Queenstown to Te Anau to Dunedin - South Island New Zealand

Monday 10-7-13 another Beauty Feel – Te Anau

On the way from Queenstown we stopped at a farm on the roadside so I could snap a couple of shots and we saw a lamb that literally had just been born and the mother was standing next to it with after birth still present. I had never seen anything like it before and was quite awestruck. We were scheduled to stay at another Beauty Feel in Te Anau which I did not want to stay at. I told Galvin, but he was not willing to do anything about it. I had also complained to Linda that we did not come across the world to stay at Motel 6 types of hotels. When we arrived, Linda bound right over to the office. The next thing I know Galvin is frantically calling for me to come to the office. I arrived to find Galvin standing between Linda and the Janelle, the woman who owned the hotel. The two were about to come to fist a cuffs and were yelling at each other. Galvin finally got Linda out of the office, and had to rapidly make nice to Janelle before we were thrown out of the hotel, Even though we did not want to stay at the hotel, we had no plan B, and it was of course still school vacation week. We put on our stiff upper lips, and reconciled with the fact that we will be spending the next to nights at here Beauty Feel in our cinder block, postage stamp sized rooms. Janelle too right over and directed us to town to go to lunch. When we returned Gavin was waiting for us and informed us that Janelle had called Rhys to complain about Linda, so Rhys blew a gasket at Galvin and Linda was gone by the time we returned from lunch. Janelle informed Galvin she would be taking care of us the rest of the night and we did not dare utter a peep. Janelle then insisted that we go see a movie about the area that we had no desire to see as it was smack dab in the middle of cocktail hour. We struggled through the movie, then Janelle picked us up and drove us to the dock to meet a boat that took us on a half hour ride then dropped us off to see the glow worm caves. It was dark by the time we arrived. We took the two minute tour through the cave to see the glow worms that we learned are actually maggots that have pin point lights that glow at their ends. It was very underwhelming. By the time we boarded the boat to go back, it was pitch black so not much a scenic ride. We had tried to get on an earlier boat when we arrived but we were told that since it was school vacation week, (how could I have forgotten?) all the earlier trips were booked. This was one evening that would have been better spent at the local pub. Tomorrow we travel about two hours to Milford Sound for cruise.

All on board ready to let er rip !

One of the narrow sections went through

Just doing a little spinaroonie….

My face says it all

Great restroom sign

Springtime - lots of babies everywhere

this baby lamb literally had just been born...

Beautiful scenery en route to Te anau

After we arrived, we went on the last cruise of the day to see the glow worm caves

It was getting dark by the time we arrived at the caves

We started on a path up from the dock, to this little lodge, then got in boats which took us up to the caves.

Tues. 10-8-13 Te Anua

We lucked out today with beautiful sunny skies which we were informed had not been seen for awhile. They actually had to close Arthurs Pass and the Alpinze Train due to snow. Janelle told us to stop at Mirror lake which would be amazing with reflections unless the ducks were out swimming making ripples in the water. Short story, we arrived and the ducks were out. We then looked at the maps and found another to stop at. While we were looking at a river, a real tour guide was there and told us to hike in a bit for beautiful views of waterfalls which we did and really enjoyed. Next on to Milford Sound. Galvin excitedly joined us for our cruise of the sound which was one picture after another.Milford Sound is a fjord that runs about 15 km out to the Tasman Sea. the boat ride was amazing ! It was soooooo beautiful ! We drove back to the Beauty Feel, out for dinner and we are actually going to get to bed early tonight. Tomorrow early start to Dunedin where Gavin will be leaving, and Rhys taking over for the last three days – Since the middle part of the island was suppose to be done on our last day, but we have already done it with Galvin, Galvin suggested to Rhys that we go to Oamaru following Dunedin. Galvin said Rhys told Glavin that Rhys has never been there before but that is where we will going and that Rhys once again has booked us in to a Beauty Feel uugghhhh……

Cloudy start to the day

First stop Mirror Lakes

A Kia looking for something to steal

We made a detour and did some walking along a path and beautiul rushing river.

We had to go through a tunnel to get to Milford Sound. All of the signs indicated that there was no stopping due to it being an avalanche area - and guess where they stopped all of the cars due to repairs inside often tunnel ? You guessed - the avalanche area...

The "Stop Here" sign - to wait for the green light to go through the tunnel is in front of the sign that says "No stopping" due to the area being an avalanche zone