Te Anau

 

 

Our next stop and B&B was in Te Anau, closer to the South Island's western coast and a jumping off point for several adventures. 

 

 

 

The first, boating to the amazing Glowworm Caves.

No photos were allowed but we entered the through a small opening in the rock, walked on a metal walkway over a rushing river to a large pool of water.  We boarded a small boat which circled the pool and where we could see thousands of pinpoints of light on the ceiling--the tiny glowworms attracting prey with their lights--but it looked like an immense universe with twinkling stars to me.

This was my very favorite, incredible thing we did in NZ!

 

The "official" photo as we went in.

 

 

 

 

The next day we drove to Milford Sound and boarded a boat

 

 that slowly took us down the Sound (which is actually a fiord, not a sound),

 

 

 

 

a gorgeous waterway with steep waterfalls,

 

 

 

dolphins, seals, even one lone penguin,

 

 

 

 

intrepid photographers,

 

 

 

 

 

and family shots.

 

Queenstown

We spent the day in Queenstown

up on a mountain with this amazing view

 

 

 

Taking the motorized luge ride halfway down, then going up and taking it down again

(I still haven't mastered videos on my blog).

The gondola ride down

and what happens when all four kids (with no grown-up) are in one gondola, 

 

one of them has your IPhone,

 

loves to take pictures

 

and ham it up for the camera.

On the way out we stopped at a beach along the beautiful Shotover River.

New Zealanders are so protective of their gorgeous islands but then you see insane stuff like these speed-crazed motorboats charging up and down the river, careening and making tight turns with lots of waves and spray all for the excitement of their screaming tourist passengers.

 

 

This is a tame view of one of the motorboats.

Puzzling World

 

On our way out of Wanaka we stopped at Puzzling World--an amazing place of mind-blowing tricks.

 

 

Looking down on the Maze.  Didn't get a good shot of the intricate walkways surrounded by wooden walls that seemed to lead nowhere.  Finding the right path to each corner and then home seemed almost impossible.

 

Inside were illusions:

 

 

Seems like Sam is way taller than Maddie.

 

 

 

Max and Simon maxing out on dizzying patterns.

 

 

 

 

Is Simon really leaning forward?

 

 

 

Famous faces that followed you as you walked around the room. 

 

 

 

 

 

My favorite:  the decorated toilet seats!

 

 

 

and what not to do on them.

 

 

 

 

One kid holding up that tower.

Truly amazing!

 

 

 

 

Queenstown

 

 

 

On our way to Queenstown we passed a place where people were bungee jumping from a high bridge into a swift river.

We stopped to look--it was windy

 

 

 

and very breath-taking in the scary sense.  That's a person on the end of the line.

 

 

 

 

More calming were finding poppies blooming--reminding us of California. 

 

 

 

 We arrived at our very best B&B--modern, chic, great view of the mountains.

 

 

 

A trampoline for the kids

 

 

 

 

and reading places for us.

 

 

 

Ping pong too

 

 

 

 

and a deep oval bathtub for Simon.

 

 

 

Plenty of room to stretch out and draw cartoons

 

or do the dreaded, evil homework assignments the California kids hated.

 

 

 

 

We all loved this place.

 

 

 

Happy people.

Wanaka

 

 

 

Our first Air B&B was in the town of Wanaka with a great view of the mountains over Lake Wanaka.

 

 

 

--the first floor with two bunk beds and table hockey for delighted kids.

 

 

 

 

Rachel and Theo lolling in the hot tub. 

 

Got groceries in town where the girls were incredulous that they could go barefoot in the supermarket. 

 

 

 

 

The result...

 

 

 

and the water cure. 

 

Next day there was a major hike --4 to 5 hours up to the Rob Roy Glacier.

Theo stayed back due to knees.

 

 

 

Bridge over

 

 

 

 one of New Zealand's crystal clear, aqua blue rivers.

 

 

 

The gang reaching the top of the trail

 

 

 

and their view of the glacier.