.
[New Zealand] Chapter LXVI: In which incidents are narrated which are to be met most anywhere
11.
Summary of Part VI and Onwards to the Epilogue
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