Welcome to Middle Earth OR "not an other bloody waterfall"

Probably you have heard a lot of stories about New Zealand – and yeah, they are all true. This country is probably the most diverse country I have seen so far: One day you are lying on a gorgeous beach, the next day you explore the glaciers and the third day you hike down the rainforest.

I started my trip in Queenstown, but quickly travelled on to Te Anau, starting point for the Milford Track. Wow, this track was amazing: This 4 day hike takes you to high mountains areas, rain forests, fantastic rivers and waterfalls and finally ends up in Milford Sound, part of the Fjordland National Park. You spend the nights in lovely huts, but have to be self sufficient, what means that you have to carry all your food for the whole 4 days. Milford Sound itself is just amazing: You can take a look up to the glaciated mountains high above the fjord, the water of the glaciers forms dozens of waterfalls which finally drop deep into the sea. And as an additional extra, seals and dolphins escort you on your journey ;)

My next stop was the east coast of the South island, the so called Catlins coast. This area is called the forgotten part of New Zealand, and in fact, there were very few tourists there. Perfect to relax and enjoy the raw coast line together with the sheeps.

By the moment I am in Fox Glacier Village. Yesterday I went Ice Climbing on the Fox Glacier, quite a exciting experience (I still don’t fully trust these ice screws..). The glaciers here in NZ are quite different to your glacier – pretty steep, sourrounded by rainforest and the moraine ends just a few kilometres in front of the coast.

Today is just a day to hang out, it’s quite cloudy and on Christmas Day everything is closed and no buses are going - so I am stuck in this small village, forced to calm down a little bit ;) Tomorrow my trip will go on to the Abel Tasman National Park – I am really looking forward to that….

I wish all of you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Probably this will be my last blog, I return to Austria beginning of January. Hope you enjoyed me blog, it was quite a bit of work ;)
See you!
Andi

I have added some photos from NZ...-> Photo Albums

Good bye Sydney

My dear friends,

Four mounths ago I came to Australia, full of excitement, insecurity and thoughts. And right now at this moment I am sitting in a Starbucks cafe in the middle of Sydney thinking about what to write about my last days of my time here down under. It's incredible how fast time passed!

I am looking back on a great time, more than I ever expected. I got to know so many new people here, of some of them I have already forgotten the names, some became real friends. I have seen so much beauty and got to know so much new things. Of course it has not always been easy, I had ups and also downs, but that's how life is working! I am really happy that I had the oportunity to experience all these things and I know that this is not self-evident.

From the medical point of view it also was a good experience, though not excellent. Maybe I would have learnt more in an Austrian hospital (I doubt at all...) - However, I still believe that experience abroad is so important for your social and personal development, probably more important than just professional experience.

I have added a new photoalbum with some of my favourite pics and latest shots - hope you enjoy them as I did.

Tomorrow I will travel on - New Zealand I am coming! I will only check out the South Island - already wondering if the New Zealand alps can cope with the Austrian Alps. ;)
First stop is Queenstown, my take off point for the Milford track - a 4 day hike in pure wilderness - I am really looking forward to that...

Ok mates, I will keep you up to date how laid back the kiwis really are, best wishes in the meantime and of course happy x-mas!

Andi