Up an hour before dawn, kept my first run on South Island close to our Christchurch lodging – early tour start this morning.  Quick 3 miles ‘round Burnside Park.  Run highlights: rugby field, lawn bowling, morning sunrise.  G’day New Zealand!

Full day planned – 4WD tour, Jet Boat…no TranzAlpine Train.  Rated one of the world’s top six train journeys, but unfortunately all train travel on South Island down (‘til March 22^nd) due to extensive forest fire (it’s Southern Hemisphere summer).

Off-roaded across a rural cattle farm [Torlesse Station], driving UP UP UP steep switchbacks, ultimately climbing 3000ft+.  Stopped & took in the landscape – clouds poured in, keeping temps cool…beautiful Canterbury Plains loomed below.  No cattle this high; altitude however doesn’t slow the island sheep.  Sighted a herd lunching on moisture-rich shrub grass.  HUGE topography change from yesterday, more reminiscent of Colorado than New Zealand’s tropical North.

45 minutes from Torlesse Station, jet-boated up one of New Zealand’s major snow-fed rivers, the Waimakariri.  Spray jacket, hat, gloves, life vest – check check check, boarded my first [Hamilton] jet boat.  Weaving in & out of rock faces, over white water rapids, thru high rock canyons…at times, gliding over water less than 3 feet deep.  WOW, WOW, WOW!

Amazing shot of the Southern Alps on the return ride near Lake Pearson.  Mirror image of Colorado’s San Juan Range.  Stunning.

Rental car pickup tomorrow.  5 hour drive, west over Arthur’s Pass to Franz Josef Glacier.  Super excited!  Is it morning yet? 🙂

…meanwhile, far far away in Colorado — pup’s enjoying an adventure of his own 🙂

Jetboating the Waimakariri