Queenstown, Milford and Otago Peninsula

Playing soccer on the beach on Christmas day in Christchurch

Underwater photo taken while swimming with the Hector's Dolphins in Akaroa

Moeraki Boulders

Yellow Eyed Penguin Reserve

New Zealand Sea Lion

Beach near Catlins Park

Top of Mount Luxmore on Keplar Track

Kayaking Milford Sound (Mitre Peak in the background)

Jack's Point Golf Course in Queenstown (which Brad said was the nicest & most difficult course he's ever played)

Chris riverboarding near Queenstown

Riverboarding

After a relaxing and warm Christmas in Christchurch, we headed to Queenstown for a few days. We went riverboarding and golfing, visited the hot pools, and went shopping- it's a beautiful place with so much to do! After that we headed to Te Anau to see Milford Sound, where we went kayaking in the Sound. We also did a day hike up the Keplar track (one of the great walks in the area) to Mount Luxmore, and an evening trip to the Glow worm caves. Then we took the scenic drive via the southern part of the south island to Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula. The highlight of the Otago Peninsula was the Yellow Eyed Penguin reserve, where strategic hides (trenches in the ground) let you see the penguins up close without them knowing you are there. When we got back to Christchurch, a few of us went to the quaint town of Akaroa just an hour from Christchurch to swim with Hector's Dolphins. They travel in much smaller pods than the Dusky Dolphins in Kaikoura, but Hector's dolphins are a special species because they are endemic to New Zealand.
Chris, Igor and our mom are going back to Canada tomorrow, and it's been a great time. We covered pretty much all of the south island!