This whole time in New Zealand has been on the Australian Plate. The big (strike-slip) fault that separates it from the Pacific Plate goes through the South Island, along the western edge, and exits south of where we landed from the ferry from the North Island. Today was our first good view of the Southern Alps, a well named super steep mountain range along the western edge of the southern island of New Zealand. Water is abundant on the west side of the fault, as well as the ferns we have grown to admire. Crossing them led to terrain that was dryer, and grassier. And to our surprise, the valley was full of flowers that we recognized!

No, I don’t think the lupines arrived with the tectonic plate. This first day we saw them, they were constrained to a river valley, so we guessed that someone brought seeds of their favorite flower here, planted them, and this is the result. Life does have a way of reproducing.

This spiny, dangerous plant is called “Wild Irishman”. We hypothesized that if sheep were to go through a field of this stuff, it would look like it had “snowed” wool.

The Remarkables were aptly named. Steep, rocky mountains to our left as we drove south near the giant fault.

We drove into Queenstown for lunch – a crowded touristy spot – but we found a cute cafe called Red Rock.

Now, we have to get ready for a big day! Tomorrow, the famed Milford Sound was our destination.

*****written by Clare*****

• New Zealand 2016-17