Began with boat down lake Manapouri, nz's 2nd. deepest lake, tour guide said scenery like Scotland on steroids, do not disagree. Then approx. 22kms in coach to Doubtful sound - now in Fiordland a world heritage sight. it rains for 2 days out of 3, I got day 3,sunny. Granite hills, covered with temperate rain forest, with visible volcanic landslides on hills. I saw bottle nose dolphins, an albatross (no photo), the place were the green crested penguins nest (but wrong time of year), and fur seals. The fur seals are more closely related to sea lions than our grey seals, and were nearly hunted to extinction (for their fur hence the name), but are now protected.
on way back visited the Manapori hydro power station, the reason for the road from a lake edge to doubt full sound.Commenced in 1963 it produces enough power to supply south island's domestic consumption - but most is used by the aluminium smelting works near Bluff. Very like the entrance to the power station in strathfarrar, the gates open and the coach drives into the barrels of the earth to reach a large turbine floor.the whole set up is remote controlled from Twizel about 200 kms away.
Just been for walk by lake not used to this much inactivity in one day!
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