New Zealand has been a great place to visit, but it wasn't until we reached Wanaka that we felt at home. I could definitely live here.
There are ridgelines to scramble everywhere...this is visible from where we stayed on the edge of Wanaka (Albert Town)
The view from downtown Wanaka with Mount Aspiring in the background
A short hike up Iron Mountain for the sunset
This is from Isthmus Peak, but there are views like this from any of dozens of mountains
(this isn't even the same lake as the picture above)
Canyoning Mill Creek
Canyoning in New Zealand means lots of water. We descended Mill Creek, which definitely pushed our freak-out threshold on big jumps.
Alex, Mike, and Katie in the picture - let's go!
Ok, maybe we didn't test Katie's freak-out threshold
Alex thinking there is a lot more water than the slot canyons at home!
Mike hoping the bottom is deeper than it looks
Katie descending into the wash cycle
Keri is either smiling or gritting her teeth from the cold water
Katie approaching terminal velocity on the big slide
Katie replaying how she pitched forward off the big slide and face-planted into the water
Keri going for a sideways re-entry
Mike looking down at the 45 foot jump with a scary rock slab extending out at the bottom.
Check out the video below to see the whole drop!
Katie taking the smart way down the big jump - which also shows the rock slab sticking out.
Alex styling another one of the drops
A gorgeous canyon when it wasn't trying to kill us
Katie in perfect straight position
The last grotto and into the sunlight
The view from the start / end of the canyon isn't bad either
Video of Mill Creek
Here is a video of our descent down Mill Creek:
Mount Aspiring National Park / Rob Roy Glacier
There are years of tracks to follow and peaks to climb in Mount Aspiring National Park. These pictures are from a short hike to views of the Rob Roy Glacier.
Mount Edward rising above the Matukituki River
The real-world version of Rivendell
Keri searching for elves
The bare rock shows the extent of glaciers receding
Climbing Wanaka
Beneath the giant peaks, there are a bunch of fun crags near Wanaka.
Katie...climbing?
Katie...climbing
It seems like Alex can skip half the holds when he climbs now
Blue Pools
Another road in Mount Aspiring National Park leads to more spectacular views and rivers.
The Makarora River
I've lost count of all of the picture-perfect rivers and peaks we've seen on the South Island
The New Zealand kereru
Katie said this area was the real-world "FernGully"
The Blue Pools
A few more pictures from Wanaka
It's crazy how much Katie has grown on this trip
Alex and Katie took a wrong turn
There are red deer and American Elk in farms all over for the venison and "velvet"
Keri checking out the quality of New Zealand health care.
Verdict: Excellent - fast, competent, inexpensive, and very little paperwork
After experiencing the wind in Wellington, we were surprised how warm and sunny the Tasman Region is on the South Island.
Approaching the South Island on our ferry from Wellington
Hiking above the brilliant Torrent Bay in Abel Tasman National Park
Checking the Coriolis Effect down under
These aren't the giant wetas, but the New Zealand green cicadas are still huge
Te Waikoropupu Springs are said to contain the clearest water ever measured
Of all the animals we've seen, this is what Katie wants for a pet (and Alex wants for breakfast)
Just when Katie thought it was safe to go in the water
Katie testing out the slide into Cleopatra's Pool, Abel Tasman National Park
Test result: Cold!
Abel Tasman rain forest
Aquagirl
Abel Tasman is dazzling, but the water isn't quite as warm as it looks
Alex concentrating on his footwork at Payne's Ford
There aren't many climbs that can be done facing outward...at Pohara Bay
Keri making Pohara Bay look good
Katie clipping the chains on her first lead climb! Ecological Itch, Australian grade 14 (5.7) at Payne's Ford
GoPro kiss from a New Zealand eel. We've seen more eels than fish in New Zealand.
Motueka River...beautiful fishing, but only the sandflies were biting
Wild West Coast
Sunset on the Tasman Sea
Punakaiki blowhole being driven out of the caverns below
Alex being cool and Katie being...creepy?
Limestone layers of the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks
Blowhole spray in the setting sun
The wild west coast
Keri getting a smooch from...Beethoven?...Alexander Hamilton?...?
Charleston (Constant Bay) Climbing
Sea cliffs in high tide and an increasing swell.
The route Shark's Breakfast traverses the horizontal crack right into the spray, then up. We didn't climb that one!
The climbing is pretty steep here. We chose to drop in and top rope back out, rather than risk being swept away.
Super fun climbing!
Katie climbing out of the maelstrom
She's not happy about the rogue wave that just came in!
Katie almost out of danger
Alex getting soaked and holding on with a death grip!
Alex with everything under control
What a place to climb!
😎
Still dry!
Arthur's Pass National Park
Tempting fate at the Devil's Punchbowl
Otira Valley
Sentinel Katie
99% of the time looks just like this: Katie is saying something to be funny, and Alex is deconstructing the literal wording
Sunset soaring in Arthur's Pass
Looking across Arthur's Pass
The Rifleman, New Zealand's smallest bird
Mount Rolleston from Avalanche Peak
The Southern Alps
Katie is always on alert for the paparazzi
"Just take one more step back"
Castle Hill Bouldering
Castle Hill is world-famous as a bouldering destination. It's hard to imagine a better setting for goofing around on rocks.
When Goblin Valley dreams
Tough day at school
A rare crack in the sculpted limestone boulders
I don't think Climbing magazine will publish this when she doesn't even wear shoes
All the holds are slopers
So cool
New Zealand Meerkat
Alex found a shady perch
Alex can't decide if he's bouldering or big wave surfing
Shoes on...but shoelaces not tied
That was exhausting!
How are we ever going to get her out of there?
Team bouldering
It would be even better if the picture was rotated clockwise 90 degrees
Grassy landings and perfect holds - paradise!
"Push off the bad sloper, and stretch for the other bad sloper!"
Not staged.
Rock climbing is all about pushing through the suffering.
Cave Stream
Near Castle Hill is a stream that runs underground for for about 600 meters. It takes about an hour for a fun scramble through from the outlet back up to the inlet.
Good-bye warmth and sunlight
Yes, Alex, you will have to get in the water
Once again, Katie is trapped behind a rock. I have no idea what happened to Alex.
Scrambling up wet rocks in the dark
Keri's smile is frozen on her face at this point
Exciting climbing up these waterfalls in the dark
Keri spelunking
How deep does this get??
Hurry to the sunshine!
And here's a link to a video of our journey through Cave Stream. At the least, it gives an idea of spending an hour splashing in the dark!
