New Zealand Scenery

Click for JPEG Milford Sound

This is Milford Sound, which is not a sound (drowned river valley) at all, but is a Fjord. (drowned glacial valley) The QE2 has been known to anchor in about the middle of that stretch of water. The mountains around range up to about 5000 feet. Milford Sound, and several other fjords, are at the South Western corner of the South Island of New Zealand. The way out to the sea is past the little white cloud near the water

Click for JPEG Milford Sound Looking Back

Another shot in Milford Sound, taken from about where the little cloud was in the last shot, looking back towards the Bowen Falls.

Click for JPEG Dolphins in Milford Sound

The day we visited Milford Sound, we took a boat ride out as far as the sea, about 12 miles. At one point, a school of Dolphins played around the boat. Here they are gaining some assistance by riding the bow wave. Whales can also be seen around the New Zealand coast, notably at Kaikoura.

Click for JPEG Franz Josef? Glacier

The South Island of New Zealand has several glaciers. Two in particular, the Fox and the Franz Josef, reach very close to the sea, and are very accessible for temperate zone glaciers. If I remember correctly this is the Franz Josef but I can't be sure...anyone who can tell is welcome to correct me.

Click for JPEG Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu

Queenstown is a beautiful resort town on the shores of Lake Wakatipu. This is a large S shaped Lake in the South Island of NZ. The area is renowned for skiing in Winter, and many other activities in summer. Some of the other shots here were taken from the hill on the left. Let's have a better look at that steamboat

Click for JPEG TSS Earnslaw

The Twin Screw Steamer Earnslaw plies the waters of Lake Wakatipu, as she has done for about a century or so. She has triple expansion engines and locomotive style boilers. My wife and I had a very pleasant dinner on board one evening......

Click for JPEG Frankton Township

This is the point where the Kawarau river leaves Lake Wakatipu. The distant mountain at the top left is Coronet Peak, site of a world famous skifield. This whole area was once a rich goldfield.

Click for JPEG Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables

The Remarkables are the range of mountains behind the Lake. This view would look even better with the winter snow...but I was there in summer.

Click for JPEG Skippers Canyon

No, not as big as the Grand Canyon...but this was once one of the richest alluvial goldfields in the world, and the terrain around is quite rugged enough. Most insurance companies will void your cover if you drive up the road here...it is written into the policies.