Te Aroha

  

when we meet again

Paeroa

The P in L&P.
 Also found in ice-cream, chocolates, muffins and all sorts.
 "It delivers," they said and then gobbled gobbled.

Invercargill

Arriving at a time when it was already all lit up, passing by a little blue church and the silver fern ad, overlooking the fields in the morning mist, standing at the bottom edge of South Island looking over towards Steward Island, watching cows grazing grass in front of the sea with snow-capped mountains as a back-drop.

Wanaka

Lake Wanaka

...how a lake should be.

Thunder Creek Falls

Franz Josef Glacier

"The Franz Josef (Ka Roimata o Hinehukatere in Māori) is a 23 km long glacier located in Westland National Park on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. Together with the Fox Glacier 20 km to the south, it is unique in the fact that it descends from the Southern Alps to less than 300 metres above sea level amidst the greenery and lushness of a temperate rainforest. It is also one of only three glaciers to come so close to a coastline.

The area surrounding the two glaciers is designated a World Heritage Site. The river emerging from the glacier terminal of Franz Josef is known as the Waiho River." (wikipedia)

...not that I knew who Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria was back then.

Arthur's Pass National Park (SH7)

Milford Sound

Mitre Peak. Milford Sound. Fiordland National Park.

• mean annual rainfall of 6,813 mm on 182 days a year, creating many many waterfalls
• where you can find black coral (which are white), usually only found in much deeper waters, close to the surface

Milford Road (SH94)

"Climbing through the Southern Alps, State Highway 94 is one of the highest and most scenic state highways in New Zealand. The highest part of the road is at 940 metres above sea level. The Milford Road, part of SH94, takes you from Te Anau through Fiordland National Park to the major tourist gateway - Milford Sound." (source)

The Caitlins

As we drove down the Caitlins in the grey mist in search of yellow-eyed penguin and nugget point amongst others, we find what was believed to be snow.

Piha

(Full credit of both photos to Jason Wong)

Gradually going downhill on the way into Piha and seeing the beach from above for the first time.

The Otago Peninsula

The waves splashing against the foot of the cliff, the Taiaroa Head (the only colony of albatrosses to be found on an inhabited mainland), and the drive and stops along Otago Peninsula.

Kaikoura

Whales in hiding.