Rakaia Gorge is scenic from the lookout.

Rakaia Gorge - blue river below green hills with golden grass in the foreground.
A blue braided river bed between hills at the bottom of the road.

Staying with a friend in Christchurch. This is one year old Felix. 🐈

Very handsome grey and white cat.

Athol is a tiny place about half way between Te Anau and Queenstown. It has a very convenient public toilet, a tearooms, and this interesting Memorial Seat for the Returned Services Association.

Athol RSA memorial seat shaped like an open book with some pages upright and others rolled over to form a seat.
Athol RSA memorial seat, front view.

Back in Takapō for the night. From the back I thought this was a car, but it turns out to be a Mustang Thunderbird touring bike.

Mustang Thunderbird touring trike.

Such a cool use of the Internet: Fish Doorbell in Utrecht:

… viewers around the world can watch a livestream of the camera and, when they see a fish, press a doorbell to open the lock allowing the fish the opportunity to continue swimming upstream to their destiny.

This photo probably most represents Milford Sound. Huge craggy sheer cliffs, greenery, numerous tiny or massive waterfalls.

Huge waterfall from sheer cliffs.

What a long day. The bus picked us up at 8 this morning for our Milford Sound Tour and after a busy day we returned at 5. A quick meal at Thai Anau and now we're all wishing it was already bedtime!

Milford Sound and environs are so scenic!

At the Te Anau bird sanctuary I spotted Takahē and Whio (Blue Duck). 🐦

Punanga Manu o Te Anau/Te Anau Bird Sanctuary

Two Takahē in Te Anau.
Two Takahē in Te Anau.
Two Whio at Te Anau.
Two Whio at Te Anau.

Spent the night in Queenstown. Today we drive 2 hours to Te Anau then tomorrow, with any luck, we visit Milford Sound for a cruise — Milford Sound Tour from Te Anau with Fiordland Tours.

Map shows locations.

Lake view from Earnslaw Lodge on Lake Wakatipu in Tāhuna | Queenstown, east to west.

Lake with craggy mountains behind, vegetation and houses on the shore.
Lake with craggy mountains behind, vegetation and houses on the shore.
Lake with craggy mountains behind, vegetation and houses on the shore.

The landscapes in Mackenzie and Central are just jaw dropping.

Aoraki (Mt Cook) from Lake Pukaki.

High snowy mountain behind lake.

I’ve never been to Cromwell on Lake Dunstan before. Stark mountains all around.

Lake with stark mountains behind.

Delicious breakfast at Jack Rabbit in Takapō before we drive to Queenstown.

Toast, scrambled eggs, tomatoes.

Dishes at the Dark Sky Diner were pricey, but the Fire grilled salmon served with roasted pumpkin, grilled asparagus, smoked cauliflower puree and caper cream was very delicious.

Grilled salmon dish.

Filling in a few hours till our 11 pm tour — Takapō Stargazing at Mount John: The Summit Experience:

start by looking at the stars with the naked eye, as our guides point out the sights with handheld lasers. … Then you’ll dive deeper, with full use of our high-powered telescopes. That includes the impressive 16” telescope in our private observatory dome.

Meanwhile an almost full moon rises.

At Lake Takapō an almost full moon rises above the lake and brown mountains with fog rolling in through a valley.

Lake Takapō.

Lake Takapō.

We're travelling in Te Wai Pounamu (the South Island) with our friend Amanda from north of Auckland. Last night's accommodation was lovely: Hall on the Terrace (Facebook link) in Temuka (Te Umu Kaha):

a renovated Presbyterian Church Hall offering luxury boutique accommodation

Hall on the Terrace view from street.
Part of the common area for guests.
Part of the common area for guests.

Waimakariri River just north of Otautahi | Christchurch. So blue! And a famous braided riverbed.

Waimakariri River — blue river flows through paddocks into the sea.
Waimakariri River braided riverbed.

So cool 🐦 : 3D printed eggs used in fairy tern rescue programme | RNZ News:

Staff remove the [real] eggs, take them to incubators at Auckland Zoo, and the terns continue incubating what they thought were their eggs.

… a record-breaking breeding season with 22 eggs laid and 14 chicks successfully hatched.

Tiny chick beside its parent on the beach.
A tara iti chick steps briefly out of its nest at Waipū to explore. Photo: RNZ; Supplied / Darren Markin.