_edited.png)
Relaxing even further amidst the wilderness of Lake Moeraki, nestled in the Haast and Jackson Bay area near the Southern Alps.
Savoring hot chocolate after kayaking down the river to Monro Beach with Sharon and Mark from Colorado (met them at the lodge), we immersed ourselves in a World Heritage Site, thanks in part to the tireless conservation efforts of Gerry McSweeney, a former ecologist turned owner of the Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge, along with his wife Anne. Gerry guided us on a mesmerizing night tour, pointing out stunning constellations of the Southern Hemisphere, with the Milky Way and the Southern Cross as the highlights, and revealing the fantastical glow worms shining like fire flies along the roadside through their bioluminescence.
Monroe Beach
Lake Matheson
Monroe Beach with Sharon
Monroe beach with pesky sand flies
My room and the common areas of the wilderness lodge on the river - heaven
More of our hiking (with ancient trees) and kayacking tour. Playing cards at night with the gang from California and Colorado. They were lots of fun - all retired (in their 60's) but look like they are in their 50's.
Our guide James, Sharon and I. Toasted marshmallows.
Nature hike with strange characters. Also one cell and two cells ferns and colorful mushrooms. Another world.
Local fisherman's catch. Cray fish (lobster) and blue cod. The pigs gave me a ruckus welcome as I walked by.
Loving the secluded beaches.
Abstract in Nature: Reflections of tall grasses on Matheson Lake turned sideways
Franz Joseph Glacier (so tiny you can hardly see it - melting away). You can only really see it now days by helo or plane. The guy below is a fake cutout, but sure looked real. Park Ranger.
surrounded by natural beauty
