Hello Again,
We are a little delayed in getting this post up as we have been kept busy for the last few months.
But we hope you enjoy the photos all the same.
Much Love,
G&T
This post is to share some of the amazing photos and remember the wonderful times we had while Scott (Greg's Brother) and Lila (T's best friend) came to visit us and the AMAZING NZ!
THE BOYS
Scott and Greg
THE GIRLS
Teresa and Lila
The trip started off with a little hitch as Lila's luggage was lost at the airport. Thankfully she and T are close in size, and Lila was well prepared with a toothbrush in her carry on. After getting a good nights rest, we packed up Maude (the van) and headed for Mount Cook National Park.
A roadside stop at Lake Pukaki
Ready for a little game of Ninja?
The crew hiking up to the Hooker Lake Glacier
Lila trying to sight Mount Cook
Scott and T-ohh so happy
Where did Lila go?
Beautiful stone
Lila checking out the whitewater
The Department of Conservation provides huts like the one shown as simple shelters in case the weather turns and you need a place to stay. This one was a little older but that gave it a very rustic and artistic look.
The view from the hut
Smiley faces
Funny faces
Camping at the White Horse Hill Campsite
Lila's wonderful socks (care of Marcia)
Greg showing off the amazing Boris's Bench
"All hail Boris' Bench
Boris' Bench
Boris' Bench
All hair Boris' Bench
the bench that
saved the day"
(Greg made us sing that every time the bench was pulled out)
The next day we headed up to the Tasman Glacier and we made it just in time to see the fog move away and show the beautiful mountain ranges.
The shining sun
Soaking up the sun
Tasman Glacier Lake
Scott attempting to dive into the glacier lake.
Photo opportunity (count the Arcteryx logos for extra points)
The girls hiking to start of the river and the lake
Floating glacier chunks
We headed south to Queenstown for some nightlife and dancing.
Lila and Scott chilling in the back seat
Happy Basil. Basil travelled with us for the full road trip and is still alive to this day.
The lights of Queenstown across the lake
The next day we went to the Routeburn Track and did a day hike as far as we could go. The Routeburn one of the seven New Zealand Great Walks.
Greg leading the charge on the swinging bridge
So many hiding places, peak-a-boo!
One of the many cable swinging bridges we had to cross
The Routeburn Flat Hut
A perfect place to reflect on the times when dinosaurs roamed and the Haast Eagles soared the skies.
After lunch at the Flat Hut we hiked up to the falls and the Routeburn Falls Hut
Scott and T up at the Falls
Camping on the edge of the Lake
Tire Swing
On our long drive to the east coast we stopped for some wine tasting
Scott singing to 'girl power' songs (post wine)
The yellow eyed penguins, one of the worlds rarest penguins
Lila mesmerized by the seal
The happy seal needs a belly scratch
The pair of yellow eyed penguins is calling to each other as they dry out after a day in the ocean
The happy crew after beer and fish and chips
MOERAKI BOULDERSThe Moeraki Boulders are a group of very large spherical “stones” on Koekohe Beach near Moeraki on New Zealand’s Otago coast. These boulders are actually concretions that have been exposed through shoreline erosion from coastal cliffs that back the beach. They originally formed in ancient sea floor sediments around 60 million years ago.
(no captions needed)
At this point in the trip Scott had to fly back home, and G&T had to catch back up at work for a few days. We sent Lila off to do some exploring by herself to Akaroa; to swim with the dolphins and then over Arthur's Pass where we would meet up again with her for one last extended weekend of fun.
The weather wasn't perfect but a rainbow did come out to greet us on the West Coast.
Lila and Greg at the top of Mauria falls
Maruia Falls
Happy Times
Lunch time snacks on Boris' Bench
The sun came out for some good ole' NZ kayaking
That's all for now, the Marc and Marcia's trip to come shortly.
