New Zealand, 2013
Travelling to New Zealand's South Island was the culmination of a long-held dream (I have many long-held travel dreams). This 2 week taster confirmed my belief that New Zealand is a geographer's dream, and well worth visiting.
We landed in Christchurch and drove straight to Arthur's Pass - be prepared to make stops once you get out of Canterbury, as there are some stunning views of the Waimakariri River as well as Castle Hill, a dramatic limestone environment. Our first (and only) full day in Arthur' Pass was blessed with spectacularly good weather, which we put to good use hiking the Bealey Spur Track. Later in the day we walked to Devil's Punchbowl Falls, a stunning waterfall that is well worth visiting when in the area. A walk I would've liked t have done, but didn't have time for was the Bealey Valley track, which culminates in a false glacier.
From Arthur's Pass we travelled to Franz Josef via Greymouth, where we took the opportunity to explore the coast above Greymouth a little - it had some of the most unusual vegetation I've ever seen.
We landed in Christchurch and drove straight to Arthur's Pass - be prepared to make stops once you get out of Canterbury, as there are some stunning views of the Waimakariri River as well as Castle Hill, a dramatic limestone environment. Our first (and only) full day in Arthur' Pass was blessed with spectacularly good weather, which we put to good use hiking the Bealey Spur Track. Later in the day we walked to Devil's Punchbowl Falls, a stunning waterfall that is well worth visiting when in the area. A walk I would've liked t have done, but didn't have time for was the Bealey Valley track, which culminates in a false glacier.
From Arthur's Pass we travelled to Franz Josef via Greymouth, where we took the opportunity to explore the coast above Greymouth a little - it had some of the most unusual vegetation I've ever seen.
Themes: Glaciers/glaciation, Alpine and sub-alpine environments, Coasts, Earthquakes (Tectonics)
Places: Christchurch, Arthur's Pass, UNESCO WHS Te Wahipounamu (Aoraki/Mt Cook NP, Westland NP, Fiordland NP and Mt Aspiring NP), Queenstown, Glenorchy, Invercargill, Te Anau, Franz Josef, Mt Cook Village