The first twelve photos on this page were taken in January 2006 at my
farewell party, during the flight and on my first few days in New Zealand.
The remaining photos were taken in late January and early February 2006, when
two friends and I hiked the Kepler and Routeburn tracks and visited
Milford Sound. I hope that you will enjoy this quick impression of
New Zealand's magnificent scenery.
I recommend that you press <F11> to get into your browser's full
screen mode when viewing these pictures – specifically the panoramas.
![Farewell party crowds](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0245.jpg)
Farewell party crowds
![more of them](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0246.jpg)
more of them
![Wiland, me, Heike, Susi](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0248.jpg)
Wiland, me, Heike, Susi
!["Napping is strictly forbidden in this playground" (at Bangkok airport).](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0251.jpg)
"Napping is strictly forbidden in this playground" (at Bangkok airport).
![Approx. 600km east-south-east of Brisbane.](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0257.jpg)
Approx. 600km east-south-east of Brisbane.
![Pilot checking our pain progress. No wait, a passenger announcement (PA) is in progress!](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0263.jpg)
Pilot checking our pain progress. No wait, a passenger announcement (PA) is in progress!
![NZ shore, finally! Hooray!](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0271.jpg)
NZ shore, finally! Hooray!
![Liz, Ange and Raph picking me up at the airport.](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0276.jpg)
Liz, Ange and Raph picking me up at the airport.
![Rose, me and Sarah playing super soaker twister](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0285.jpg)
Rose, me and Sarah playing super soaker twister
![Potluck dinner!](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0293.jpg)
Potluck dinner!
![Hanne and me hanging out in Christchurch. The random dude who took the photo cut off our legs! Damn!](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0330.jpg)
Hanne and me hanging out in Christchurch. The random dude who took the photo cut off our legs! Damn!
![Patrick encounters the UCanDance concept of a party: Share the love.](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0336.jpg)
Patrick encounters the UCanDance concept of a party: Share the love.
![Lake Tekapo, with the church of the good shepherd](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0340.jpg)
Lake Tekapo, with the church of the good shepherd
![Lake Pukaki, near Twizel](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0341_pan.jpg)
Lake Pukaki, near Twizel
![View from the Kawarau bridge, where A.J. Hackett first commercialised bungy jumping in 1986 (I did a jump, too).](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0357.jpg)
View from the Kawarau bridge, where A.J. Hackett first commercialised bungy jumping in 1986 (I did a jump, too).
![View over Queenstown and the Remarkables, from the summit of Queenstown hill](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0361_pan.jpg)
View over Queenstown and the Remarkables, from the summit of Queenstown hill
![nearby](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0365_pan.jpg)
nearby
![Lake Te Anau, viewn from just above where the Kepler track crosses the bushline on the first day's ascent.](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0385_pan.jpg)
Lake Te Anau, viewn from just above where the Kepler track crosses the bushline on the first day's ascent.
![Lake Te Anau, a little further to the left](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0392_pan.jpg)
Lake Te Anau, a little further to the left
![Us three hikers at Mt Luxmore Hut](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0395.jpg)
Us three hikers at Mt Luxmore Hut
![View onto Garnet Bay and Lake Te Anau from Mt Luxmore's summit (1472m)](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0409.jpg)
View onto Garnet Bay and Lake Te Anau from Mt Luxmore's summit (1472m)
![Early morning tramping, just beyond Luxmore Hut](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0421.jpg)
Early morning tramping, just beyond Luxmore Hut
![The Kea, New Zealand's native alpine parrot](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0437.jpg)
The Kea, New Zealand's native alpine parrot
![Iris Burn (?)](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0448.jpg)
Iris Burn (?)
![Me on the shores of Lake Manapouri, near Motorua Hut - check out my new glasses and cap!](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0474.jpg)
Me on the shores of Lake Manapouri, near Motorua Hut - check out my new glasses and cap!
![Near Rainbow Reach](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0483.jpg)
Near Rainbow Reach
![Swingbridge at Rainbow Reach, where most people finish the Kepler Track](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0488.jpg)
Swingbridge at Rainbow Reach, where most people finish the Kepler Track
![Mirror Lakes, on the way from Te Anau towards Milford Sound](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0495.jpg)
Mirror Lakes, on the way from Te Anau towards Milford Sound
![Humboldt Falls in the Hollyford Valley](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0505.jpg)
Humboldt Falls in the Hollyford Valley
![Scot Donald Keith's grave, who died from exhaustion in the Hollyford Valley. The grave is denoted "historic" and regarded an attraction, because it dates back as far as 1886 (wow!).](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0517.jpg)
Scot Donald Keith's grave, who died from exhaustion in the Hollyford Valley. The grave is denoted "historic" and regarded an attraction, because it dates back as far as 1886 (wow!).
![Homer tunnel near Milford, hardly wider than the average lane in New Zealand.](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0524.jpg)
Homer tunnel near Milford, hardly wider than the average lane in New Zealand.
![Some rocks on the Chasm Walk, 10km from Milford](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0532.jpg)
Some rocks on the Chasm Walk, 10km from Milford
![The Chasm](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0536.jpg)
The Chasm
![The Cleddau River, a mere 10m from where it has just plunged through the chasm.](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0537.jpg)
The Cleddau River, a mere 10m from where it has just plunged through the chasm.
![Steep fiord slopes formed by glaciers, at Milford Sound.](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0546.jpg)
Steep fiord slopes formed by glaciers, at Milford Sound.
![Look! Seals!](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0571.jpg)
Look! Seals!
![Look! Tourists! (surprisingly, the seals don't seem to care nearly as much)](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0585.jpg)
Look! Tourists! (surprisingly, the seals don't seem to care nearly as much)
![One of Milford Sound's numerous waterfalls, with some brave kayakers closing in.](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0593.jpg)
One of Milford Sound's numerous waterfalls, with some brave kayakers closing in.
![The kayaks sure do look tiny against the waterfall; can you spot the yellow pixel?](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0596.jpg)
The kayaks sure do look tiny against the waterfall; can you spot the yellow pixel?
![Mitre Peak, Milford Sound's icon, climbing steeply from the ocean floor right up to 1692m.](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0598.jpg)
Mitre Peak, Milford Sound's icon, climbing steeply from the ocean floor right up to 1692m.
![The key summit, 90 minutes into the Routeburn Track (we walked the track in the opposite direction).](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0617.jpg)
The key summit, 90 minutes into the Routeburn Track (we walked the track in the opposite direction).
![Me at the key summit](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0621.jpg)
Me at the key summit
![I presume this must be Lake Howden](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0631.jpg)
I presume this must be Lake Howden
![Pass Creek (?)](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0632.jpg)
Pass Creek (?)
![closeup](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0633.jpg)
closeup
![Earland Falls, at our climb's first peak.](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0634.jpg)
Earland Falls, at our climb's first peak.
![Beautiful Lake McKenzie](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0642.jpg)
Beautiful Lake McKenzie
![Lake McKenzie panorama](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0650_pan.jpg)
Lake McKenzie panorama
![View onto Emily peak (1820m), towering above Lake McKenzie (950m)](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0655.jpg)
View onto Emily peak (1820m), towering above Lake McKenzie (950m)
![Another picture, just because the scenery is so pretty](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0657_pan.jpg)
Another picture, just because the scenery is so pretty
![A helicopter, flying rich and lazy guided walk tourists' gear out from Lake McKenzie.](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0663.jpg)
A helicopter, flying rich and lazy guided walk tourists' gear out from Lake McKenzie.
![View into the Hollyford Valley from Conical Hill (1515m)](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0683.jpg)
View into the Hollyford Valley from Conical Hill (1515m)
![A little further to the left, still looking down into the Hollyford Valley](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0701.jpg)
A little further to the left, still looking down into the Hollyford Valley
![opposite direction](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0709.jpg)
opposite direction
![On our descent back to Harris Saddle (1277m)](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0710.jpg)
On our descent back to Harris Saddle (1277m)
![The side track leading from Harris Saddle up Conical Hill (and back)](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0713.jpg)
The side track leading from Harris Saddle up Conical Hill (and back)
![View back onto Harris Saddle, with the emergency shelter in the center and Mts Gunn and Lyttle in the background](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0717.jpg)
View back onto Harris Saddle, with the emergency shelter in the center and Mts Gunn and Lyttle in the background
![Lake Harris, just beneath Harris Saddle](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0721.jpg)
Lake Harris, just beneath Harris Saddle
![View south (note the clearly visible bushline)](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0729.jpg)
View south (note the clearly visible bushline)
![Lake Harris panorama](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0730_pan.jpg)
Lake Harris panorama
![Routeburn Falls Hut, in an amazing location. I wish I had this view from my balcony!](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0741.jpg)
Routeburn Falls Hut, in an amazing location. I wish I had this view from my balcony!
![A little closer](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0748.jpg)
A little closer
![View just beyond the hut.](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0752.jpg)
View just beyond the hut.
![Route Burn, not far from the Routeburn Track's end.](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0769.jpg)
Route Burn, not far from the Routeburn Track's end.
![On our way back to Queenstown: Lake Wakatipu](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0788.jpg)
On our way back to Queenstown: Lake Wakatipu
![Me in Queenstown, by now having acquired more hair and still wearing my new cap and glasses.](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0792.jpg)
Me in Queenstown, by now having acquired more hair and still wearing my new cap and glasses.
![Back at Christchurch airport, I randomly ran into Erin. Wow, I look old!](albums/nz06_summer/thumb_0800.jpg)
Back at Christchurch airport, I randomly ran into Erin. Wow, I look old!