A long journey by car that leads us from the Abel Tasman national park in the northwest of the Southern Island to the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers in the center-west.
We drive along the coast and often stop to breathe deeply the invigorating sea air.
In the late afternoon, we arrive in the Franz Josef village where we spend the night.
Keyword - new zealand sheep -
Friday 9 November 2007
Alongside the west coast of the Southern Island
By dorian on Friday 9 November 2007, 19:24 - RTW-New Zealand
Friday 2 November 2007
The glowworms caves
By dorian on Friday 2 November 2007, 19:07 - RTW-New Zealand
We leave Auckland to drive on the New Zealand roads. Our first observation is New Zealand looks a lot like Ireland. Vast green meadows, sheep (10 times more than people) and despite the unpredictable weather, a deep desire of freedom. The DOC (department of conservation) signs inform about all the activities that flank the road. A few short strolls interrupt the long periods when the tarmac ribbon unreels. Our first contact with the local nature let us foresee a great time for the trip.
At the end of the afternoon, we arrive in Waitomo where we spend the evening and the night.
The next day, in the morning, we go to the grottoes. After the long explanation about the geological reason of the grottoes, we get on a small boat and the gondolier begins to pull the raft ahead into the darkness of the abyss. When the night is total, our looks cling to the ceiling where swarms of glowworms hang from. They use emissions of greenish light to appeal the aquatic insects of the underground river. The upper part of the grottoe liken to a starry sky where the luminous insects took the place of the stars constellations. We wonder at the strangeness of the nature. Photographies are unfortunately forbidden in order not to disturb the delicate balance of this underground fauna.
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