July 27, 2010 - Cricket!

This morning we learned how to play Cricket.  The Tuataras took on The Snipe Hunters in a rousing game that was played in a strong southerly wind with scattered showers.  Despite the cold and damp, we all had a good time and were thankful that the match only lasted a few hours instead of the few days that traditional play would.  That left plenty of time to have lunch near Poplar Lanes and spend the afternoon exploring Christchurch.

Looking up at art in The Lanes, Christchurch, NZ

Free weekend July 23rd-25th

 Mitre Point at Milford Sound

View of Queenstown from the gondola

Woke up extra early on Friday along with Seth, Ashley, Kirstin and Dania at around 6am. It was worth it though because we had to catch an early morning flight into Queenstown from Christchurch. After a very generous ride from Meryl, we got on the plane and about 45 minutes later we were in Queenstown. We spent the day walking around the shops and checking into our hostel. Queenstown was very unique. I loved how everyone walked around either carrying a snowboard or skis, making it an ideal skiing town. While Dania set out to try her hand at rock climbing, the others and I took the Queenstown gondola up a mountain to where we had tea time in a café.  Seth, Ashley and I tried out luging which was so much fun. That night we ate at the famous burger restaurant, Fergburger, and it was the best burgers we've all ever had.

Riding in the gondola

The next day, Saturday, had to get up extra early again in order to get on the coach ride to Milford Sound. It took a good while to get to Fiordland national park from Queenstown, but the scenery on the way was amazing. On the way we made one stop at Lake Te Anau, New Zealand's second largest lake, to have tea time. Driving through the national park was breathtaking and the tour bus made a few stops so we could capture some photos of the natural landscape made up of beech forest and snow-covered mountains.

Lake Te Anu

Fiordland National Park, largest national park in New Zealand.

When we made it to Milford sound, we hopped on a cruise that took us out in-between the mountains. It was definitely one of the most spectacular things I’ve seen. At one point we were directly under a waterfall. It’s so fascinating to think that that region was once a valley covered by a glacier. Sunday was our flight back into Christchurch and we basically just spent the afternoon relaxing from a wonderful free weekend. 

  

Cheers! -Julianna

July 13 to 15 - Banks Peninsula/Akaroa/Hinewa

Overview map of the Banks Peninsula with Hinewai Reserve circled.

Just 20 years ago, this area was farmland with only 4% old-growth native trees.  Today, Tui have been reintroduced into this 1,250 hectare reserve and native vegetation is thriving.

Looking down on into Akaroa Harbor from atop the Banks Peninsula.

Loaded down with tons of food from the Lincoln Uni lunch ladies, we headed out to the Banks Peninsula for our three day field trip to Hinewai Reserve.  Again, we were thankful for beautiful weather. Stops along the way on day one included Lake Ellesmere to see black swans; 

Little River to take in some local NZ artists and have morning tea; 

lunch at the  Onawe Flat atop lava rocks and exploration of the sea life there; 

and snooping around in a few of the shops in the French settlement of Akaroa. In the mid-afternoon, we headed over to Hinewai Reserve to get settled in - set up our bunks, learn about the pee and poo loos, start the wood stove to keep us warm, and prepare dinner.  That night, we had bed time stories from botanist and author, Hugh Wilson, and hunted snipe.

Wednesday was spent hiking the reserve. Everyone completed the 4.5 hour top to bottom trek past the old totara, and through upland beech forest, riparian habitat with tree ferns along creeks, and kanuka/podicarp forest to the beach where we had lunch, looked for paua shells and watched reintroduced tuis in awe.  Five of us braved the two hour trek back up the bank while the rest of us drove back to the lodge at Hinewai.

Thursday started cold, wet and windy with low clouds hugging the mountain and limiting visibility.  

The best laid plans to take the scenic drive around the crater rim of the extinct volcano which formed the banks peninsula were not a total loss as there was some clearing as the day wore on.  We did go down to Okains Bay to explore the Maori and Colonial Museum, then the beach where an old cheese making factory used to be until a tidal wave flooded the valley in 1863.  

We stopped again in Litter River for afternoon tea before ending the day with a beautiful sunset at Birdlings Flat where we looked through beautiful sea-polished rocks along the shore.

On A Fine Day Here...

... it is really fine.*

Looking out to the Pacific from Governor's Bay.  South Island, New Zealand.

* Most NZ winter days are cold, grey and raining though.