In order to reach Queenstown from Christchurch, I take this bus operated by Newmans and making several stops along the way to have a rest and take pictures. The full trip requires about 11 hours.
FROM CHRISTCHURCH TO QUEENSTOWN
20 November 2007
A trip by bus from Christchurch to Queenstown offers beautiful views on the Southern Alps, mount Cook, lake Tekapo and lake Pukaki.
(Click on a picture to see an enlarged version)
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In order to reach Queenstown from Christchurch, I take this bus operated by Newmans and making several stops along the way to have a rest and take pictures. The full trip requires about 11 hours. |
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The first stop is at Geraldine, a charming town famous for typical cheeses made locally. |
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Then, the bus continues towards lake Tekapo and the Southern Alps. |
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The shores of Tekapo lake, made even more picturesque by the flowering lupines.
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Other view onto Tekapo lake. |
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Shortly, the bus reaches lake Pukaki, made very blue thanks to debris carried by glaciers. Far away, the first sights of Mt. Cook. |
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| Other views onto Pukaki lake. | |
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The bus is now continuing toward Mount Cook. |
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The bus finally arrives at the park entrance, from where there are beautiful views of Mount Cook, with its three summits and the glaciers on the sides. |
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| The valley and the other mountains around Mount Cook. | |
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A statue of Sir Edmund Hillary, the known explorer and climber, who was the first to reach, together with a Sherpa guide, the top of Mount Everest. |
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| A typical kiwi traffic jam. | |
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| Other views onto lake Pukaki taken from the bus. | |
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| Late in the evening, I finally reach Queenstown, a charming town on the shores of a lake. | |
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PICTURES |
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CHRISTCHURCH Christchurch can be considered the main access gate for a trip to New Zealand South Island. It is a beautiful city with many green parks and museums. The city hosts also the International Antarctic Centre, the main gateway to Antarctica for scientists and researchers. GO. |
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FROM CHRISTCHURCH TO QUEENSTOWN <YOU ARE HERE> A trip by bus from Christchurch to Queenstown offers beautiful views on the Southern Alps, mount Cook, lake Tekapo and lake Pukaki. |
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MILFORD FROM QUEENSTOWN Milford sound is situated on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island and is a beautiful fjord with mountain sides falling straight into the ocean. Getting here by bus from Queenstown is a nice option, for the beauty of the scenery crossed during the 13 hours roundtrip. GO. |
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DUNEDIN AND THE SPIRIT OF ENDERBY From Queenstown I reach Dunedin by bus in about five hours. After a short city tour of Dunedin, I board the Spirit of Enderby, a russian cruise ship carrying 48 passengers, that is about to sail south to the sub-antarctic islands of New Zealand and Australia for the next 13 days. GO. |
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THE SNARES 24 November 2007 The Spirit of Enderby reaches The Snares (also called Snares Islands) early in the morning. Because of the unique ecosystem found on the island, with many endemic species not present in any other part of the world, it is not permitted to land on the island, but only to do a zodiac cruise along part of the coast. GO. |
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AUCKLAND ISLANDS 25-26 November 2007 The Auckland archipelago is a group of New Zealand subantarctic islands, featured by an unique vegetation and fauna, including several endemic species that cannot be found elsewhere. During the cruise, we will visit Enderby and Auckland islands. GO. |
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MACQUARIE ISLAND - SANDY BAY 28 November 2007 Macquarie island, belonging to Australia and isolated from the rest of the world by thousands of kilometers of water in any direction, is the home for millions of penguins, including the endemic Royal penguin, as well elephant seals. The first landing is made at Sandy Bay. GO. |
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MACQUARIE ISLAND - ANARE BASE AND LUSITANIA BAY 29 November 2007 The exploration of Macquarie island continues, today with a landing in the australian ANARE scientific base and then with a zodiac cruise along Lusitania bay, where there is one of the largest King penguin colony of the world. GO. |
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CAMPBELL ISLAND 1-2 December 2007 Campbell island is the New Zealand's southernmost subantarctic territory and has a unique ecosystem, hosting more species than any other subantarctic island, except Crozet. There are six species of Albatross, the rare Hookerii sea lion, yellow eyed penguins and an unique flora. GO. |
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