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14 days New Zealand-Milford Track October 2000
The group of 12, with
only 2 men, went in a loop starting from Christchurch northwards to Kaikora
then accross to Greymouth. We move south covering Franz Josef and Haast before
cutting inland to Wanaka, Queenstown and Te Anau. This is where we start the
4-days Milford Track finishing off in Milford Sound before driving up to Queenstown
to rest and recover. Then its off to Mt Cook for an overnight stay before
dropping in the french settlement of Akaroa on the way to Christchurch
Start of the Milford Track / Walk on Franz Josef Glacier
27 Oct Fri - Depart KLIA
at 0700hrs for Christchurch.
28 Sat - Full day covering
the Weekend flea market, Avon River, Botanic Gardens and the Catheral
Square. Stay Christchurch.
29 Sun - Left early for
Kaikora and dropped by a winery on the way for the 1400hrs whale
watching tour. We manage to sight two sperm whales. Later we settled
into a caravan park for the night. We also dined on fresh lobsters which costing
only NZ$10 for half a lobster.
30 Mon - We headed towards
Hammer Springs for a refreshing hot soak in the
thermal pools. After lunch , we moved to Greymouth, a coatal town.
31 Tue - We left early
to visit the Pancake rocks and blowholes of Pukaiki
National Park before returning to Greymouth and onwards to Hokitika, where
we had lunch. We got to Franz Josef for a guided
walk on the glacier. After dinner, it was a long drive to Haast where we managed
to secure rooms after much difficulties.
Christchurch Backpackers / Clinton River on Milford Track
1 Nov Wed - We went on
a jetboat ride on the Waiatoto River into the
Mt Aspiring National Park. We lunched at the Wanaka Puzzle Museum, famed for
its 3-D maze. After that, it was a long drive to Te Anau, the base for the
Milford Track, which is also known
as the finest walk in the world and a World Heritage Site.
2 Thu - Drove to Te
Anau Downs for a boat ride to Glade Wharf. This is the shart of a short 1.5
hrs 5km trek to Clinton Hut. The walk was flat
running along the Clinton River, with crystal clear pristine waters. By 1600hrs
we were settled in at the comfortable huts. Some of us went on a boardwalk
to a nearby freshwater swampland. At night, the resident ranger took us for
a night walk where we viewed glow worms.
3 Fri - Our next stop
Mintaro Hut 16.5 km 5.5 hrs. It was a long gradual
climb and it would have involved crossing streams, except that the weather
was perfect and there was little water. At night, the resident ranger here
gave a briefing on the plants and vegetation of the area.
McKinnon Pass & Mossy Forest Milford Track
4 Sat - Day 3 of the
Milford Track to Dumpling Hut 14 km 6 hrs.includes a tough 2 hours climb to
the top of Mckinnon Pass, then another 8 km gradual
walk down over rocky terrain with spectacular views. The stronger ones took
a recommended side trip of one hour return to 630m Sutherland Falls, NZ highest.
Upon reaching Dumpling, I went for a swim in the freezing waters of the nearby
river.
5 Sun - We left early
on this final to Milford Sound 18 km 6 hrs to
catch the 2 pm boat out of Sandfly Point. Then it was off to Queenstown 291
km 3 hours.
6 Mon - We spent the
day relaxing and resting in Queenstownvisitng
the nearby former gold mining town of Arrowtown. This place has great facilities
for dining and shopping activites, a favourite pastime of most Malaysian ladies.
7 Tue - We left early
morning for Mt Cook National Park. After checking
into our comfortable chalets, we went for a short walk to view the Tasman
Glaciers. Mt Cook is the highest mountain in NZ.
8 Wed - We will be back
in Christchurch stopping by Akaroa, the first
French settlement in New Zealand. Overnight Christchurch.
9 Thu - We visited the
Antartica Center near the airport before the flight home at 1305hrs.
Mount Cook National Park / Punakaki Pancake Rocks
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