Sights from a different world...

It finally happened - Darren and I managed to take an unguided hike without getting lost. After our failed day hike outside of Queenstown, we had sworn off such actives, but the manager at Whare Kea Lodge convinced us that it was impossible to stray from the path along Lake Wanaka. Fearing absolute embarrassment should we be the only people ever to get lost, but lured by the beauty of the mountains, lake and sunshine, we decided to try it anyway. As a result, we enjoyed a seven-mile walk along Lake Wanaka, admiring the turquoise colored lake and snowcapped mountains surrounding us.

Feeling we deserved a treat for our adventure without mishap, we headed into the town of Lake Wanaka for lunch. Lake Wanaka, about an hour and a half away from Queenstown, has the stores, restaurants and many of the activities of Queenstown, without the crowds, making it one of our most enjoyable stops on the South Island to date.

After a delicious lunch, we headed back to the lodge for a little R&R. The Whare Kea Lodge is located on the banks of Lake Wanaka, nestled into the rolling hills and mountains, and provides luxurious accommodations in a cozy, contemporary atmosphere. As we reclined into the hot tub, basking in the late afternoon sunshine and looking at the mountains, lake and picturesque countryside, the moment seemed absolutely perfect. We enjoyed the hot tub so much in fact, that we did not emerge until an hour and a half later when a storm came rolling in off of the mountains. Even the storm, pounding around us, was enjoyable from the cozy confines of our suite. Yes, indeed, it would be difficult for us to return to "real life" after a honeymoon filled with so many wonderful days...

The following day, we headed for the planet where Superman lives (well, not really of course). I suppose I should remember the name of his homeland, but all I can recall from the film is that there were white, reflective spires all over the place, making it look sort of like the inside of an icebox. This otherworldly place is the Franz Joseph Glacier, in the part of New Zealand referred to simply as "The West". We fashioned ourselves true glacier experts after our glacier "sighting" in Patagonia, but that was from a distance. Seeing a glacier from 500 meters away is a sight to behold, but experiencing one from "within" is something close to magical.

The day began with a two kilometer hike to the lowest point on the glacier, which, we learned, shifts up to 5 meters per day depending on the weather. After completing the easy, lower section of the ice field, we strapped on crampons, took out our ice axes and began the real climb. What appears to be nothing more than a snowy mass from a distance is, in fact, an intricate maze of crevasses (underground passageways), which seem to lead straight to the center of the Earth. And within there are flowing ice streams and ice spires which rise as high as a small office building. At one point we had to crawl underground through a cylindrical hole in the ice for 15 feet or so - this was a bit of a harrowing experience to be sure.

Seeing as Tiffany and I both recently completed the book "Into Thin Air," we decided to name this hike "Onto Thin Ice." While our injuries paled in comparison to those participating in the climbing expeditions on Everest in 1996, Tiffany did get sore toes and my left knee was bothering me by the end of the 8 hours of hiking. And come to think of it, we were both quite thirsty by the end of the day too.

Glacier hiking wasn't the only "first" for us in the Franz Joseph region. At Tiffany's suggestion, we picked up two hitchhikers looking to make their way to "The West", something neither of us had ever done before. New Zealand is probably as safe a country as exists in the world today, and people really seem to look out for one another here. So, we picked up a German traveler and a friend who he had just made their way from Japan. We enjoyed their company, didn't get mugged and may well do it again before we leave New Zealand.

Our final stop on the South Island was the city of Christchurch, which is often called the garden city, and it's easy to see why (it's loaded with gardens!). It is also easy to see where the town got its name. The Internet Cafe from where we are currently typing is located in a converted church - only in Christchurch I would imagine. We spent today exploring the botanical gardens (which boast a river populated with gondolas reminiscent of those in Venice), and Tiffany even found a "History of Fashion" exhibit at a local museum. Needless to say, she perused those exhibits alone.

Once we've finished writing this piece, we'll head back to the lovely Park Royal Hotel. Our 12th floor room provides a wonderful bird's eye view of the city and the surrounding hills. And, as much as we can't wait to take a quick catnap, we are really looking forward to dinner at the Canterbury Tales restaurant in the hotel, which was voted the best restaurant in all of New Zealand. Suffice it to say that both Tiffany and I will continue to ensure that neither one of us loses a single pound on this honeymoon.

Coming up next - our final stop - the North Island!

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