On the road again - part II

Publié par Miguel RIVIERE sur 7 Mai 2014, 03:39am

Tuesday, April 15th

This morning we left for Bluff, a small town which is said to be the southernmost of New Zealand, as well as its oldest settlement. After a long drive along the shore, we finally arrived in the small harbour town, with its end-of-the-world atmosphere. Boats were all around, and the view was really amazing from the top of the hill. In the distance, Stewart Island was hiding in the mist, and all we could see was its outline, blue and purple in the morning clouds. Before we left the region, we briefly visited Invercargill, the big city of the south. It was rainy, and some nostalgia took me when we were walking along the path in the city park. It looked so much like Europe !

But then we were on the road again, going West into the emptiness of the deep NZ. The scenery was still very pleasant : green hills everywhere, with their sheep roaming around. We crossed empty villages and visited a mysterious old growth forest, where we were welcomed by a choir of birds. I guess they hardly ever see humans in that region. It was nice to experience NZ as it was some thousands of years ago, with big trees and lichens all around. Not long after sunset, we suddenly arrived on top of a hill, and we saw it : lake Te Anau, one of the biggest in the country ! It was majestic under the stars.

Click on the pictures to display the panorama

Wednesday, April 16th

We woke up early and made our way towards what is probably the most famous place in NZ : Milford sounds, the northernmost fjords of the island. We first went through a glacier valley, wide and flat. A big but shallow river was flowing in the centre, surrounded by the first high mountains. Ahead of us, the primeval forests were waiting for us. Wet, dark and fascinating, they kept their secrets for themselves as we passed through. Then the high peaks were there, shaped some thousands of years ago by the power of the glaciers. Each new sight was more impressive than the previous one. We finally arrived at the fjord itself, and the view was breathtaking ! The weather was good and the wind really strong as we went over the water on a small boat. For two hours, we sailed on the fjords, and made our way to the ocean. It's weird to think that this place is identical to what it was a long time ago, being untouched by humans. So many mysteries stimulate one's imagination.

After our visit, we went all the way back to Te Anau, and started our journey towards Queenstown in the deep of the night. The sky was dark and clear, and the starts were shining bright upon us. The wind was blowing, strong, carrying away the few clouds that still lingered above the plains. It was the full moon, and the light made it easy to see all around us, the shapes of the forests and the mountains clearly visible. It felt so good to be together on the road, as many people before us, and as many people after us will do. Their motivations might not be the same, but the spirit remains.

Thursday, April 17th

The sun woke us up, but it was far from being warm. The night had been chilly, and having slept next to a river had only made things worse. But the cold wind coming from the heights was refreshing, and we continued on our way. That drive was, to me, the best we made, for the landscaped were the best I have ever seen. First, we went through rolling green and yellow hills, which gradually changed to mountains. It looked like Italy, or at least what I imagine Italy is like in Tuscany and the north. In the end, we arrived on the shore of lake Wakatipu, an immense area of water surrounded by high peaks covered in snow. Several times, we stopped on the edge of some big rock, staring at the immensity around us. It was a wonderful feeling. We finished the day hiking for several hours in a mountain forest near Glenorchy. I was happy to finally come back to that special atmosphere you can only find in isolated forests : calm and mysterious. We finally arrived in Queenstown at dusk under the rain, and spent the evening in town. It's actually my favourite town so far, and it's very active during the night despite being rather small. We went to an Irish pub, and enjoyed some good live music. The people all around us were having a good time. They were students, couples, friends, as always. Some things never change.

Friday, April 18th

We started the day with a hard hike on the sloped of the mountain above Queenstown, from where we had an amazing view on the city and the lake. After going down, we wandered through the streets and along the lake. In the small harbour and along the shores, people were having a good time, going to the restaurant, walking under the trees, the children playing on the edge of the water some meters away. Many artists were here, and the whole place was filled with music and joy. I'd like to live here for some time, but the road was calling us.

In the afternoon, we left for Arrowtown, a small town close to Queenstown. It is nicknamed the town of Autumn, and I think few places have earned such a legitimate title. For indeed, the town is a small village hidden in the forest at the foot of a range of mountains. All covered in gold to red trees. It seemed the whole country was burning. We left for the Southland under the light of a dying sun, and continued on our way through the Canterbury plains.