Rotorua geyser erupting, North Island

Tom took us on an entertaining and educational trip around New Zealand during the last winter lecture of the season. Starting on the North Island, we were treated to stunning views of the Bay of Islands, 90 mile beach (which is apparently only 60 miles long!) and Rotorua before heading south via Wellington to Nelson on the South Island.

We were sad to see the devastation the recent earthquakes had caused to Christchurch Cathedral, but fascinated by the new “cardboard cathedral” erected to take its place. Highlights of the South Island included

Lake Tekapo, South Island

Mount Cook, Queenstown and Lake Tekapo,  southwest of Christchurch, where there’s a picturesque church ( Church of the Good Shepherd).

Milford Sound

In the west, we discovered Milford Sound, a fjord described by Rudyard Kipling as the eighth wonder of the world and the Franz Josef Glacier (seen in style via helicopter, of course!). We saw so many amazing photos, it was almost, but not quite, as good as being there ourselves.

New Zealand photos c. Jennifer Bell.