New Zealand Day 5

Today started with a jet boat ride on Shotover River just north of Queenstown.  Personal cameras weren’t allowed on the boat, and if you watch the video at this link, you’ll see why.  They were kind enough to sell us some photos which we’ve included below.

After the jet boat, we drove two and a half hours from Queenstown to Te Anau for our next activity.  There we took a boat ride across Lake Te Anau to the glowworm caves.  Glowworms are small insect larvae with phosphorescent dots to attract prey.  They cling to the ceilings of the cave and look like tinny bright blue stars in the dark.  We walked along an underground stream deep into the cave until we reached a small lake.  Then we got on a little boat and floated in complete darkness except for the light of the glow worms.  We couldn’t use cameras in the cave, but there is a company video at this link and we’ve also included the photos they sold us below.

All bundled up and ready for the jet boat ride.
Here we are (in the second row) at the beginning of the ride!
Carrie and her windswept hair on the boat to the glowworm cave.
Even Chris had trouble with his hair.
This is the view into the South Fiord of Lake Te Anau.
The obligatory tourist photo at the entrance to the glowworm cave.
This drawing show a cut away view of the glowworm cave.
The clouds were rolling in over the mountains to the north of Lake Te Anau when we emerged from the cave.
After we returned to Te Anau, Chris and Carrie took a moment to pose by the “Big Takahe”. The takahe is a flightless bird thought to be extinct till it was rediscovered in the mountains near here. For some reason a jersey of the New Zealand national rugby team has been recently painted on the statue.

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