Roaming Konos

We have been home for a little over a month now, and I am slowly getting around to organizing all my pics and finishing up this blog! 

So without further ado…the second half of our New Zealand Road Trip.

After leaving the beautiful coastal rainforest area of the Catlins, we headed towards the wild west coast of New Zealand. 

The open road

My pet rock in tow

West Coast, South Island

Our first stop on the west coast was Te Anau to hike the Kepler Track. The Kepler Track is a 60km, 3 day long hike. Since we were short on time and did not have proper trekking gear, we decided to do as much of it as we could in 1 day. We made it all the way to the summit of Mt. Luxmore, at 4,829 feet. This 11 hour, 36 km round trip hike is the hardest hike I’ve ever done. If you ever find yourself at Kepler, do yourself a favor and do not attempt in one day!

The easy part of the trail, the soft and gentle Kepler forest

Skipping rocks at Lake Manapouri

Climbing up to Mt. Luxmore

Summit of Mt. Luxmore, fjords abound! 

After Te Anau, we were happy to relax and give our muscles a rest with a leisurely drive and cruise around Milford Sound. 

Cruisin’ milford sound

Seals basking in the sun at Milford Sound

Getting up close and personal with the falls 

After Milford Sound, we did a short section of the famous Routeburn Track. Like Kepler, Routeburn is a 3-4 day trek. We learned our lesson this time, and were in and out in a few hours.

Routeburn Track

Routeburn butterfly

By the time we reached Queenstown, autumn had officially hit NZ.

Giant fall trees in Queenstown 

Jimmy, our hostel kitty

In Queenstown, we hiked around the aptly named “Remarkables” mountain range. A few scenes from Lord of the Rings were filmed here!

The Remarkables

We found Lake Alta!

Emerald green Lake Alta

From Queenstown, we drove up to Glacier Land to see the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers. Unfortunately, as soon as arrived in town, Cyclone Ita hit and we were without power for three days. We managed to squeeze in couple of visits to the glaciers anyway.       

Fox Glacier with stormy skies overhead

The sad and shrinking Franz Josef glacier

After 3 days of gale force winds and rain in Glacier Land, we made our way to Golden Bay, my favorite place in New Zealand. 

Finally some sun peaks through the rain clouds!

Blue skies in Golden Bay

A cuddly sheep

Wild and windy Warariki Beach, the coolest beach in NZ

We found this sweet pengunio at Warariki Beach

Beach at Golden Bay

Golden Bay sunset

The Master 

North Island

After Golden Bay, we said goodbye to the South Island and hopped on the ferry towards Wellington. 

The lively city of Wellington was a breath of fresh air after the relative isolation of the South Island. We visited the Weta Cave, met up with friends we made in India 5 months earlier, and enjoyed the Welly nightlife. 

In the park overlooking Wellington

Trolls! At the Weta Cave

After Wellington, we went back into the wilderness to see the impressive Tongariro National Park. It was starting to get pretty cold in NZ by this point!

Hiking through the marshland outside Tongariro

Winter is coming…!

Mt Doom 

We then drove up to the volcanic wonderland of Rotorua. Rotorua is famous for its geothermal activity - hot thermal baths, bubbling mud pits, and steamy geysers. The entire area has a sulphuric rotten egg smell, try to imagine as you look at the pics!  

Basking in the sulphuric steam vents of Rotorua!

An unholy steaming lake

Leaning trees of Rotorua

Caliente! 

Testing the waters despite the warnings

Mystical lake

Perfect place for a swim

Mud bath

Our last stop in New Zealand was the invigorating Coromandel Peninsula. We saw gentle coastlines and giant kauri and redwood trees. It was wonderful to breathe in the fresh air – no rotten egg smells here!

Coromandel redwoods

Giant Kauri

Coromandel Coast

New Zealand is certainly one of the most beautiful places on earth. We hope to return to this paradise some day! 

Sweet as!