Steffen discovers the World: South Island

After the great party we had to wake up at 6, because the bus left at 6:40 to the ferry. The Ferry was nice with a cinema, a big common area and cabins to sleep.

Only Alex and Bonnie from the group got with me on the ferry to Picton. Where we filled up the bus with people. We had to drive a while to the Abel Tasman National Park, we arrived at 6pm. On the way we stopped at river from the Hobbit, where the elbs chase the dwraves.

Abel Tasman is an awesome place! I went with Felix a German for a walk and we watched Lord of the Rings in the evening, now we can say we saw and climbed some of the scenery :D

We stayed two nights in Abel, we booked for the following day a Aqua Taxi one way to hike back. These allowed us to see the National Park from the water and the land. I went with Bonnie, Ann-Katrin and Felix to experience Abel.

Sitting in the Boat driving on the street :D

Split Apple Rock

A good spot to see seals

Get some air for under water selfie ;)

OK not the best ;)

Lunchtime

Compilation :P

We really took our time, we needed for 12,5 km 5 hours :D
In the evening the bus behind us arrived with some of our friends and guess what we watched? Yeah Lord of the Rings :P
Next morning we found our way to Westport. We did a hike along the coast and saw some seals.

In Westport 10 of us went to a brewery for a tasting. It was good beer, but not as good as our beer from back home in good old Germany ;) really looking forward to have it when I'm back :)

On the way to Franz Josef (interesting name for a town ;)), named after the glacier nearby, we stopped a couple of times first at the pancake rocks.

At the cafe next to the pancake rocks works Albert one of my friends from Bangkok, nice to meet him again and to have a short chat. Sadly I had no more time there, but maybe we manage to see us later somewhere in the world again.

Next short break was in Greymouth, where we had lunch and I could managed to see a couple of minutes from the Superbowl.

We arrived in Franz Josef, they who went up to the glacier got there safety briefing. The Hostel we stayed in was awesome!!! Each of us had to power and USB places next to the bed to charge everything, we also got a light and a curtain. Additionally we got good free WiFi (really rare), fee BBQ and a pick up from a Hummer limo to a bar, where we got 2 for 1 drinks!!! Never had so much stuff included :D

Next day was also exiting, I flow with a helicopter up to the glacier, which gives the town the name. It was an unique experience, first helicopter flight and hiking on a glacier, stunning!!! I was up on the glacier with 8 from my bus we had loads of fun up there. Lucky we had good weather to stay on the glacier the full time and did had to fly out earlier, quite lucky with the weather so far ;)

Everything under control :D

After this experience we also were allowed to go to the Hot pools close by. Three different pools one with 34, 38 and 40 degrees. Good place to relax, but if I had to pay $26 I would do it, it isn't worth this money.

Because Franz Josef is also a two nights stop, we meet Bonnie, Isabel, Alex, Felix and Mark again. That is the nice think about these kind of traveling you always gonna meet some people from few days before, if you hop-off even more often.

Next day we left the west coast to Wanaka, but before we arrived we stopped a few times to see the Fox Glacier, Lake Mathenson and Ship creek, where we had lunch. It is a really special place, because there are some many different things together, only the annoying sandflies going on your nerves...