Lake Taylor (Sumner)

Hanmer Springs!

On the way to Hanmer Springs - one lane bridge over an amazing river canyon (Waiau River).  They do jet boat rides through this canyon and if you squint, just to the left of the pier on the right is the jet boat 

http://www.shotoverjet.com/ here is the boat.  They fly through these canyons.

Landscape 1 (bridge is to the left)

Me and landscape 2 - Waiau River and no this is not a green screen.

The great valley! (all we need are some dinosaurs)

Hanmer Springs downtown park

Natural hot springs 43 degrees C (104F) - that heat plus the sun and you are basically cooking.  

The crew with a view

Me and the snow capped mountains and lush forests - beautiful. And as always my trusty red hat.

The hut the the top of Conical Hill 

3 views about 180 degrees around the hut - view 1 - Mt. Benvoirlich (1071m) and Tabletop (1321m)

View 2 - Shale Peak and the Tekoa Range

View 3 - Mt Leslie(952m) and Birch Topping (1032m)

Posing at the hut after eating a Kiwi Burger (egg, bacon, pineapple, beets, lettuce, tomato, beef patty and bun-- strange yet delicious) 

Neighborhood cat looking for some food

Another cat that was rolling around on the sidewalk waiting to be petted so of course I granted him/her that wish.

The countryside - full of sheep! It is fact that there are more sheep than inhabitants in New Zealand. This picture is blurry (through a window) but you can kind of see a flock of sheet off the left.  This was nothing compared to some of the other heaps of sheep.

More of the countryside from the car - lot of grazing land for the sheep.

Same rocks as before - another shot from the car.  These types of formations are all over  along with rolling hills of green pastures.