Te Anau

We have seen some pretty magical things here on this island, but today just topped it all. Georgie was actually moved to tears as Rod had nearly a spiritual experience!

The day began with a drive South to Te Anau from Queenstown after a little bit of shopping (that was NOT the spiritual experience). Rain clouds were closing in as a belt of wet weather swept up from the Antarctic Ocean. The tops of the mountains were enshrouded in mist as we skirted the enormous inland lakes and it was all very pretty.

Along the way we called into an art gallery in a tiny township where there were lots of spectacular landscape paintings that we cooed over. Following that we popped into a small café for a cuppa and cake, where we pondered as to why so many Kiwis are keen on hunting as the café was a base for the local Hunters and Fishers Club and had pictures plastered everywhere (again, NOT spiritual).

Following that we stopped at an incredible swampy area where ancient stumpy Bog Pines grew out of spongy mossy flats, a remnant of the natural bushland of the region before the swamps were drained for farmland. By then the rain clouds were lifting and the surrounding mountains began to emerge.

Finally, after pausing at several glorious lookouts along the way, we arrived at Lake Te Anau, had a meal then took a boat across the lake to visit the Glow Worm Caves. THAT was the spiritual experience! Words cannot capture the beauty and awe of those soft and delicate glows that coated the ceilings of the wonderful limestone caverns that we silently floated through on a small boat. The only sounds to be heard were the gasps of the onlookers and the distant tumble of water echoing through the caves. Rod is a bloke who has been in many different limestone caves in his time, but this was the best experience by far. Sheer delight!

Unfortunately photography was not allowed in the dark caves, so you will just have to see it yourselves.

Click to enlarge