New Snow on the mountains

Mt Alaska is looking spectacular these last few mornings with it’s new shawl of snow

Autumn in GY

The Autumn colours are starting to look fantastic in Glenorchy

I snapped this one yesterday of the wharf shed.

Today looks not so great

signs of a storm coming in….Snow to low levels tomorrow.

Routeburn trip

The Routeburn track in Mt Aspiring National park is a “Great Walk” and one of the places I advise all our motel clients to visit even if it is just for a day walk. It really is beautiful, right from the moment you step onto the first swing bridge.

Yesterday Sian and I set off with some others from Glenorchy Rural Women to stay the night at Routeburn Flats hut. This was in aid of Associated Country Woman of the World

This little guy met us at the car park where we stopped for a bite of lunch before heading off. The South Island robin is well known for being very friendly. They will even hop right up onto your boots. This little guy gave us a good telling off. Apparently we didn’t leave enough crumbs behind.

 

So off we went.

The bridge over bridal veil is one of the few that isn’t a swing bridge. It has a great view into the gorge where people have been known to go canyoning.

It takes about two and a half hours to get to the first hut on the track where we were booked to stay the night. The Great walks of New Zealand have a hut booking system so that the days of racing to get a bunk in the hut are over. Your bed is booked and you can relax and take your time to get there.

There is plenty to see and admire all the way to the hut. Cool swing bridges

 

 

There are awesome views of the Routeburn river

 

 

 

Amazing mossy rocks.

 

Just as we got to the hut, the rain started to come down properly and we

wasted no time getting hot drinks and admiring the view out the window.

There is a huge old ribbon wood tree just outside the main hut window and a flock of Mohua (Yellow heads) were fossicking in the mossy branches. Mohua are endangered so it was lovely to see them so close. There were also grey warblers and riflemen.

Darkness fell and we set about lighting the fire and making tea while outside the rain started to get more serious.

 

 

Next morning we were greeted with grey misty drizzle, but at least the rain seemed to have eased back a bit. Waterfalls had popped up everywhere.

 

 

 

Notice the grassy flat on the other side of the river is now a giant lake with mini waterfalls back into the main river.

 

 

Soon it was time to put on raincoats and head back off back down the track.

 

It was soon clear that there really had been a fair bit of rain overnight and the Routeburn was double the size it had been just the day before.

 

I often tell people that walking in the rain is one of the best times to go for a walk since the forest comes alive in the rain. Colours are more vibrant,  and there is more bird life.

 

 

A good rain coat and wet weather gear is fairly essential of course.

 

 

Here is a before and after shot of Bridal veil. This is a view of the canyon on the first day.

 

 

And here is a photo of the same place the day after.

Glenorchy before the rain

What a nice wee town we live in. Glad to see a drop of rain as well.

Harvest festival

Time once again for our annual harvest festival.

A stunning array of harvest baskets, fruit, veg, preserves, and baking were on display.

In spite of a slow start most gardens seem to have been abundant in a huge range of tasty goodness.

My corn is still several weeks of warm weather away but many others seem to have mastered the art of growing great corn….spectacular pumpkin…..garlic and lots of other veg

 

 

 

 

Not showing his best side but the garlic a saurus and also cinderella above were stand out creations.

 

 

After judging we all sat down to enjoy a totally gorgeous harvest lunch.

Sadly we had to have our meal inside this year due to persistent drizzle outside, but the spread was awesome and everyone had a great time.

Pony on the wharf

Isn’t she cute…..hard to tell her size though.

This gives you a better idea.

Note much bigger than a large dog.

Trip to Milford

I’m loving my new camera. I got a few great shots while we had a quick family trip to Milford sound. This one is of Stirling falls, showing a rainbow.

This one of Mitre peak has been altered in Lightroom.

Thor keeps the boat at the fishermans wharf, where there a re a lot of Cray fishing boats

I also made Thor stop at the Chasm on the way home to see how well the camera can take photos of the rock formations there…..Not bad.. but I do need a wider angle lens.