| N e w Z e a l a n d ~ |
| S o u t h I s l a n d |
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| A land of amazing landscapes and solitude greeted me on the south island. Many tourists fly into Christchurch and make a beeline for Queenstown, where bungee jumping and extreme outdoor sports are world famous. This was the exact route I also took, however, once I reached Queenstown, I decided against dropping hundreds of dollars into sky diving, white water rafting and helicopter rides. Instead, being a true American at heart, I opted for a rental car and spent many hours behind the wheel, putting hundreds of kilometers behind me, as the true beauty of the south island unfolded in front of me. |
| Anglican cathedral, Christchurch |
| Leaving Queenstown a day after I arrived, I headed straight for Milford Sound, which is on the southwest coast, and quite remote, yet still visited by thousands of tourists a year who board the large buses that lumber back and forth for the day trips. Having a car, I had the freedom to stop off where I wanted, and took many day hikes through the region, where I was greeted with amazing waterfalls, pristine rainforest and millions of tiny sandflies that were absolutely relentless. |
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| Humboldt Falls |
| Milford waterfall |