Glowworms

Unfortunately, photography is not allowed in the glowworm cave. This is understandable, though, since you’d either need a flash (and you would not see the “glow” anymore), or a long exposure on a tripod.

I can highly recommend the Te Anau Glowworm tour!

In the main glowworm chamber, it is almost like seeing constellations of bright green stars at night. The group travels into the chamber in a small boat, which the guide pulls along by grabbing ropes. Once your eyes adjust to the darkness, the glowworms are incredibly bright, and you can see the other people in the boat (especially white clothing)!

Key Summit

I also hiked to Key Summit, which is the summit of a “triple divide”, ie. water from the summit can find its way into either of three drainages, towards the west, south, or east side of the south island.

Key Summit is near one end of the Routeburn Track, which is the second most popular multi-day hut-based “tramping track” in New Zealand. The most popular is the Milford Track. Unfortunately, these tracks are so popular, you have to book many months in advance to hike them.

Jet Boating

I am in Queenstown, now. It is New Zealand’s capitol of adventure and adrenaline.

Tomorrow, I have booked a jet boat trip up the Dart River. This is a scenic tour, not a thrill ride with 360 degree spins, and so on. I may do one of those trips, later.

The Dart River tour is a jet boat ride, followed by a 4wd coach trip back. They promise to show us some Lord of the Rings filming sites. There are numerous Lord of the Rings tours! The hardcore ones are quite expensive, and have extras like dressing up in costume to have your photo taken.

More Boat Antics

Here is another shot from the Doubtful Sound cruise. The Skipper wanted to gove us a close up view of some foliage:

Because the sounds have are glacially-carved valleys which were filled with water when the ocean level rose following the last ice age, the sides are quite steep, and continue their steep drop below the waterline. So, the boat can go right up to them, with no danger of running aground.