10 Day Road Trip - South Island New Zealand

 Safari of the Southern half of the South Island. Quinn, Tighe, and I went on a road trip.

"Snakes on a plane"

With the Covid-19 situation, we decided to avoid overseas travel this year, and visit the mainland of New Zealand instead. After a two hour flight from Rotorua. We picked up our rental car, and headed West into the Ashburton Lakes area.

Day 1:  Hike up Mount Sunday Mount Sunday is a stunning site, with expansive views of the Rangitata River and the surrounding mountains. This has to be one of the most remote Lord of the Rings locations one can publicly access. Allow at least 1 hour to walk up Mount Sunday.

Day 2: Moeraki Boulders, Anatini Fossils / Elephant Rocks,Tekapo The morning started at the Ocean - the Moeraki boulders. Then a three hour drive from Oamaru, to climb the Anatini Fossil site, and the Elephant Rocks, via Duntroon, past the dams, and onward to Tekapo, and the Southern Alps. As we were making so many stops, it took all day! That night we travelled up Mt John Observatory for the Star gazing.

Day 3: Tekapo to Aoraki/ Mt Cook  Tekapo / Lake Pukaki, Ice bergs, Glacier Opportunity to see glacier lakes, glaciers, and ice bergs. We stayed the night at Aoraki Mt Cook

Looking up the Tasman Valley

Ice bergs and Aoraki 

Day 4: Explored Hooker valley and the glacier lake.  Mt Cook hike .Walk took most of the day.  Recommend detouring in Omarama to see the Omarama Claycliffs. Stayed the night in Omarama.

First swing bridge in the Hooker Valley

Omarama Claycliffs

Day 5: A fun day of puzzles, go karting, vineyards, and swimming. Wanaka Puzzling World, Highlands Cromwell, Lake Dunstan Stayed the night in Cromwell.

Learning about gravity at Puzzling World, Wanaka.

Karting at Highlands Raceway, Cromwell

Day 6: Autumn Leaves in Arrowtown, walked Bob's Cove and explored the Misty Mountains in Glenorchy and LOTR. Stayed the night in Queenstown.

Bob's Cove

Lake Wakatipu

Day 7: Early morning start with Hot Air Balloon safari. Rest of the day was a scenic drive through Northern Southland and overnight in Te Anau.

Day 8: Drive to Milford Sound. Eglinton Valley, waterfalls, Milford Sound, Underwater observatory. Caught the afternoon cruise, and then overnight again in Te Anau.

Fairy Falls, Milford Sound

Mitre Peak, Milford Sound

Day 9: Manapouri, Bluff, and Oreti Beach. A driving day, exploring Southland. Overnight in Invercargill after experiencing hail storms and Aurora Australis.

Day 10: Ferry across to Rakiura / Stewart Island. Overnight in Oban. Island walks and birdlife.

Day 11: Return to Rotorua via Invercargill

Invercargill - Southland

We've got the morning in Invercargill, before flying to Christchurch at midday.  A chance to  explore a Hardware store. 

Not just any hardware store  - D E Hayes & Sons Hammer Hardware – Home of the World’s fastest Indian motorcycle.

Burt Munroe's original 1920 Indian Scout forms the centerpiece of a unique display of over one hundred classic, vintage and modern motorcycles, automobiles, engines, equipment and memorabilia that makes up our Motorworks Collection. From working examples of early vintage machinery, pumps, engines and lathes, our original shop delivery van, a range of classic automobiles and turn of the century motorcycles, to modern racing bikes.

There is a wall with a collection of "parts" that Burt Munroe called "The offerings to the God of Speed".

We had time for a quick bite, and then off to airport to finish our South Island road trip.

Ferry Back to the mainland - Rakiura / Stewart Island

Good morning Oban!

A travel day today. Taking the ferry back to the Mainland, and dropping the car off at the airport. Flying to Christchurch to see Gina, and then onwards to Rotorua.

Woke up early and took Sea Sick tablets an hour before the ferry crossing.

7.30am Check in for the Ferry crossing back to Invercargill

8.00 am Ferry Crossing . We need to wear Masks due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Watched a freight boat being loaded, while we waited for the ferry to be loaded. Everything is shipped to Oban, even firewood.

The morning is much calmer than yesterday, and the crew didn't prep the sick bags. Looks like it will be a smooth crossing.

 

Farewell Rakiura. Oban is the principal settlement on Stewart Island / Rakiura, the southernmost inhabited island of the New Zealand archipelago. A long way from Rotorua.

Snow on the mountain. It sure is cold. We are all wearing anoraks, gloves, and beanies.

A MUCH smoother crossing. 

Not so many passengers for this crossing. 

Rakiura / Stewart Island - Night Sky

I had hoped to take photos of the aurora australis, but that wasn't happening, so I focused on the moon instead.

A full moon and some clouds.

Half moon bay and the township of Oban.

Found some stars.

Kākā - Rakiura / Stewart Island

Flocks of Kākā fly above the village of Oban in Rakiura / Stewart Island

Noisy parrots, they are not afraid of humans and will stealthily steal the biscuit from your hand.

For such a large bird, they do move quietly.  

Annoyed that there was no food on offer <don't feed the birds>.

Kākā are noisy squawky birds, and I enjoyed watching their antics in the afternoon.

A Trying to Be Stealthy Kākā.

Rakiura /Stewart Island

Exploring Rakiura takes you straight into the bush. Fuchsia walk is a few minutes walk from the motel.

The short Fuchsia Walk, located in the heart of Oban off of Dundee Street, climbs through native forest abundant with a variety of native birds. 

The track emerges at the rugby field, where you can choose to either return to the township via the same track or along the road, or continue on to the Raroa Reserve Track, which has it's entrance at the opposite end of the park.

Plenty of birdlife at the park, and kiwis are here at night.

The ground was soggy and our shoes got wet.

The Raroa reserve walk goes through ancient native forest to Watercress Bay, taking you past 500 year old rimu, lush ferns, vibrant mosses and New Zealand tree-fuchsia. 

Plenty of bird life with Bellbirds, Tūī, Kererū and Kākā

The trail meanders through pongas, there are a few steps here and there.

It got a bit muddy on the trail, and the resting seat is a welcoming place.

Golden bay and Watercress Bay

Looking towards Ulva Island

The weather is unpredictable, one moment it's raining, the next the sun shines brightly. Our wanderings took us up to Observation Rock, which would be an awesome place to watch the Southern Lights / aurora

Township of Oban. Ferry terminal and the South Sea Hotel.