New Zealand Journal

This is the journal I kept while traveling in New Zealand for six weeks over Christmas of 1995. A printable text-only version of the entire journal (85 pages) is available for reading off-line.

Contents

Dec. 4 Leaving Knoxville Dec. 6 Arrival in New Zealand: Christchurch Dec. 7 Drive to Mt. Cook past Lake Tekapo Dec. 8 Mt. Cook: Rain and day-hikes Dec. 9 Walk to Mueller Hut Dec. 10 Drive to Te Anau Dec. 11 Te Ana-au Glow Worm Cave Dec. 12 Begin Milford Track Dec. 13 Milford Track: Clinton Forks to Mintaro Hut Dec. 14 Milford Track: Over MacKinnon Pass Dec. 15 Milford Track: Dumpling Hut to Milford Sound Dec. 16 Milford Sound Dec. 17 Drive to Queenstown Dec. 18 Begin Routeburn Track Dec. 19 Routeburn Flats to MacKenzie Lake Dec. 20 End of Routeburn Track Dec. 21 Queenstown: Bungy Jumping Dec. 22 Shotover Jet, drive to Wanaka Dec. 23 Deep Canyon Experience Dec. 24 Walk to Aspiring Hut Dec. 25 Christmas: Cascade Saddle attempt Dec. 26 Drive to Haast: West Coast Beaches

Dec. 27 Drive to Fox Glacier, Glacier Walk Dec. 28 Fox Glacier: Rain and laundry Dec. 29 Fox Glacier helicopter flight, drive to Greymouth Dec. 30 Greymouth: Taniwha Cave Rafting Dec. 31 Arthur's Pass: Climb Avalanche Peak Jan. 1 Return to Christchurch Jan. 2 Kaikoura: Dolphin swimming, whale watching Jan. 3 Kaikoura to Nelson Jan. 4 Begin Abel Tasman Track, Separation Point Jan. 5 Onetahuti Beach to Te Pukatea Bay Jan. 6 End of Abel Tasman Track Jan. 7 Ferry to Wellington Jan. 8 Train to National Park, Begin Tongariro Circuit Jan. 9 Mangatepopo Hut to Ketetahi Hut, Climb Ngauruhoe Jan. 10 Ketetahi Hut to New Waihohonu Hut Jan. 11 End Tongariro Northern Circuit Jan. 12 Bus to Waitomo, Glow Worm Cave Jan. 13 Waitomo: Gruesome Twosome Jan. 14 Black Water Rafting, Bus to Rotorua, Hangi Jan. 15 Rotorua: Carey's Capers Jan. 16 Kaituna Cascades Rafting, Bus to Aukland, Flight Home

This is an unembellished transcript of the journal I kept during the trip. Any errors have been intentionally maintained to accurately reflect my impressions at the time.

Copyright Scott A. Yost, 1996. All rights reserved.