Another shot of Lake Kaniere near Hokitita. 

This lake was near Hokitita where I spent my first night on the South Island. There were some short hikes but nothing really distance-grabbing, so I gave up the goal to beat 60 miles of hiking on this trip, since it was obvious I was going to be spending much of it in the car. It took me 4 days to get here. 

This was the photo I was readying for when I shot myself driving. A cow traffic jam, not unlike those I have encountered in Wyoming...sense a recurring theme here? 

I accidentally took this photo of myself driving, when coming upon the next photo and readying the camera.... 

Still en route to the West Coast of the South Island, passing Wyoming-like scenery. 

This was about hour 4 to the west coast of the South Island, and it was starting to look a lot like Wyoming, so I was staring to like NZ a whole lot more.  

The entry into the South Island at Picton was nice, and there were some Maori onboard with a guitar strumming and singing. It was quite weird wearing 5 layers of clothing and hearing music that would have sounded more appropriate in Hawaii than New Zealand in Winter, but therein lies the considerable spread of the Polynesians. 

I took the ferry, and the rental car, to the south island only to learn later that this is taboo. You're supposed to return your rental car at the North Island ferry terminal and pick up a new one at the South Island. I did not, and paid an extra $150 NZ to tote the car across. Once I was over I learned about this and had to pay again to get back to the North Island, with the vehicle. 

Driving along the Coromandel peninsula. 

Another view of the Bay of Coromandel. 

Futher along the Coromandel, I sat a while on this beach...its waters looked steely cold, appropriately. It was 5 degrees Centigrade. 

The Coromandel Peninsula was my first destination and that was nice, I had 2 hours of sunshine that day and my first glimpse of the beautiful scenery. 

This is a steaming mudpit near Rotarua. There is a huge concentration of geothermal activity here, though in winter, to one who wears glasses, it is more a nuisance to walk through than a wonder, for all the time spent wiping my glasses clean. 

New Zealand 2005. OK, I cut my NZ trip short. My vacation drive is and always has been to get outside and play. I knew I was going to NZ in winter, and even took skiing lessons. What I didn't really count on was absolutely crap weather every day, except for less than 6 hours over 10 days (I kid you not). So, I ended up cutting my NZ trip short, because hiking in really cold rain and fog is just no fun. Unlike hiking in snow or tropical rain, where you either don't really feel the moisture or it is so warm you don't care. I did get some activity in though, but not skiing....the 6 areas I checked either had a good dumping on 30 June and then it melted, or they were able to manufacture snow, but only for the skills expeditions in Queenstown for the Winter fest, which I couldn't get to anyway because the road was close for fog (a new one for me) or because the airport was closed due to fog, or all the guest accommodation was taken because Prince William was checking out the festival along with a lot of rugby fans down for an England and Ireland series against New Zealand. I know that was a long sentence, but it adequately reflects the run on nature of my trying to get outside and have fun on that leg of the trip. This photo is along a hike around Green Lake, near Rotarua on the North Island. 

Watch This Space for New Zealand photos and comments.

I'm mid-way through a NZ vacation in rainy mid-winter, amid an England and Ireland vs. New Zealand rugby tour and school holidays, so it's surprisingly crowded, though obviously not as much as it would be in the summer. I am very glad I did not come in summer. Have had some haps and mishaps, but most oddly of all, NZ leaves me ....bored. I must be the only person in the world, but it does not do much for me. At least now I can take it off my list of things to see. When I get to someplace with the correct cable I'll start downloading some photos.