New Zealand tour - Kauri reserve 5/5

One of the symbolic giant tree in NZ is Kauri, a bit like Oak tree in Europe. Solid strong wood with very straight trunk and grow to great height. With all such good quality, no wonder it has been targeted for use in building boat/house/furniture, to near extinction.

In recent year there is big effort to conserve this tree. Found a Kauri reserve near Warkworth, an hour from Auckland, with well lay out boardwalk inside the forest, where we can appreciate there giants. The oldest, tallest, biggest one is over 600 years old, they are indeed magnificent.

Auckland is pleasant, small modern CBD and harbour area, with a lot of small parks around and many big old trees along the roads. Feel like a nice place to live with mountain and sea nearby, just a pity that it is so far away from the rest of the world.

New Zealand tour - Auckland and around 4/5

Back to North Island to stay at Auckland for a few days, meeting relatives and walked a few trails within an hour’s drive. 

Mercer Head trail, 2 hrs return gentle up hill hike, for a view of the craggy mountains and the bay below. Being warmer than South island, the vegetation is much more lush and prolific. 

Wenderholm regional park, a few well marked trails of all lengths, chosen one that goes inside the temperate rainforest, with vibrant big green leaves and colourful flowers everywhere.

NZ Tour South Island Mont Cook NP 3/5 - Twizel river walk

Raining in the Mt Cook area, but sunny in the plain. Headed to Twizel river for a walk along the bank and fly fishing.

The white gravel bank and multicolour Lupine flowers are a welcoming sight. Made it enjoyable to walk and sit along the river, with panoramic view of mountains in the distance.

After trying a few fake fly lures , settled on a small one that seemed to tickle the trouts most. Caught and released 4 trouts.

In the late afternoon, did the last short hike in Mt Cook NP, The Governor’s Bush Track.

It is inside the hill that is covered with native forest, quite noticeable among the barren mountains around.

From the outside it looks like a homogeneous tree covered slope, but walking on the path is like wandering inside a botanical garden. Full of different species of lichens , mosses, ferns, and bushes with small leaves and small flowers. A true temperate rainforest, totally unexpected and so beautiful.

NZ tour South Island Mont Cook NP 2/5 - Tasman Glacier

 

Again a gorgeous sunny day, got up early to beat the crowd. Today’s target is Tasman Glacier trails, there are 2 walks, one went up a small hill to see the glacier from a distance. Easy to do in 1/2 an hour, and the view of glacier with a bright blue lake is amazing.

The other walk was one and a half hour slog on gravel path, along the contour of the valley, to get closer to the glacier. That was a  boring walk as there was not much of a view and the path is monotonous.

Eventually got to the point to get up for a closer view, and the view is mesmerising. From the information, Tasman glacier has retreated 6km in the last 30 years!

 

 

After lunch and rest, it is time for fisherman to try fly fishing in the nearby Poaka Lake. In the middle of the plain surrounded by barren mountains, this is an oasis in wilderness, a pleasing green view. There were a lot of trouts, but very hard to catch the big ones. 

 

 

Weather changing from fine to stormy by the evening, saw these amazing cloud formation on the way back to Mt Cook NP, heavy rain at night. 

NZ tour- South Island Mont Cook NP 1/5 - Mt Cook glacier

 

Went to NZ to visit relatives and spent a few days at Mt Cook NP, hiking among glaciers.

The approach towards Mt Cook area is beautiful, high mountains, glacial valleys and huge flat plain, with glimpses of glaciers, total wilderness.

First hike is Hooker valley trail, a flat 6km walk along the contour of the valley over 3 suspension bridges, for a closer look at Mt Cook glacier. Very popular and hence we set off at 7am.

A fine sunny day, a bit cold at the early hours but changed to a hot day as the wind died down.

Easy hike and fun to walk the bridges, Mt Cook glacier is the highest peak and looks majestic. On the return trip, bus loads of tourists arrived and the atmosphere was different.

Came back by midday, after lunch and a nap, decided to do Red Tarn hike for a full view of the mountain range and the glacial plain.

It is a 300m uphill hike over around 1000 steps, it is not hard, finished in 45 minutes, just too sunny and no wind, hence too hot for the exercise. 

 

The view was worth it, the whole mountain range in front, and the dead flat immense plain far below, what a panorama.

One Harbour Road, Grand Hyatt

After a few days in HK, there seems to be less people around, less crowded, which is nice. Except in restaurants, where you still need to book ahead, and most have a time limit. So picked this hotel restaurant for the view, good quality food and 3 hours lunch in a spacious and quiet dining room.

Enjoyed a 7 course lunch,  all are dishes I won't prepare at home, too busy talking and only remember to take one photo! 

 

Sea cucumber stuff with minced prawn, in a broth with chunky pieces of sweet crab meat.

Big wave bay

西灣、鹹田灣 (星洲炒米）、大浪灣、北潭凹，最喜歡的一段行山路徑，風光無限好，年年回來都走幾次。
山、水、雪白細沙依舊，山上樹木長高了好多，有樹陰清涼些，遊人，較往年少好多，更理想。

 

 

Ho Lee Fook restaurant

Went there last year, twice, very impressed with the cooking. Sort of in a hurry to go back to see if they can maintain the standard. Brought along friends so that we can try more dishes, again a wonderful evening, eating so well, all dishes full of flavor.