Our friend from Fargo North High School, Christian, was here to visit for 12 days (not long enough!). The weather was nothing short of fabulous, and we had so much fun showing him around the north and south islands of New Zealand. We took so many photos! Many of them consist of us drinking beer. Most of them are of the outstanding scenery. Here's a few highlights from the South Island. Above is Darin and I at Lake Wanaka, which is huge. Many of the lakes around there are not only long and wide, they are also extremely deep. 
The above photos are from one of the many lovely stops along the road to Haast from Wanaka. 
Our itinerary was thus: Auckland to Queenstown, ride the gondola up the mountain, beer in the lounge, then get on the chair lift to the luge, and ride that a few times. (photo from the gondola)
We stayed overnight, then went through Wanaka the next day, where Christian hoped to paraglide, but the wind came up and foiled that plan. On to Haast (west coast), where we went to the beach at dusk. It was gorgeous and we had it all to us.
The next day, we drove to the Fox and Franz Joseph glaciers. I had a possum meat pie on the way to Hokitika, where we shopped, then on to Greymouth for the Monteith's Brewery tour. 
From Greymouth the next day, we drove across Arthur's Pass to Christchurch, stopping to re-balace our chi (ha ha, I kid!) at Castle Hill. I had intended to do the Cave Stream walk near there, but was foiled by a lack of proper attire- wetsuit, booties. 
Next time for sure!! It's looking a bit like the mouth of a giant reptilian skull, actually, in the photo above.
Then a day in Christchurch (see us below, punting- a must do), and back to Auckland that evening. Then back to work for me- bummer.
