Yaron's voyage to the far east and south pacific

Ahhhhhh Wanaka.... what a city! now that i've reached the best part of new zealand i can stay in one place for a while and take my time. The last three weeks where amazing and full of awesome experiences. I'll try to write it
as short as i can : )

Nelson area was great. Not only a cool city with lots of attractions, but a great weather as well. We had christmas at a sweet family home. It was very special for me to experience this special holiday - "as seen on TV" : )
On the day after we went on the Abel Tasman track. A beautiful easy coastal track. For tree whole days we walked on long isolated golden beaches and the green hills beside them. stunning walk!

malborough sounds - on the way to Nelson

Nelson's hills

the family which hosted me on christmas

abel tasman track

Abel tasman track

On new years eve i went to some coffee shop with Adi and Keren (like a bunch of old people). But then, when the girls went back to the backpackes, i joined a group of german guys i've met to the "grumpy mole" dance club - which was awesome! no "arsim" no cigarettes allowed inside - just how i like it : )

Our next destination was the golden bay. A big area with beautiful terrain and very low clouds. We went sight seeing and got all the way up to farewell spit. A thin stroke of land stretching from the top of the southern island. It seems like an endless beach with white dunes and grass.

Ruby bay

huge low clouds in golden bay

farewell spit walkway

endless beach on farewell spit

After golden bay we started our way down south through the west coast. This is when Keren decided she don't want to keep traveling with us. The funny thing is it's because she couldn't stand me : ) you'll have the whole story when i'm back home. anyway, our first stop on the west coast was Westport. The coolest thing in this town was a big playful seal colony. Adorable seal cubs playing in the water!

Our next stop was Graymouth. It's a boring town which is close to lots of cool stuff. On the first day i went to Arthurs pass. A beautiful ride between awesome mountains! there are several cool day tracks around this area and i chose the "avalanche peak". It's basically climbing a 1100 meter high mountain in the steepest path i've ever went through! you have to use your hands to climb just as if it was raw rock climbing! i kinda' felt like Frodo (from lord of the rings...). The view was worth every step on the way up. On the peak i had panoramic view of massive snowy mountains all over.

On the next day i arrived Punakaiki to see the famous pancake pile like rocks. It was nice but not as impressive as they say...

The further south we go, the more crazy nature becomes! after spending a night in Hokitika, i hit the road towards the glaciers area.
On the way to the Fox glacier, where i booked a guided tour, i saw one of the amazing "mirror lakes". Just look at the photos...

Fox glacier is a strange phenomenon itself. Huge rock of condensed snow creating a mountain of ice in the middle of a rain forest and only 10 miles from the ocean!
I had a 6 hours of guided tour on top of this rock. Simply amazing. Although it was damn cold up there, i consider it as one of the best experiences yet!

fox glacier

if you try hard, you'll can see people on the left side of the rock

Just so you know, the ice became dark because of the high amounts of dust in this area - there is no pollution in new zealand! :)

From fox glacer, through amazing rainforest road with countless waterfalls coming out everywhere, i finally arrived Wanaka!
This small cool city was built in a huge valley, between great mountains and by beautiful lake. There are many nice walks around, an amazing puzzling world and the coolest movie theater in the world!
I'm staying in Anne's house, a sweet 70 year old woman whom love tracking and going on quite difficult 2 hours track every day just for the exercise!
i went on "Rob roy" track today. absolutly stunning views! a must do if you happen to be aruond Wanaka one day :)