Entering Middle Earth

Hi, back again and with updates! So, already a long long long time ago Steffi and I did a weekend trip right into the middle of the huge breathtaking whole-island-encrossing Southern Alps (Ka Tiritiri), to be more precisely to Arthur's Pass. It was our first real trip into the wilderness of NZ! and of course back then with our new car. To shorten things up, as I have to post so many more trips and things that happend the last month I'll just pop the pics - i guess that's also the most interesting part for the most of you... - thus: it's picture-time!! (But some bits and pieces of info you have to endure...)

cheeky Kea (mountain parrot) @ Arthur's Pass Village - be aware that if you don't look after your stuff, your hiking boots or even your car might be considered as 'tasty' and tried to be eaten.

On the way to Arthur's Pass passing thousands of brownish hills used as grazing land we made a short stop at an area with aggregations of huge rock formations. Pretty impressive. It's considered as 'Castle Hill' and beside some parts being sacred to Maori it's a famous bouldering place and I think some parts have been used as filming location for LotR, but that's a questionable source...

>> nice face, huh

After those 'extraordinary' stones we headed towards our final stop. Tried to sleep in the car, which was miles away from being comfy but hej, saved money and I made friends with this cute little Kea above, sitting on our car staring at me... haha.

Next day we were best prepared to attack the mountains. Our defined target was the Bealey Spur Hut and far beyond which took us up high the ridge of a mountain to open up beautiful'lest' views over the area. 13km and 6 hours later we were back down and totally sore. But stop, let the pics talk...

Kind a spirit of Middle Earth .. I loved those trees!

Pics from our walk up to the Hut, walking through different types of
vegetation cover: Tussock grassland, mountainous beech forest and some
other stuff.

     Down there you can see the huge extent of the waimakariri riverbed, note:
     that's not the end of the river...

... it goes from here far down 100 km to the sea.

 

Our hiking track. You almost can't see the beginning ...
because it's so far away!

and if a elf would jump out from behind a tree, I would believe it... totally

Side info: For those who want to be real nerdy there's even a book with all LotR locations (incl. GPS data) --> http://www.booksnz.com/products/28083-LordoftheRingsLocationGuidebookextendededition2004-9781869505301 >> ... and I almost checked it myself ...

>> ok, update, as I wrote this blog several days ago ... I got the book myself. hahaha, to check out all the locations. doh.


and btw. I think those signs are just for the mere entertainment of people - no kiwi yet spotted!