Tongariro - or my trip to another planet

Hallo,

I have done a treck in the Tongariro National Park, the "Tongariro Northern Circuit", which is 3 long days trekking in an incredible, otherworldly environment and landscape.

I think I was lucky with the weather this time, but it ranged from pure sunshine to rain, clouds, fog, storm etc... I had to change clothes and adapt pretty often :-) All in all, it felt like stepping in and out of a different world and even planet. Walking this treck alone, I sometimes had the feeling that there was no other human being left on the planet except me... and the rocks and mountains, especially if there was thick fog.
I enjoyed it very much, though is was a long walk.

I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Sending you all a hug!

Renate

Christchurch - Ghostcity

Hallo,

I have left the South Island after visiting Christchurch. Actually I didn't want to put an extra post for Christchurch. But it was such an interesting and weird experience, that I decided to do one post for Christchurch only. The sight of the city Christchurch is the strangest sight I have ever seen in a city in a rich country. Christchurch had to suffer two very strong earthquakes (one in 2010 and one in 2011) which left the city crumbled into a heap. There is really literally nearly nothing left still. There are nearly no buildings, empty slots big as football fields (where the leftovers of the buildings have been removed, but rebuilding has not started yet) and still buildings which have been untouched since the earthquakes. Nearly no houses, no shops, no restaurants, no...nothing... They have set up a few containers with shops and cafés but that's it. No companies, no business, no traffic, no traffic jams, no busses, no pedestrians...except tourists and a few ones working for those container-cafés or container-shops....and construction workers, working on the new building sites trying hard to rebuild the city somehow.
But Christchurch is now/still dormant or maybe "comatose" ??? :(

It was a strange feeling and the whole city had an indescribable eary athmosphere.

Talking to locals, they always freely started to talk about the earthquakes and their thoughts. Their stories and thoughts were really interesting... of how they live now, whats going on, what they plan to do etc. At least they really seem to make the best of it.
I have never been so "close" to an earthquakes aftermath as here.

The visit was worthwile, because of exactly this experience. You really can see and feel and understand what such an earthquake does to a city and a people.
It was incredibly impressing, maybe depressing, if not the locals were such a friendly, optimistic bunch. Made me contemplative and thoughtful!

Have a look at the pictures!

Regards, Renate

Nelson & Marlborough

Hallo,

After I finally managed to leave the west coast (roads were blocked due to slips and fooding :-O! ) I found myself  "on the sunny side" again, visiting the north coast of the south island.

 I did everything "one" has to do :-)
- some walking in the Abel Tasman National Park,
- visited the Cape Farewell (the northermost point of the south island) and
- did a boat tour and a walk in the Malborough Sounds.

Tenting was an option again as the sun was shining and I am now accustomed to sleeping using not more space than the 50-60 cm of my sleeping mat :) Finally managed also turning within this space. ;)
And as autumn is starting over here, I started to wear my thermal underwear during my nights in the tent... it is getting real cold sometimes.

These are my last days on the south island...I will continue to Christchurch and then go over to the North Island again.

Hope to hear from you!
If you want to see pictures... here you go.

Best regards, Renate

WestCoast...the rainy part which dares you to keep up your good mood...

Hallo

After crossing over to the westcoast I was greeted by ...rain! and it kept following me day and night. From drizzle to rain to heavy rain and back... :-(
And it is really hard to keep up your good mood, when you try to do "outdoor things" and "enjoy nature"... when nature blesses you with so much rain!

I tried to "dar la vuelta a la tortilla" ;) ...and tried to see the "depressive part" of the west coast as the one I am interested in...not the "sunny part"...

Having said that I let my pictures speak for themselve.
Decide for yourself how I experienced the west coast....

:-)

Regards, Renate

Mt. Cook and Central Passes

Hallo,

Everybody who says Mt. Cook is "just another mountain"... is right but also wrong.

I was so extremely lucky with the weather and when there is blue sky the mountain is situated magnificently and looms impressively over the whole beautiful valley. So it is a mountain...albeit a very beautiful one in an awesome scenery.

After that the weather detoriated and got worse and worse. So my driving over Arthurs Pass was during heavy rain and - thus I am sure - lost a lot of its beauty.

have fun with the pictures...

Regards, Renate