A spectacular week exploring Otago Southland’s finest trails and landmarks, hope y’all enjoy the photo set 🙂
First stop was the trail to Rob Roy Glacier. After a 5.15am departure from Lower Shotover, I was treated to a beautiful sunrise drive through the Crown Range and Wanaka alongside wild rabbits and hedgehog families. The last 30km of the drive was unsealed and through unfenced paddocks filled with curious sheep and cows. The last 10km saw me holding my breath as I traversed multiple fords in a hatchback until reaching the Raspberry Creek Car Park by Mount Aspiring.
The beautiful turquoise Matukituki River
Throughout the drive and hike you can see cascading waterfalls feeding into the Matukituki River. Once inside the covered part of the trail it is a gradual ascent until you reach Rob Roy Glacier Upper Lookout.
Sunrise hikes = a national park all to myself! 🙂
Having never seen a glacier in person before I was treated to the rumble of a few avalanches during my time up there.
After picking Rich up we hit the road to Te Anau and made some stops in Fiordland National Park before commencing the Key Summit trail the following morning as part of the Routeburn Track.
Above (starting top left clockwise): mountain tarns at Key Summit; mossy floors at the Lake Gunn nature walk; Lake Gunn; Key Summit Alpine Walk
Next up was the epic road to Milford Sound
Moody and majestic
Getting up close and personal with the mighty waterfalls
The next day we opted for some relaxation and hit up the Onsen Hot Pools in Queenstown, overlooking Shotover Canyon.
Back on the adrenaline horse the next day at the AJ Hackett Bungy Centre with some solid zip rides down the Kawarau River.
Drone views over Lower Shotover where we stayed during the week, I forget just how beautiful this part of New Zealand is, stay tuned for Mel and Con’s wedding pics 🙂