New Zealand: 1 ~ 2 ~ 3

Page 2: northern South Island

Index: Below are three pages of favorite images from my four trips to New Zealand:

Page 1 : New Zealand overview : trip planning , history , economy , geology / South Island tips , map / southern South Island : Fiordland , Mount Aspiring , Moeraki Boulders , The Catlins
Page 2 (this page) : northern South Island : map , Mount Cook / West Coast : Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers , Lake Matheson , Paparoa NP Pancake Rocks / Abel Tasman , Marlborough Sounds : Nydia Track , Queen Charlotte Track
Page 3 : North Island : Travel Tips , map / Rotorua : Maori culture , geothermal areas / Tongariro / Mount Egmont , Taranaki / Lake Waikaremoana , Te Urewera / Wellington , Putangiura Pinnacles
For more, see my 2007 trip galleries: South Island-A (108 images) , South Island-B (59 images) , North Island-C (81 images) [require Adobe Flash] & 2007 itinerary (18 pages)

Are you planning a trip to New Zealand? See "Trip Planning" and "South Island Tips" on Page 1.

Mount Cook National Park:

Above: Mount Sefton (left) and Mount Cook (12,349 feet, far right), near the Hermitage Hotel, Mount Cook National Park, South Island.

Above: The peak of Aoraki or Mount Cook (3755 meters / 12,349 feet), in Mount Cook National Park, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Magenta sunrise light strikes Mount Cook and the Southern Alps, seen from Glentanner Park.

Above: The peak of Aoraki or Mount Cook (3755 meters / 12,349 feet), rises high above Lake Pukaki, South Island, New Zealand

Above: a glacier melts far beneath its lateral moraine at Mount Cook National Park, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Glentanner Park has a broad view of Mount Cook and the Southern Alps.
07NZ_4019_Mt_Sefton_Edit.jpgs_NP.jpg

Above: Mount Sefton, seen from the Hooker Valley Track, in Mount Cook National Park, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: sunrise on Mount Sefton, seen from Kea Point Track, near the Hermitage Hotel, in Mount Cook National Park, South Island, New Zealand.

Southern Alps, NEW ZEALAND: Sheep ranch near Mount Cook.

Above: Sheep grazing at this ranch have a spectacular of Mount Cook (12,349 feet). Clouds from the wetter West Coast roll over Copeland Pass and evaporate on the drier East side of the Southern Alps, which is in the lee of the prevailing winds.
Tasman Valley, Southern Alps, NEW ZEALAND: Carol walks amid Spaniard stalks.

Tasman Valley, Southern Alps, NEW ZEALAND: Carol walks amid Spaniard stalks.

Above: Tasman Valley, Mount Cook National Park, Southern Alps: Carol walks amid Spaniard stalks. [Published in Sierra Magazine, Sierra Club Outings September/October 2003 Trip Guide.]

Peel Forest Park, near Geraldine:

Left: Tom admires a tall podocarp tree in Peel Forest Park, an important remnant of a much larger forest which was cleared for agriculture on South Island, New Zealand.

Above right: Distinctive fern fronds in Peel Forest Park (near Geraldine), South Island, New Zealand.

West Coast:

Okarito Lagoon, New Zealand
Above: Okarito Lagoon and Okarito town, South Island. Okarito Lagoon is the largest remaining natural estuary in New Zealand, and is the setting for Keri Hulme's "The Bone People" (winner of the prestigious 1985 Booker-McConnell prize for fiction books), which draws inspiration from this area and the Maori culture.

Above: On South Island, one-lane bridges are common, and are sometimes shared by a railway. Signs indicate which car direction has the right of way. Cars of course yield to trains.

Copeland Track:

Above right: My brother Dave walks across a swing bridge on the Copeland Track, Westland National Park, South Island, New Zealand.Below: Mount Tasman (left) and Mount Cook (right) reflect in Lake Matheson, West Coast, South Island.

Fox Glacier, Westland National Park:

Positioned squarely in the "roaring forties" latitudes next to the warm Tasman Sea, Mt. Cook (12,349 feet) and neighboring peaks wring moisture from the continuous winds and create huge fast-moving glaciers. Fox Glacier descends steeply to just 700 feet above sea level, and Franz Josef Glacier descends to 1000 feet elevation. Nowhere else in the world at this latitude have glaciers advanced so close to sea level. Fox Glacier moves about 3 feet per day, and Franz Josef Glacier has been clocked at up to 16 feet per day, about 10 times faster than Swiss glaciers.

Above: Hikers visit Fox Glacier.

Above: A yellow sign warns people to avoid the river emerging from Fox Glacier, in Westland National Park, South Island, New Zealand. For more signs, see South Island-A (108 images from 2007)

Above: Keas, curious alpine parrots, explore the village of Fox Glacier South Island, New Zealand.

Above: A kea on a car hood enjoys a crust of bread scavenged from garbage in the town of Fox Glacier, South Island, New Zealand.

Lake Matheson, near the town of Fox Glacier:

Mt. Cook + Mt. Tasman reflected in Lake Matheson

Above: Mounts Cook and Tasman reflect in Lake Matheson, near the town of Fox Glacier, on the West Coast of South Island. [Published in January/February 2002 Sierra Magazine, Sierra Club Outings.]

Above: Morning light on Mount Tasman and Mount Cook, New Zealand, seen from Lake Matheson, near the town of Fox Glacier.

Above: Sunset light on Mount Tasman and Mount Cook, New Zealand, seen from Lake Matheson, near the town of Fox Glacier.

Above: A reflection in a creek on the walk to Lake Matheson, South Island, New Zealand. I crossed this creek on the bridge where I met the possum at dusk (below).

Above: The Common Brushtail Possum, a native of Australia, is an unwanted pest in New Zealand. I encountered this fearless possum crossing a bridge at dusk on the trail to Lake Matheson.

Franz Josef Glacier, Westland National Park:

Carol and I hiked through forests of tree ferns and beech trees on the slippery Roberts Point Track (10 miles round trip, 2800 feet gain; see photos) across fun suspension bridges, boardwalks, and catwalks to view kea mountain parrots and the big Franz Josef Glacier. We watched several loud helicopters land tourists onto the glacier.

Left: Carol ascends elaborate steps on the Roberts Point Track.

Suspended walkway on Roberts Point Track, Westland National Park, New Zealand

Above: Tom ascends a suspended boardwalk on Roberts Point Track, Westland National Park, South Island .

Below right: Roberts Point Track starts with a swing bridge over the river fed by Franz Josef Glacier, which is the goal five miles upriver.
Mt. Aspiring National Park: Matukituki Valley swing bridge.

Mt. Aspiring National Park: Matukituki Valley swing bridge.

Click here to see South Island-B [ requires Adobe Flash ]

Paparoa National Park, Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki:

Left: Haystack rocks at Punakaiki, Paparoa National Park, West Coast, South Island.

South Island, NEW ZEALAND: Seastack blowhole, Paparoa NP.

Above right: Seastack blowhole at Punakaiki, Paparoa National Park, West Coast, South Island.

Below right: Dave admires the Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki, Paparoa National Park. [Published in Sierra Magazine, Sierra Club Outings January/February 2004.]

North end of South Island:

Nelson Lakes National Park:

Above: Lake Rotoiti stretches into the wilderness of Nelson Lakes National Park, South Island, New Zealand.
Sooty beech scale insects suck the sugary phloem of the beech trees here and excrete excess as drops of honeydew from their anus tube poking through the bark. Hungry forest creatures help the scale insects by eating the excess drops of honeydew which would otherwise block their tubes. The bark on many beech trees here looks black or sooty due to a fungus which thrives on the excess honeydew drops. Unfortunately, invasive non-native wasps now steal most of the honeydew from endangered native birds, upsetting this distinctive ecosystem. Scientists are researching ways to fight the invasive wasps.

Abel Tasman National Park:

Above: Mutton Cove, Abel Tasman National Park, South Island, New Zealand. This park was last logged or burnt in the 1970's, and has at least another hundred years to go to recover its old growth forests. Former logging roads and historic ranches provide easy tramping access within this park.

Above: The dense thicket here at Abel Tasman National Park is recovering from the end of logging in the 1970's. South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Crab claw and shells at Mutton Cove Beach, Abel Tasman National Park, South Island, New Zealand.

Left: This Paua shell (Haliotis Iris) is from an abalone unique to New Zealand. Paua is a small group of monovalve molluscs endemic to New Zealand coastal waters. To the Māori people, paua are recognised taonga, or treasure, esteemed both as kai moana (seafood) and as a valued resource for traditional and contemporary arts and crafts.

Below: Paua shells.

Anapai Beach seastack rocks, Abel Tasman National Park, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Carol dances on the beach at Mutton Cove, Abel Tasman National Park, South Island, New Zealand.

Tree ferns, Abel Tasman National Park, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Sunset illuminates the rocks at Pohara Beach, which offers good accomodation and access to the northern end of Abel Tasman National Park.

Above: A rainbow forms over Takaka Hill, on the twisty drive to Pohara Beach, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Te Waikoropupu Springs ("Pupu Springs"), one of the largest and clearest freshwater springs in the world, are located near Takaka, in the Golden Bay district of South Island, New Zealand. Te Waikoropupu Springs are noted for their diversity of submerged mosses and liverworts that thrive in the cool water. They include an endemic moss found nowhere else. The waters of Te Waikoropupu Springs are closed to swimming and other contact to protect it from the invasive algae Didymo.

Above: Pukeko (Swamp Hen), near Abel Tasman National Park, South Island, New Zealand

Nydia Track, Marlborough Sounds:

From Havelock you can catch a water taxi to start the Nydia Track. Havelock is "the green mussel capital of the world." South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Green mussels. Havelock is "the green mussel capital of the world," South Island, New Zealand.

Above: View from the Nydia Track: Pelorus Sound, Ngawhakawhiti Bay, Marlborough Sounds, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Boats are stranded temporarily by low tide on Nydia Bay. Nydia Track, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Te Mahoerangi Backpackers Resort offers comfortable lodging, meals and a public kitchen on the Nydia Track, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: This weather station at Mystery Farm on the Nydia Track is a joke. South Island, New Zealand.

Above: "NO FISHING. PET EEL." sign on the Nydia Track.

Above: A pet New Zealand Longfin Eel (1 meter long), is kept in this rain spattered stream on the Nydia Track, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: The Nikau Palm (Palmae Rhopalostylis), is New Zealand's only native palm. Nydia Track, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Tree ferns grow 8 meters tall on the Nydia Track, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Humans have transformed two thirds of New Zealand by replacing native forests with agriculture, cities, and tree farms (of Pinus radiata, also known as California's Monterey Pine), like the above tree farm. Here on the Nydia Track, the yellow blooms of non-native Gorse (Ulex europaeus) invade a plantation of Pinus Radiata trees. Weeds such as Gorse take root in disturbed ground more aggressively than native plants.

Above: Picton's lumber port, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: An old tractor rusts on Marlborough Sounds (on day 2 of the Queen Charlotte Track), South Island, New Zealand. The Marlborough area is now famous for growing wine grapes.

Queen Charlotte Track, Marlborough Sounds:

Above: Queen Charlotte Track, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Sun breaks through the clouds and forms a rainbow over Tawa Bay, Queen Charlotte Track, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Tawa Bay, Queen Charlotte Track, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Captain Cook anchored 5 times at Ship Cove between 1770-1777. Ship cove is still a beautiful wilderness, seen on the first day of the Queen Charlotte Track, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Eyebright flowers (a species commonly found worldwide), on the Nydia Track, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: The Weka is a New Zealand native flightless bird, seen here at Ship Cove on the Queen Charlotte Track, South Island, New Zealand.

Left: Captain Cook anchored 5 times here at Ship Cove between 1770-1777. Ship cove is still a beautiful wilderness, on the Queen Charlotte Track, South Island, New Zealand.

Below: We found this native weka or woodhen (Gallirallus australis) at Ship Cove on the Queen Charlotte Track, South Island, New Zealand. The weka, a flightless bird species of the rail family, is endemic to New Zealand, where four subspecies are recognized. Weka are sturdy brown birds, about the size of a chicken. As omnivores, they feed mainly on invertebrates and fruit. Weka usually lay eggs between August and January; both sexes help to incubate.

Above: Cicada shell. Nydia Track, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Cicada insect, Queen Charlotte Track, South Island, New Zealand. Click here to read more about how to take a photograph like this. I photographed this striking cicada insect with my compact Canon Powershot Pro1 camera, on the Queen Charlotte Track in South Island, New Zealand. (Exposed at f/6.3, 1/10th second, 23mm lens / 90mm equivalent.)

Above: A few large lumpy hail stones fell on us on the Queen Charlotte Track, South Island, New Zealand. Luckly we were protected by a thick canopy of forest.

Above: The green hills of Queen Charlotte Sound, South Island, New Zealand.

Above: Bluebridge Ferry transports cars & people through Queen Charlotte Sound, from South Island to North Island, New Zealand.

Above: West Head of South Island, on Cook Strait.

Above: Sailing through Cook Strait, we catch our last view of South Island, seen through the loading ramps on the stern of Bluebridge Ferry.

Above: West Head of South Island, on Cook Strait.

For more, see my 2007 trip galleries: South Island-A (108 images) , South Island-B (59 images) , North Island-C (81 images) [require Adobe Flash] & 2007 itinerary (18 pages)

New Zealand: 1 ~ 2 ~ 3

Page 2: northern South Island

Index: Below are three pages of favorite images from my four trips to New Zealand:

Page 1 : New Zealand overview : trip planning , history , economy , geology / South Island tips / southern South Island : Fiordland , Mount Aspiring , Moeraki Boulders , The Catlins
Page 2 (this page) : northern South Island: map , Mount Cook / West Coast : Franz Josef & Fox Glaciers , Paparoa NP Pancake Rocks / Abel Tasman , Marlborough Sounds : Nydia Track , Queen Charlotte Track
Page 3 : North Island : Travel Tips , map / Rotorua : Maori culture , geothermal areas / Tongariro / Mount Egmont , Taranaki / Lake Waikaremoana , Te Urewera / Wellington , Putangiura Pinnacles

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