“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ....Oscar Wilde

Tuesday 30 April 2013

Our trip to the South Island ~ New Zealand (Part 1)

As I promised I've finally managed to prepare a few photographs to take you on our trip to the South Island of New Zealand. I've decided that it might be better to post this trip in increments, as I did for the North Island. There are quite a lot of photos so be warned. 
I just can't resist snapping away...especially when there's so much to see and appreciate. 
(If you'd like to take a look at the North Island then just click here...there's a few posts to the trip so make sure that you see them all).


So off we go...
This was our first glimpse of the South Island and immediately I was struck by how different it appears to the North Island. The South Island is the larger of the two main islands of New Zealand, but the least densely populated.
If you are reading this post whilst sitting in Scotland you may feel quite at home with some of this landscape.
The South Island also known by the Maoris as Te Wai Pounamu or Water of Greenstone, is a place of spectacular scenery as you will see.


At times the spectacular dramatic scenes render you speechless.
Right from our first view of the island I knew we were in for a treat. 
The photo on the left shows Queenstown enveloped by breathtaking mountains and based near the dramatic shores of Lake Wakatipu. Lake Wakatipu was formed about 15,000 years ago by a glacier coming down from the north-west which gouged out the lakebed.

Queenstown was to be our destination and the photo below shows the spectacular view from our apartment. The mountain range in view is called 'The Remarkables' which sort of gives you an indication of just how splendid they are. This photo unfortunately doesn't do them justice but I wanted to show you what I looked out on every day.



  The mountains were named The Remarkables by Alexander Garvie in 1857-58, allegedly because they are one of only two mountain ranges in the world which run directly north to south. An alternate explanation for the name given by locals is that early Queenstown settlers, upon seeing the mountain range during sunset one evening, named them the Remarkables to describe the sight which I can quite understand.
I used that term quite a few times myself!
They are one of the most photographed mountain ranges in the world due to the spectacular jagged shapes and the steep rise above the shores of Lake. (No surprises there once you see them).
The mountain range is also famous for The Remarkables ski field. 





Here is the view of the mountain range from a pathway in front of our apartment. The pathway leads down to Lake Wakatipu and if you follow the trail along the lake it leads into Queenstown.

Every few minutes the view from our window changed and I was seriously near to never leaving the apartment...choosing to stay to watch the ever changing display. 
As you can imagine my camera was extremely busy!


Maori culture is unique to Aotearoa.
Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand - Land of the Long White Cloud

These photos show more of the pathway along Lake Wakatipu.
The lake was such a beautiful turquoise-blue.
It's such a pity you can't breathe in all that fabulous fresh air.

How wonderful to slowly walk along the lake appreciating all the wonderful sights and sounds...filling all the senses to the maximum. I realised how lucky I was and so stopped numerous times to take it all in. 
You can't help but stop!

Every time we took this walk there was always something new to see...

I just loved this little red boat and the name 'Oops' appealed to my sense of humour :D

And so onto Queenstown...
One visit to Queenstown and it's easy to see why the resort town is known as the world's adventure capital. 
There are all year round activities so there's something for everyone in every season.
Whether it is golf to jet boating, skiing to skydiving, revitalising to partying! 
It's all here in Queenstown.


Enveloped by breathtaking mountains and based near the dramatic shores of Lake Wakatipu , Queenstown could quite possibly be the most appealing city in New Zealand...it's certainly picturesque.


Queenstown location is great for a base to then explore Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park. 
In the south is Dunedin with its Scottish heritage, and diverse wildlife. 
To the north are sunny Nelson and Marlborough, famous for their wines and food. 
It's difficult to know where to start first upon your arrival.
So maybe I'll let you settle in before we carry on....



I hope you'll continue our trip and who knows you may see a bungy jump?!?!
https://secure.quebles.com/content/hotmail/emoticons/1508618.gif
Don't forget to have fun this week...catch you later! 

22 comments:

  1. Every image is postcard worthy. Truly one of the most remarkable places in all of the world. Imagine how much the cast and crew of Lord of the Rings must have enjoyed themselves. Glad to see you did too! Looking fwd to part two! ♥

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Absolutely Angy...it must have been pure joy.
      Thanks for the compliments on my photos...I'm really getting addicted now and snap away constantly which can be an embarrassment to my boys at times.
      But if I see something worthy of a photo I think why not? ;D
      There was Lord of the Rings tours but we never got a chance to look into that...so maybe we'll have to go back again? LOL
      Any excuse!
      Thanks for coming with me and I hope part two might not take quite so long to put together.
      In the meantime have fun and enjoy your week :D
      (It's crazy days here which I will explain in a future post but I do intend to visit you soon....promise!)
      xoxo

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  2. Beautiful photos - thanks for sharing. Valerie

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    1. My pleasure Valerie,
      I hope to visit you soon...in the meantime have fun! :D

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  3. Stunning pictures lovely. I love the way you capture everything and bring it to life in photo form. Looks like you had a great time so thanks for sharing it with us! Take care Zo xx

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    1. Hi Zo,
      Yep we did have a great time...we just wished we could have stayed longer. There was so much to see and do.
      I'm glad you came with me ;D
      I'm heading over to your place soon...as it seems ages since I popped by.
      Have a great week and give Baxter a pat from me ^..^
      xoxo

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  4. Hi Nessie,
    thank you for coming over to visit :) Your pictures are spectacular and very dramatic!! it looks like you had a wonderful time.
    xoxo

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    1. Hi Joanna,
      I'm glad you liked the photos. We did have a brilliant time and I hope to post more about it as soon as I can.
      It's late here now so it won't be tonight...I need all the beauty sleep I can get ;D

      Oh I've just noticed that you are my latest follower! Thank you :D

      Have a great week whatever you have planned ~ enjoy!

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  5. holy smoke! those photo are gorgeous. What an incredibly beautiful landscape and you are a terrific photographer!!

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    1. Aww Cat you say the nicest things...I knew I liked you the bestest!!! ;D
      Thanks.
      Have a great creative week and I'll see you again soon :D

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  6. How very different to what I am used to. I'm working in London this week, and the scenery there could hardly be more different! And fesh air...what is that?
    We've visited NZ twice, but both times we were on North Island - with the exception of a 1-day excursion to the Malborough wineries (which I hope will be described in your next post!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You're probably home and pottering about your plot by now Mark as I've taken so long to reply to your comment. My apologies :/

      I feel for you having to work in London even if it is for a short time. At one stage I thought we were going to have to live there and didn't relish the thought. I like greenery, trees, plants and space!
      It was interesting to hear you've visited NZ (twice) I still can't make up my mind which one of the islands I like best...the North or the South. I think I'll just have to keep visiting them until I can...good plan eh? ;D
      We were at the other end of the island, so I won't be describing the Marlborough wineries I'm afraid, but if you nip to one of my posts we did visit a few on our weekend tour of the Yarra Valley.

      Here's the link if you missed it....
      http://neesienatters.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/weekend-trip-to-yarra-valleybe-warned.html

      Have a great Friday and an even better weekend. :D

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  7. The photos are breathtaking and your descriptions make me feel like I am on a tour with you! Can hardly wait for part two!! What a beautiful spot. :)

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    1. I'm so happy to hear you are enjoying your trip Rita,
      I'll try to get part 2 up and posted soon.

      Have a wonderful weekend whatever you have planned...and I'll hopefully nip to see you soon. :D

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  8. Absolutely gorgeous pictures!!
    Sandy

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind comment Sandy,
      I really appreciate it ;D

      Have a lovely weekend ~ have fun!

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  9. you take amazing photos and totally do it justice... I am looking forward to part 2 ... xx

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    1. I'm so glad to hear you think I've done it justice Trace, because as you can know it's difficult to show just how magnificent the landscape and scenery is.
      I wanted to make sure anyone who hasn't been to the Island can see just how spectacular it is.

      Have a fantastic Friday and roll on a brilliant weekend :D

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  10. I have never seen photos of your area of the world before - absolutely stunning - or might I say - Remarkable!!! Fabulous!

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    1. I'm so glad that you've enjoyed your visit...it's certainly my pleasure to share with you JoAnn,

      Having lived in so many different parts of the world I've many photographs and that was before I started to blog.
      Heaven knows how many I'd have by now if I'd blogged back in those days!

      I think it's fascinating to see different parts of the world.
      Enjoy your weekend :D

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  11. Stunning pics Nessie, Thank you for the trip.... Loved it!! Hugs May x x

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    Replies
    1. I'm glad you enjoyed the trip but I'm editing Part 3 now so hopefully you might want to carry on :D
      Enjoy your weekend whatever you have planned. I suppose spring has truly sprung now! ;D
      xoxo

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I get so excited to see you here and love to read your thoughts and comments.
I always try to answer each one personally (I think it's only polite)
...♥...I truly appreciate your precious time here so thank you ...♥...

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