NZ2024 - Leg 5 - Hanging around Te Anau

 Yesterday, we had switched our itinerary with today - so today we did the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary in the morning, and the Fjordland Jet Boats in the afternoon.  Although the day started quite cool, that seems to be the norm here, although by noon the weather has usually changed.  Today was an exception - it was stunningly gorgeous, sunny and warm by 10 a.m.

We started with another light breakfast, and a slow start - coffee and catching up on email etc.  We wanted to do the guided tour of the Bird Sanctuary, which we are promised is worth the donation of $10.  It started at 10:30, so we left about 10:10, and arriving to find we only had a few minutes to get to the starting point where the guides would take us, and it was a 15 minute walk.  We drove around to the sanctuary from the main building, and made it just in time.

First we get to watch the Takahe being fed.  A pair of young birds, in full plumage, but not quite old enough to mate.  We learn that this bird was considered to be extinct until a pair was discovered in the 1940's.  There are now a few hundred known birds, however, they are still highly protected, as they only are found in the wild in a very small area, are known to be a bit clumsy, and of course as flightless birds, are very much still at risk due to the introduced predators such as rats and stoats.

The entire tour took only about 40 minutes but was worth every moment.  The tour guide was exceptional - knowledgeable, witty, amusing, and obviously enjoyed her role.  The birds were beautiful, and I was so thrilled to see the massive improvements and growth the sanctuary had gone through since I'd been here last in 2010.  At that point, the pathways were only grass paths, and there was a single Takahe in a single enclosure.  They have made great strides in their bid to be an excellent sanctuary and rehab.

  

From there, still feeling some fatigue from yesterday's jaunt to Milford Sound, we decide to get some lunch, even though it's a bit early.  I hadn't been able to reach The Olive Tree Cafe to make reservations for this evening, so we decide to also go there for lunch (the food is excellent and reasonably priced).  I opt for a soup with prawns (wayyyy too much but unbelievably good!) and a glass of rose that is so full I have to take a sip to take it to the table!

We wanted to stop in at the Paper Plus store in town to pick up a few postcards, and wind up finding a couple of small treasures.  It's a lovely shop, and there is a post office there as well, but we will purchase stampes once we're ready to send the postcards.  Lots of tempting goodies!  But no room to take them home, give that we are traveling with such minimal storage (a backpack and carryon each).  

With barely enough time to get back to Shakespeare house and change (no napping!), we head off again, this time for Fjordland Jet Boats.  The description was so inviting, it didn't seem to even matter that we hadn't been able to get a spot on the Doubtful Sound cruise.  The Fjordland Jet Boats promised a run up the river to Lake Manipouri, a hike on the Kepler Track, a stop at three separate LOTR filming locations, and lots of 360's.  

It was every bit as good as all that, and more.  We were fully outfitted with warm coats if we wanted, or spray coats, PFD's, toques (warm hats), and I was even offered a spray jacket for my camera.  Lex, our amazing driver, was a joy, and had actually been the one to start the company.  He took us up the Waiau River, and to the other side of Lake Manipouri, where we hit the Kepler Track for a bit.  The part we hiked was in a lush forest full of beautiful ferns, mushrooms, and all manner of flora.  

    

The ride back included a secret treat - I can't tell you what it was, but it involved drinking.  And, a quick stop at a beach not far from where we had disembarked for the hike.  I'm guessing it caused some surprise when a couple on the beach waved us down, and we went into shore, packed up their belongings in the front of the hull, and they climbed in, then we backed up and took off again down the lake.  It all seemed perfectly normal, except that it was completely unexpected  - by us anyway!  The rest of the trip was a fast trip back up the river, with lots of spins accompanied by giggles of shear delight from the passengers.  Ok, from me.  I was giggling with delight the entire time.  

  

The total experience was just fantastic, and we agreed we would do it again if we had the time.  The weather was gorgeous - warm and sunny - which helped.  But at the end of the adventure we were surprised with another secret treat - another drink!

So great.  

Dinner was back at the Olive Tree Cafe.  We had managed to book a reservation, as that was recommended by our hosts at the Shakespeare House, but as it turned out, it wasn't that busy.  I had the lamb roast in gravy with veggies - absolutely amazing!  Linda had  a couple of appy's - spring rolls and the chicken skewers, both came with a lovely sauce.  We shared our second pavlova - this one was "classic", and drizzled with a lemon/passionfruit sauce that was absolutely divine!

We finished our evening with a walk/meander along the beach, as Linda had been pining to dip her toes in the lake.  

  

Tomorrow we will be heading out from Te Anau towards Kaka point, taking the scenic drive, and hopefully seeing new things, as we have never been to the southern coast before.  More later!