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Mirror, mirror in the lake
We make a quick pit stop at Lake Matheson, a five-minute drive from Fox Glacier. This kettle lake was formed 14,000 years ago, when the glacier had its last major retreat from the sea. In its wake, the glacier left a depression in the ground … Continue readingMirror, mirror in the lake
Walking on a glacier
Remember that scene from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring when our heroes tried crossing the Pass of Caradhras? They were beat back by an ice storm summoned by the evil wizard Saruman. Looking upon the frozen veneer of Fox Glacier … Continue readingWalking on a glacier
The way of the alpaca
Discovering a herd of shaggy alpacas in New Zealand can be astonishing at first. We are used to the idea of these domesticated camelids in Peru and Chile; perhaps it’s a Southern Hemisphere thing? No matter, they are adorable wherever we find them: placid (unless … Continue readingThe way of the alpaca
The doubtful sound
“You are now entering Doubtful Sound,” the captain booms over the speakers. We are aboard our boat for the cruise of the fiords, marvelling at the intensely green forests (courtesy of more than 200 days of rain a year) and the sheer, razor-sharp slopes of … Continue readingThe doubtful sound
To the lighthouse
To the lighthouse we go. There is perhaps no geological formation along the Otago coast more easily identifiable than Nugget Point. From a tiny group of rocky islets, known by locals as the Nuggets (hence the name), to the steep and sharp headland that ends … Continue readingTo the lighthouse
Italian on the esplanade
We head down to the beach. St Clair has that seaside promenade ambience right out of a P.G. Wodehouse novel. Swimmers and surfers hurry to catch the last waves before sunset. The waters are hard to resist but we feel the call of the wood … Continue readingItalian on the esplanade