Day 7 - Fiordland (Te Anau)

Nov 2, 2008
Out of the 3 weeks we spent in NZ more than 2 of those weeks were in the south Island.

The travel from Waitomo to Auckland is unevenetful, our hosts give us directions of how we can avoid Hamilton to skip the traffic and take a scenic route to Auckland, we enjoy the drive, get to the airport on time, and fly out to Queenstown.

The flight is like any other flight except for some great views of the southern alps as we fly over the south island. We see these beautiful lakes down below. It is only a week later we realise that we would be staying on the banks of one of these lakes




Queenstown Airport
How different can this airport be from any other airport you have seen before. Very different. On a clear sunny day Queenstown airport is probably the most beautiful airport you can fly through. The airport is situated at the base of "The Remarkables" mountain range. The views were stunning. We got off the aircraft and we were scrambling for our camera, only to be shooed away by the security (these pesky tourists!!!). I am going to blame my camera and my lack of skill for not capturing the beauty as I saw it.


Onwards to Te Anau
Fiordland is what had attracted us to New Zealand, so here we are at the gateway to fiordland. We begin our 4 day Milford Track from tomorrow. Te Anau is 2 hours by bus from Queenstown, once we get to Te Anau we need to check in and then rush to Bev's Tramping Gear hire to get suited up with all the stuff we need for the trek. We were under prepared for the trek is an under statement. We have discussed the option of cancelling the trek many times in the last 2 days. Rashmi wants to do it for me, and I want to do it because I have always wanted to do it.

The 2 hours from Queenstown to te Anau zips by as a blur since both of us fell a sleep. I always like to watch the scenery go back while travelling on land, and i so wanted to be awake all the time in fiordland lest I miss a sight. When you got to go (to sleep), you got to go (to sleep)! Every now and then I would wake up, and see sheep grazing in their farms. I wonder if it was just me dreaming about lamb shanks.

Again the view from the hotel was amazing, you will hear me say that often in fiordland. I think we were the only people in our block in the hotel. The restaurant is run by a Brazilian. That weekend was the final round of the 2008 Formula1 races. So chatted with him and I knew when I finished my trek 4 days later, I could check with him for the results.

We quickly run and pick up our trekking gear for the next day. The back packs are heavy and with the back packs on your shoulder the urge to cancel is very strong. What did the back pack contain well

• Walking Poles
• 2 layers of plastic to keep our stuff dry in the rain
• fleece Jackets
• Gloves
• Pots and Pans
• Cap
• Rain proof jacket and over trousers
• food
• medicine
• change of clothes
• footwear for the night (slippers)
• Toilet kit
• No matches, we ended u having to borrow from co trampers