Worldrecordtour, Oceania, Pacific, New Zealand, South Island, Picture, Story, Diary, Guinness Book of World Records, Toyota, LandCruiser, Emil Schmid, Liliana Schmid

Pictures of the third part of our New Zealand trip (South Island)
(Fox Glacier (Westcoast) – Wanaka – Queenstown – Alexandra – Oamaru – Dunedin)

Part 1: Dunedin – Invercargill – Milford Sound – Queenstown
Part 2: Queenstown – Wanaka – Mt. Cook – Arthur's Pass – Greymouth – Lewis Pass – Kaikoura – Nelson – Fox Glacier (Westcoast)
Part 4: Dunedin – Christchurch – Picton – Ferry to the North Island – Wellington – Masterton – Hastings – Wanganui – New Plymouth – Taupo
Part 5: Taupo – Rotorua – Napier – Gisborne – East Cape – Bay of Plenty – Coromandel
Part 6: Coromandel – Seabird Coast – Whangarei – Bay of Islands – Doubtless Bay – Cape Reinga – Hokianga – Tauranga

	New Zealand Map	Map of the Pacific
latest picture: April 27, 2008 click a picture to see details

*139* On our drive from Fox Glacier along the Westcoast to Haast, we cross one of the many suspension bridges .....		140 ..... and enjoy the lovely, wild and lonely scenery – sometimes cliffs, then again sand beaches and from time to time rocky outcrops	141 A special and eccentric motor home. We encountered quite a few of this kind on the South Island


142 Our detour from Haast Junction to Jackson Bay and Cascade River Valley rewards us with an even more untamed nature		143 Jackson Bay, a small fishing hamlet at the same named bay, is pretty deserted. No wonder; we also run away as soon as possible due to the swarms of attacking sandflies	144 End of the road at Jackson Bay. The couple of dilapidated, empty houses are for sale – we wonder who might buy them


145 On the way to Jackson Bay, we turn aside towards the Cascade River Valley. The 12 miles on a gravel road offer amazing river and mountain views .....		146 ..... intact dense forest .....	147 ..... and loneliness


148 A magical sight: Sunrays penetrate at the “Martyr Saddle” along the track to the Cascade River Valley into the dense forest .....		149 ..... an unusual tree .....	150 ..... and our isolated camp at „ Martyr Saddle“, where the gravel road ends soon afterwards at a farm gate


Dawn in the Cascade River Valley
151		152	153


154 Nature at its truest along the Arawhata River in the Southwestern Haast region		155 Lunch break at the attractively situated Visitor Center in Haast Junction. Omnipresent sandflies keep us company	156 The Arawhata River passes crystal clear through the wilderness of the Mount Aspiring National Park, Southwest of Haast


157 After crossing the Haast pass, we are on the East side again and, at Lake Hawea, back in “tamed nature“; the sandflies have more or less disappeared		158 Wild flowers along the road highlight the landscape	159 We watch the morning mist creeping along the Clutha River on our night camp near Luggate, outside of Wanaka


160 This unusual high walls of manicured trees are often used as wind guards		161 Bendigo, situated on the West side of Lake Dunstan, is an ideal and peaceful place for birdwatching	162 View to the unusual landscape on the Western shore of Lake Dunstan


163 Our LandCruiser, pictured in front of the enormous “Fruit Monument” in Cromwell, a fruit growing region .....		164 ..... historic buildings dating back to the 19th century in Old Cromwell at the shore of Dunstan Lake, which had to be evacuated when the water was dammed up .....	165 ..... and nostalgic facade of the old town of Cromwell from the gold rush time


166 Reddish colored poplars are reflecting in the waters of a small pond along the road to Queenstown .....		167 ..... only three days earlier, the poplars were shining warmly yellowish	168 Autumn beauty at Lake Hayes near Arrowtown/Queenstown


169 The rising sun plunges the hills Northeast of Queenstown into a warm light		170 From the Coronet Peak skiing area, we are looking down to the impressive panorama of the Queenstown region	171 Start of “Skippers Road” near Queenstown – a one-lane and winding gravel road into an imposing mountain and canyon scenery


172 The narrow “Skippers Road” winds its way deeper and deeper into the mountains .....		173 ..... where nature has changed into autumn colors .....	174 ..... and where deep below the Shotover River meanders through a narrow gorge


175 “Skippers Road” reveals us more of its beautiful sceneries .....		176 ..... leads us through narrow passages cut into vertical cliffs that requires the driver’s full attention .....	177 ..... and into a landscape of great beauty


178 „Skippers Road“ becomes our most challenging and interesting experience on the South Island. It’s a trip that is sold by tour agencies as real 4x4-adventure .....		179 ..... the autumn colors being at their peak add to our enthusiasm .....	180 ..... and our lunch break overlooking the gorge could not be nicer


181 A view at „Skippers Road“ that produces silence and tranquility		182 Shortly before the “Skippers Road” ends, there is a suspension bridge to cross .....	183 ..... with an awesome view to the gorge deep below


There are enough adrenalin-charged outdoor activities in New Zealand for adventurers:
184 “Jetboating” (through the Shotover River along the Skippers Road)		185 “Bungy jumping” (from the Karawau Bridge East of Queenstown)	186 “Paragliding” (Northeast of Queenstown)


187 Mist covers a plain South of Queenstown in the early morning hours		188 A herd of deer wanders along a dry hill	189 A dramatic sunset at Central Otago District


190 In Central Otago, we visit a couple of old gold mining villages, one of them St. Bathans, North of Becks, with the nostalgic and “ghostly” Vulcan Hotel .....		191 ..... the tiny simple church .....	192 ..... and the old Post Office


193 Another attraction in St. Bathans is the Blue Lake, surrounded by white rocks, which are reflecting wonderfully in the clear waters .....		194 ..... a swimming duck adds to the peaceful picture .....	195 ..... and trees in their autumn colors and reed reflect everywhere


196 Rural charm in Central Otago		197 The drive through Dansey Pass from Ranfurly (Central Otago) to Duntroon (Waitaki District) is lonely and leads through an impressive hilly mountain scenery	198 In the Duntroon Region – Northwest of Oamaru (East Coast) – we admire these “Elephant Rocks” scattered around a plain


199 The coast in the Tavora Reserve near Bobbys Head close to Palmerston is wild and deserted		200 Moeraki, 22 miles South of Oamaru, is famous for its beach with huge round boulders that formed millions of years ago	201 Two horsemen visit the famous boulders of Moeraki


202 A lovely view from Katiki Point at the end the Lighthouse Road near Moeraki to the Katiki Beach		203 Cormorants (shags) gather on a rock at Shag Point halfway between Moeraki and Palmerston. They live in harmony with fur seals	204 A „Yellow-eyed“ penguin in its flax nest at the Katiki Point Penguin Colony south of Moeraki. Its height is about 28in. and belongs to the world’s rarest species of penguins


205 The lovely architecture of the Anglican Church in Duntroon in the Waitaki District on the Southern side of the Waitaki River		206 Sticker on a barrel of beer in front of a restaurant that speaks for itself	207 „Farmsitting“ with 14 cows, 2 chickens and 1 dog in Abbotsford near Dunedin during the holidays of Paul, Michelle and Tate

More websites from New Zealand: Pictures from the first part of our New Zealand trip from Dunedin – Invercargill – Milford Sound – Queenstown Pictures from the second part of our New Zealand trip from Queenstown – Wanaka – Mt. Cook – Arthur's Pass – Greymouth – Lewis Pass – Kaikoura – Nelson – Fox Glacier (Westcoast) Pictures from the fourth part of our New Zealand trip from Dunedin – Christchurch – Picton – Ferry to the North Island – Wellington – Masterton – Hastings – Wanganui – New Plymouth – Taupo Pictures from the fifth part of our New Zealand trip from Taupo – Rotorua – Napier – Gisborne – East Cape – Bay of Plenty – Coromandel Pictures from the sixth part of our New Zealand trip from Coromandel – Seabird Coast – Whangarei – Bay of Islands – Doubtless Bay – Cape Reinga – Hokianga – Tauranga
Articles in newspapers about us in New Zealand: Article: "Still cruising after 628,000km", Otago Daily Times - February 27, 2008 Article: "Trip into the record books", Hokitika Guardian - April 3, 2008 Article: "Around the world in 23 years", Bay of Plenty Times - July 12, 2008