Travel Our World
  • Up-coming Trips
    • Route of the Vikings - 2021
  • Prior Trips
    • Africa - 2020
    • Arabian Adventure - 2020
    • Great Rivers of Europe - 2019
    • South America - 2019
    • 2018 Trips >
      • Northern Italy - 2018
      • South Korea & Japan - 2018
      • Cuba - 2018
    • 2017 Trips >
      • Australia & New Zealand - 2017
      • Maritimes Coastal Wonders - 2017
      • Eastern Canada - 2017
      • Spain & Portugal - 2017
    • 2016 Trips >
      • Ultimate Africa - 2016
      • France's Finest - 2016
      • Discover Scotland - 2016
      • Enchanting Ireland - 2016
    • 2015 Trips >
      • Flavors of Southern Italy & Sicily - 2015
      • Norwegian Coastal Voyage & Lapland - 2015
      • Eastern Europe to the Black Sea - 2015
      • Machu Picchu & Galapagos - 2015
    • 2014 >
      • Hidden Gems of the Dalmatian Coast and Greece - 2014
      • Turkey's Magical Hideaways - 2014
      • Essence of the Elbe: Prague to Berlin - 2014
    • 2013 and earlier >
      • Inside Vietnam - 2013
      • Russia Revealed - 2013
      • Untamed Iceland - 2013
      • Safari Serengeti - 2012
  • Blog
  • About
    • Travel Style
  • Contact
  • Tips & Tools
    • Solo Travel
    • Travel in Uncertain Times
  • FAQ

The Wild, Wild West

10/1/2017

 
We left Queenstown Wednesday and headed west toward the coast.  We spent three days exploring the spectacular Southern Alps.  This sparsely populated area is reminiscent of coastal Washington and Oregon - cold, lots of rain, beautiful, and economically depressed because the timber and mining industries are in decline.  The people who live here are rugged, independent and creative in finding ways to make a living.
Picture
Picture
Wednesday was Kiwi Food Day.  I'm copying Lyn Whaley's blog because she summarized it so well.   She's one of our fellow travelers.

"We are traveling along New Zealand's west coast taking in the spectacular scenery.  Wednesday was "kiwi food day". Our first stop was at an iconic fruit stand. ($1 US = $1.36 New Zealand).
Picture
Picture
PictureRachel, the owner, discussing wine with Debbie


​Next up was a boutique winery.  We sampled 3 wines and nibbles.

Then we drove along Lake Wanaka and found a lovely spot for a picnic of traditional meat pies, L&P soda, and fruit.
Picture
Terri, Judy and Margaret having lunch
Picture
My (Lyn) lunch of mushroom and chicken pie and lemony L&P soda
Finally,  a real delicacy, white bait.   Yes, we actually ate the tiny fish and they tasted like a fried egg, if you can get past eating the eye."
Picture
Step one: fresh white bait
Picture
Step two: fry on griddle
Picture
Step three: Randall watches the sandwich being made
Picture
Step four: Mel enjoys

​Thursday we explored the Mount Cook region, with its pristine alpine scenery and the Franz Josef, the Mario Andretti of glaciers.  After breakfast, we drove to Franz Josef Glacier Valley.  The rain slowed and the sun emerged - another beautiful day!  We took a 3.5 mile hike of the valley with an expert naturalist guide.
Picture
John, Pat, Terri, Debbie and Ken were first to arrive at the foot of the glacier
Picture Randall near the Franz Joseph Glacier




Afterward, we make our way to Punakaiki, where we enjoyed a campfire on the beach outside our hotel that evening.
Picture
Thank you, Mel for the night photography.

Comments are closed.

    Join Us

    Follow our travels with stories and photos.

    Click to Subscribe


    You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Prefer Facebook Updates?
    click  below



    Categories

    All
    2012 - Safari Serengeti
    2013 Inside Vietnam
    2013 - Inside Vietnam
    2013 - Russia Revealed
    2013 - Untamed Iceland
    2014 - Essence Of The Elbe
    2014 Hidden Gems Of The Dalmatian Coast & Greece
    2014 Turkey And Uzbekistan
    2015-eastern-europe-to-the-back-sea
    2015-italy
    2015-machu-pucchu-and-the-galapagos
    2015-norwegain-coastal-voyage-and-lapland
    2016-france
    2016-scotland-ireland
    2016-ultimate-africa
    2017-australia-new-zealand
    2017-eastern-canada
    2017-spain-and-portugal
    2018 Northern Italy
    2018 South Korea And Japan
    2019 Great Rivers
    2019 South America

    Archives

    February 2020
    January 2020
    September 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    September 2014
    August 2014
    May 2014
    January 2014
    September 2013
    August 2013
    December 2012

Picture
Travel with the best friends you haven't even met yet
View upcoming events.
Copy them to your calendar.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Stormsignal