The key event of the holiday for Callum is achieved as yesterday we go on a cruise round Doubtful Sound (really a Fjord but Captain Cook couldn't spell that and didn't go in because of the narrow entrance hence the Doubtful title, mind you the local spelling is Fiord so he ain't alone!) Yes we see one of the Fiordland Crested Penguins (not the two shown in the pic our pics need rescuing yet). Cal is made up because penguins are one of the reasons he fancied New Zealand as a holiday location. We are relieved as a result but will try and find more once in Dunedin which is where we head today.
As for the Doubtful Sound gig, well it began badly in that a several
Real Journeys buses travel past the hotel. Monst comes out with the Fraser "We're doomed, all doomed" and hormonally demands I head to the Real Journey's Office (just down the road to find out whats happening), given that the weather sees it pissing it down I'm not keen, I'd rather get wet later. Anyway as I get halfway to the office the predictable happens and the bus arrives which sees me scurrying back to the hotel to meet it and breathless for the first part of the journey. It's all a public health conspiracy I tell you.
Bus takes us to Pearl Harbour (no not that one) on Lake Manapouri. Form there we transfer to a boat to cross the lake. Meet some nice folk and also some people we met on the trip up at Piahia and again in Fox Glacier. Chat and travel, catch up on the postcards.
On the other side of the lake we transfer to a bus and travel by unsealed road to Deep Cove. We stop along the way and it is explained to us that this part of the world receives huge amounts of rain and it is our good fortune to be there on a rainy day because we will get to see lots of waterfalls. We do, take lots of snaps of them. Loads of mosses etc. in the forest as a result. Lots of low cloud/mist too.
Deep Cove we transfer to a boat, designed for a hundred, as there are only twenty of us loads of space. Lots of pics of mysterious mist shrouded Islands, waterfalls etc. Not much wildlife at first. Eventually we locate some fur seals having failed to locate penguins at there usual location. Cal vaguely interested, Monst delighted as she gets to play with the settings on her camera. Carry on cruising and eventually we find a penguin. As ever I am always amazed how in the wild things are extremely well camouflaged, from a distance the penguin really blends into the rock well. Dunno why this amazes me it'd be a poor design if they didn't.
Back to Deep Cove is all of the excitement over, is it 'eck as like, we still have a trip to
Manapouri Underground Power Station to look forward to. The Brits on the trip are somewhat underwhelmed it must be said. I try to get excited by the engineering feat but it ain't happening. Apologies to anyone who worked on it but comparing it with a James Bond set, well you're taking the piss.
Back on the boat, that days postcards get done and we head for
Te Anau. Interesting place Te Anau, seems to me to be a bit like Milton Keynes all new build and it has a concrete Takehe instead of the cows. Still I'm probably being grossly unfair.
Eat at the hotel, food is reasonable, but it is a 70's throwback, Elvis wafts his cheesy tunes at us, I eat prawn cocktail, Monst has soup served in a Berni style bowl, venison for me for mains but Cal and Monst hit 70's fave Chicken Kiev. However the service is excellent and the staff of the hotel have been great.
Next stop Dunedin.
Technorati Tags: Te Anau, Doubtful Sound, Manapouri Underground Power Station, Rain, Fiordland Crested Penguins, Fur Seals
