QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND |
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Jets thread a needle, flying a zig-zag pattern between jagged mountains to land in the Queenstown valley |
Downtown Queenstown |
Downtown Queenstown, with the Queenstown Gondola atop the mountain in the background
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Downtown Queenstown
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Downtown Queenstown
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Downtown's Queenstown Pedestrian Mall
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Downtown Queenstown
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Climbing the residential streets above
downtown Queenstown for a view of the Lake Wakatipu
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An old Anglican church in the hills above downtown Queenstown |
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The Remarkable Mountains provide a breathtaking backdrop for
Downtown Queenstown
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Night falls at
the municipal pier in
Downtown Queenstown
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Downtown Queenstown
at night with the Remarkable Mountains in the distance |
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Walking the shores of Lake Wakatipu, looking back at
Downtown Queenstown
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Walking the shores of Lake Wakatipu, looking back at
Downtown Queenstown
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Still along the shores of Lake Wakatipu, several kilometers outside of Queenstown |
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Lake Wakatipu |
Lake Wakatipu |
Lake Wakatipu |
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Walking up the hill to the Queenstown Gondola |
Even the cemeteried in Queenstown are picturesque |
At the foot of the Queenstown Gondola |
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View frm the top of the Queenstown Gondola |
View frm the top of the Queenstown Gondola |
View frm the top of the Queenstown Gondola |
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Riding the Luge down the mountainside from the top of the Gondola |
View frm the top of the Queenstown Gondola |
Bungy jumping off the side of the Gondola mountain |
MILFORD SOUND
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Nearly extinct Takahe birds are now bred in captivity by the Department of Conservation at Te Anau Wildlife Park |
Mirror Lakes betweenTe Anau and Milford Sound |
Mirror Lakes between Te Anau and Milford Sound |
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Mirror Lakes between Te Anau and Milford Sound |
Mirror Lakes between Te Anau and Milford Sound |
Mirror Lakes between Te Anau and Milford Sound |
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Mirror Lakes between Te Anau and Milford Sound |
Eglinton Valley between Te Anau and Milford Sound |
Grasslands between Te Anau and Milford Sound |
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Falls Creek between Te Anau and Milford Sound |
Falls Creek between Te Anau and Milford Sound |
Falls Creek between Te Anau and Milford Sound |
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The Homer Tunnel |
Chasm Falls at Chasm Creek on the way to Milford Sound |
Chasm Falls at Chasm Creek on the way to Milford Sound |
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Chasm Falls at Chasm Creek on the way to Milford Sound |
Chasm Falls at Chasm Creek on the way to Milford Sound |
Chasm Falls at Chasm Creek on the way to Milford Sound |
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Milford Sound |
Milford Sound |
Milford Sound |
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Milford Sound |
Milford Sound |
A rainy day at Milford Sound produces thousands of waterfalls |
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Milford Sound |
A rainy day at Milford Sound produces thousands of waterfalls |
A rainy day at Milford Sound produces thousands of waterfalls |
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Milford Sound |
Milford Sound |
Milford Sound |
QUEENSTOWN TO FRANZ JOSEF ON THE WEST COAST |
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The town of Wanaka, on the shores of Lake Wanaka |
Lake Hawea |
Lake Hawea |
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Lake Wanaka |
Down the road on a big InterCity bus |
Upper Clutha Valley |
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Upper Clutha Valley |
Thunder Falls |
Deer farming in the Makarora Valley |
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Mount Hooker in the Southern Alps |
Crossing one of many one-lane bridges |
Murphy's Beach on the west coast |
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Lake Paringa |
Bruce's Beach on the west coast |
One lane suspension bridge on the way to the west coast |
FRANZ JOSEF AND THE FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER
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Up close and personal with waterfalls on a hike to the foot of the Franz Josef Glacier |
Up close and personal with waterfalls on a hike to the foot of the Franz Josef Glacier |
Clambering over boulders and finding steppingstones over icy streams to get to the foot of the Franz Josef Glacier |
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Melting ice from the glacier creates the Franz Josef River |
Close to the Glacier now |
Signs warning not to proceed any further unless experienced.... |
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StillI crept closer to the foot of the glacier, determined to see the ice cave and the source of the river |
Red algae-stained rocks litter the path to the glacier |
Closest approach, showing the ice cave and the icy river rushing out from the bowels of the glacier |
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Ice melt pools reflect the mountains and glacier |
Ice melt pools reflect the mountains and glacier |
Ice melt pools reflect the mountains and glacier |
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Red algae and lichen covered rocks frame a distant waterfall along the rglacier's riverbed |
The mountains and glacier reflected from peter's Pool along the Douglas Walk trail |
The mountains and glacier reflected from peter's Pool along the Douglas Walk trail |
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The mountains and glacier reflected from peter's Pool along the Douglas Walk trail |
The mountains and glacier reflected from peter's Pool along the Douglas Walk trail |
The moountaian face from the Douglas Walk trail |
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The Douglas Walk trail showcases the sub-tropical flora that coexists with the west coast's arctic climate |
The Douglas Walk trail showcases the sub-tropical flora that coexists with the west coast's arctic climate |
The Douglas Walk trail showcases the sub-tropical flora that coexists with the west coast's arctic climate |
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Ground up rock powder from the action of the glacier turns the Franz Josef River a milky grey |
Sunset along the Franz Joseph River, from the foot of the Franz Josef town bridge |
Sunset along the Franz Joseph River, from the foot of the Franz Josef town bridge |
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Sunset along the Franz Joseph River, from the foot of the Franz Josef town bridge |
The Town of Franz Josef |
The Town of Franz Josef |
WEST COAST BETWEEN FRANZ JOSEF AND GREYMOUTH
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Skinning possum for the fur and the bounty - possum outnumber people by 20 to 1 and are destroying New Zealand's forests |
Putting the possum meat to good use |
At the Puke (POO-KAY) Cafe you can get Possum dropping candy, possum stew, possum delights and Bambi burgers |
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A Mountain Tau, now bred mostly in captivity and transferred to stations (farms) for big game hunting expeditions |
Deer farming |
A Mountain Tau, now bred mostly in captivity and transferred to stations (farms) for big game hunting expeditions |
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Working the jade found on this part of the west coast in the town of Hokitika |
The Jade Factory and center square clock at Hokitike |
Several one lane bridges are shared by busses and trains |
TRANZ ALPINE EXPRESS - GREYMOUTH TO CHRISTCHURCH
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The diesel engine of the TranzAlpine Express, said to be ne of the most fascinating train rides in the world |
Boarding the passenger car of the TranzAlpine Express in Greymouth |
On board |
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Along the route of the TranzAlpine Express, from Greymouth on the west coast to Christchurch on the east coast |
The train makes a long curve as it ascends toward the Southern Alps that runs down the island like a backbone |
Along the route of the TranzAlpine Express, from Greymouth on the west coast to Christchurch on the east coast |
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The full moon rises over amber grasslands on a high plateau along the TranzAlpine Express route |
Along the route of the TranzAlpine Express, from Greymouth on the west coast to Christchurch on the east coast |
This glacial-fed river is pure turquoise in color, as seen from the TanzAlpine Express as it nears Christchurch |
CHRISTCHURCH ON THE EAST COAST |
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The Avon River runs through the center of Christchurch |
Warm enough here that roses bloom even in winter |
Christchurch's Trolleys run throughut the downtown area |
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Boarding the trolley in the Arts District |
When the stoplight signals "walk" in downtown Christchurch, pedestrians can cross in all directions, including diagonally |
Often referred to as New Zealand's most English town, Chrstchurch's architecture speaks to the truth of the statement |
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Downtwn Christchurch, looking toward ChristChurch Cathedral |
ChristChurch Cathedral |
Cathedral Square in downtown Christchurch |
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Cathedral Square in downtown Christchurch |
Cathedral Square in downtown Christchurch |
Cathedral Square in downtown Christchurch |
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Playing chess with sidewalk-size pieces an Cathedral Square in downtown Christchurch |
Downtown Christchurch |
One of many pedestrain malls in and around downtown Christchurch |
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One of many pedestrain malls in and around downtown Christchurch |
Older homes that line the streets near the Art Centre are being renovated and painted bright colors |
Fall colors at the Arts Centre |
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Christchurch's Arts Centre |
Outdoor sculptures litter the grounds of the Arts Centre and the adjacent neighborhood |
An outdoor sculpture at the Arts Cenre |