More of the South Island

Antarctic Centre

We visited the Antarctic Centre in Christchurch before we left the city.  Christchurch is the jumping off point for about 20 countries that are doing scientific research on Antarctic.  It has some interesting displays and information about the continent and is where they are tending some injured penguins.  I can't remember the type they have there but they are the little ones.  I didn't know that there are about 6 different kinds of penguins down in that part of the world.  I didn't take notes so my facts are what I remember and could be off by some.

Kura Tawhiti area

We also drove from Christchurch up to Arthur's Pass one day and come across the Kura Tawhiti/Castle Hill Conservation Area along the way.  There were some interesting rock formations there.

a Kea, the NZ parrot

We have found that the south island is very different from the north.  This one is very mountainous and varied; from coast shores to high mountains.  We have seen vineyards, sheep pastures, cow pastures, and even deer herds that are being raised for meat.


It has green fields and dry parts that remind us of Idaho and the bluest lakes.  Water falls and lakes are everywhere.

Lake Pukaki

Mt. Cook

The south island mountains are known as the Alps of New Zealand and are impressive.  We went up to Mt. Cook which is 12,349 ft.

seals in Milford Sound

Today we took a boat cruise in the Milford Sound which is a fiord area.  The key word there is water.  It was raining, which it does over 200 days of the year, and this is rain forest country.  It was dug out by glaciers and is just spectacular.  Waterfalls everywhere because the ground is hard rock with very little soil.  With so much water and nothing to really catch it and keep it, it just runs off back into the sound.  Misty, wet, rainy, and a little eerie.  By the time we got back to our hotel, we were back in the sunshine.

Milford Sound

Just an amazing country so I am just going to include a bunch of pictures.