Friday, May 17, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
Warning: Sheep Crossing
Driving to Dunedin, we were fortunate to see dogs driving this herd across the room. The dogs are amazing the way they crouch and hold the sheep. I wish I had a video.
Monteith's Original Ale - almost worth the trip.
New Zealand has some great local beers. More than one Monteith's passed by my lips.
We had fun and great food at the Pentagon Center in Dunedin. All the food all week was not necessarily 'fine cuisine' but had a real fresh, unprocessed flavor that was wonderful. We really enjoyed everything!
We had fun and great food at the Pentagon Center in Dunedin. All the food all week was not necessarily 'fine cuisine' but had a real fresh, unprocessed flavor that was wonderful. We really enjoyed everything!
Queenstown Luge Rocks!
We had 'first run' down the New Zealand luge course. Great view and great fun.
The Luge is at the top of the peak overlooking Queenstown. A gondola brought us to the top along with a quite a few mountain bikers - they have a great ride to the bottom.
We skipped the bungee jumping . . . this time!
The Luge is at the top of the peak overlooking Queenstown. A gondola brought us to the top along with a quite a few mountain bikers - they have a great ride to the bottom.
We skipped the bungee jumping . . . this time!
Favorite Food - The Cheeseburger! NZ Fergburger.
After a long day of fishing on a blue-sky New Zealand afternoon, I connected with the family who had been panning for gold and put the kids to bed. Julie and I snuck out to Fergburger. This famous Queenstown eatery lived up to the fame. I ordered the classic with all the fixings -- it was great. A sweet onion sauce added a unique New Zealand taste!
I highly recommend a Fergburger . . . anytime but especially after a good fish!
Check them out at: Fergburger Website
Thursday, March 28, 2013
New Zealand Brown Trout
Julie let me adventure with my guide Hanare to a crystal clear spring creek just north of Queenstown New Zealand. We were fishing under some of the mountains that made up the backdrop for the Lord of the Rings movies. Simply awesome.
The fishing was the toughest I have experienced. The banks were 4-6 feet about the creek surface and the water was gin clear -- therefore spotting fish was easy! And they were huge and many seemed to be feeding. But no matter how I presented the fly or nymph, they would not take. I would crawl up to the bank so they would not see me and still no take. My nymph actually hit one in the mouth and rolled down its body and STILL it would not take.
We then moved up to the head of the creek to a pond. A guy was in the middle of the pond fishing with spinning gear and Hanare said, "He won't catch anything there." Sure enough, as Hanare explained and I observed, the big browns in the bound patrol the shore looking for food. We saw many - again, easy to see in the clear water and sand bottom. Big black sea monsters moving through the shallows. Very cool.
Then . . . WIND.
Here we were in a grass banked pond with nothing preventing a perfect cast -- except the wind. On a delicate cast (so to not spook these spooky fish), the line would move at least 5 to 10ft. Very challenging to get a fly in the right place and not spook fish. No luck but a couple of noses at my Royal Wulff (for those who know me, this has recently become my favorite fly).
After some missed opportunities, I started casting decisively at the fish. One turned. One went for the Royal Wulff. One took. One jumped THREE times. A brown jumping. No way!
One was landed. See the video and pictures. GREAT MEMORY. Thank you Hanare. Thank you New Zealand.
The fishing was the toughest I have experienced. The banks were 4-6 feet about the creek surface and the water was gin clear -- therefore spotting fish was easy! And they were huge and many seemed to be feeding. But no matter how I presented the fly or nymph, they would not take. I would crawl up to the bank so they would not see me and still no take. My nymph actually hit one in the mouth and rolled down its body and STILL it would not take.
We then moved up to the head of the creek to a pond. A guy was in the middle of the pond fishing with spinning gear and Hanare said, "He won't catch anything there." Sure enough, as Hanare explained and I observed, the big browns in the bound patrol the shore looking for food. We saw many - again, easy to see in the clear water and sand bottom. Big black sea monsters moving through the shallows. Very cool.
Then . . . WIND.
Here we were in a grass banked pond with nothing preventing a perfect cast -- except the wind. On a delicate cast (so to not spook these spooky fish), the line would move at least 5 to 10ft. Very challenging to get a fly in the right place and not spook fish. No luck but a couple of noses at my Royal Wulff (for those who know me, this has recently become my favorite fly).
After some missed opportunities, I started casting decisively at the fish. One turned. One went for the Royal Wulff. One took. One jumped THREE times. A brown jumping. No way!
One was landed. See the video and pictures. GREAT MEMORY. Thank you Hanare. Thank you New Zealand.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Mama Mia - Julie Goes Paragliding
Julie had a great adventure - the pictures and video speak for themselves!
Watch Julie Jump Off a Cliff!
Watch Julie Jump Off a Cliff!
Gold in Arrowtown!
While Ross was Fishing, Sarah and Nate were looking for GOLD! Arrowtown is a great little village with many shops and restaurants. On the river, a key scene in Lord of the Rings was filmed -- the river comes up and swallows the Nazgul here.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
KiwiRail - We Still Love Trains
Our KiwiRail trip from Christchurch to Greymouth was fun at least partially because we don't get to ride trains everyday. The views of course were beautiful - especially since these were the first views we saw of New Zealand's countryside.
My favorite was the open deck platform. With no windows, the views were that much better. Also, cruising through tunnels in an open car adds a little excitement.
My favorite was the open deck platform. With no windows, the views were that much better. Also, cruising through tunnels in an open car adds a little excitement.
Water Tower - Old New Zealand
Right before boarding the Transalpine railroad on Kiwi Rail, we saw the old water tower for filling steam engines back in the 1800's. Our brother Tod is a water authority engineer and we thought he would appreciate the construction! Also this structure has survived many earthquakes.
Christchurch - still a 'deconstruction' zone
After landing in Christchurch, we took a tour of the central town where the earthquake did the most damage. The area still is very active with construction and deconstruction. The Red Zone, as it is called, is till off limits except through bus tours. The earthquake must have been terrifying with buildings cracking, falling and liquefied rock bubbling to the surface and filling homes, yards and streets (called Liquefaction).
From: Liquefaction
"Liquefaction, sand volcanoes and vast quantities of grey sandy silt became the scourge of Christchurch on February 22, bubbling out of the ground during the biggest shakes and also during some of the magnitude 5.0 aftershocks."
Michigan in New Zealand?
We had many small adventures on our drive from Greymouth all the way to Queenstown. We especially enjoyed stops at Hokitika, Bruce Bay and Shipwreck Creek. The grasses and small sand dune made us think of Western Michigan which of course is where we love to spend time in the summer.
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| Beach near Hokitika - Just like Michigan! |
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| These little white/flat stones were really fun to collect on the beach. We have a bag full! |
Fox Glacier - WOW!
We left Franz Josef Glacier under cloudy skies, rain on the glacier and little hope for seeing the glacier up close. Fortunately, we were able to get on a helicopter ride after driving an hour down the road to Fox Glacier. The views and sensations were the best of the trip so far!
Look for the double rainbow!
Look for the double rainbow!
Monday, March 18, 2013
Berntson Family in New Zealand
We are having a great adventure in New Zealand! I hope to publish some new posts later today. We are off to a sheep farm today.
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