Christmas in New Zealand

 I have had such a fabulous few weeks, Naomi came out to stay with me all the way from Aberdeen. We then headed off into the fiordland wilderness to hike the Routeburn Track which was an amazing three day walk over some fabulous hills.  The views were fantastic as all around were some of the craggiest mountains i have ever seen.  we had beautiful weather and it really was simply stunning. The hike its self was very easy although we had the biggest rucksacks ever as we went straight from there by bus to Milford Sound and then on for more hiking, so we had enough food to last us twelve days without a grocery store.

Along the Routeburn we had some great camping spots with meadows and rivers and mountains rising up steeply on all sides.  We looked down on a lake in the valley bottom elegantly and unevenly shaped and a glorious rich turquoise blue.

The last day of the hike we were walking through lush forest with beech trees which are nothing like the European beech. The trees were short and stunted, ancient and gnarled, covered with thick green hair or moss. It was amazing and so unlike anything in Britain.  We spent Christmas in Milford Sound which was nice and good to relax. On boxing day we kayaked in the sound which was great, the mountains rise up straight from the water and in a kayak you seem so small. We saw seals up close too, then the wind picked up ad we went back under sail.

The following  day we took the bus out and started hiking the Hollyford trail a long hike through lush forest; again a totally different from anywhere European. the forest canopy was quite low, and instead of trees there were ferns as tall as trees. The birds were super too and one morning we stopped to listen to a regular symphony but with invisible birds. After several days hiking through the forest along the hollyford river which we got brief but stunning glimpses of, we reached the sea. the waves were super and came crashing down on rocky coves with sandy stretches. There were more seals here, and even closer and more impressive. New Zealand seals are different, and look so much more like selkies than a British seal they have feet!  The Hollyford trail proved harder going than expected so we then caught a boat back two huts and then enjoyed the walk at a more leisurely pace. We even spent one afternoon on the beach, although in true jenny fashion the minute I started to get undressed the deserted beach suddenly had a helicopter full of people appear.
We had some super bus journeys too: rolling hills, tons of Lupins, great views, golden meadows, huge lakes, snow caped mountains, delicious!
The last few days I was lucky enough to have with Naomi were spent on a train journey to Picton, north of the south island, from and returning to Christchurch. It is a really scenic route right along the coast and the views were grand.  We passed rolling hills and blue ocean and pink salt pans and turquoise rives. Picton was nice very cute and had a super bakery and a second hand bookshop.

New Zealand is much harder to find internet access so please forgive the long gaps between posting.