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Weekly Travel Photo. Rain forest near Lake Marian

Vi — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:07:28 +0000

Rain forest near Lake Marian in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand

On your hike to Lake Marian you will need to pass this beautiful rain forest.

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Key Summit trail. Short trails in New Zealand

Vi — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:01:01 +0000

Not far from Lake Marian track there is another short walk to Key Summit Track, which leads to very nice peak with 360 degree view.

View from Key Summit, Fiordland, New Zealand

The best time to walk there in my opinion is in afternoon as at that time sun very nice lightens Southern Alps.

View Hiking in New Zealand in a larger map

So if you are going Milford Sound cruise in the morning, on your way back stop in The Divide car park where trail starts. There also begins Routeburn Track, but after you pass beech forest Routeburn and Key Summit tracks will split. Track is well signed and there is no way to get lost there. It takes about 40-60 minutes one way to get to summit and I would grade it as easy walk comparing with Lake Marian track

Some more photos from Fiordland in New Zealand

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Most dangerous species in New Zealand

Vi — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 08:23:10 +0000

This week I read news about most dangerous animal in New Zealand at the moment – dolphin Moko, who became too intimidate with people in Gisborne.

It made me start thinking what was most dangerous creature I met during time I lived in New Zealand. I love New Zealand’s safe nature – no poison snakes or grizzlies in the woods, there are no deadly animals in New Zealand at all. But there are some not so friendly species and here is mine top 3 :

3. Kea – mountain parrot. It won’t hurt you (at least I didn’t hear any accidents), but need to be careful and not leave any bags unattended in the mountains. Bird can open your bag and take anything from it. In the above picture you can see kea checks my backpack. Also it is better not allow get too close to your car as it likes to rip rubber parts. It is funny to watch some bus drivers running around the bus and trying to keep keas away from it. You definitely will meet these birds in Southern Alps.

kea checks my backpack

2. Mosquitoes. Is anywhere in the world mosquitoes free place? In new Zealand they can be met anywhere.

1. Sandflies – probably most painful species in New Zealand. At least I didn’t see anything worse then it. It is so itchy. Somewhere I read they shouldn’t be active after sun set, but most bites I got then it was starting getting dark. Or may be it was time of day when I wasn’t moving enough? By maori legend the god Tu-te-raki-whanoa created sand fly to make people move and work instead of admire the beauty of Fiordland.

West coast of South Island is the worst. So be prepare for it.

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Lake Marian track. Short trails in New Zealand

Vi — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:01:12 +0000

Probably the nature is main thing attracts people to New Zealand. Though a lot of tourists come to New Zealand only for couple weeks and it is far from enough to hike (or tramp) longer treks like Milford track which takes about 4 days to complete. But time shortage should not stop you to do at least shorter hikes. One of such short hikes is Lake Marian trail in Fiordland National Park (somebody calls it Marion lake, but it is probably just misspelling). Track is located on the way to famous Milford Sound.

View Hiking in New Zealand in a larger map

It is not easiest walk as track is steep in some places and can be muddy after rain, but it takes less then an hour to reach the lake and you’ll be rewarded with view to beautiful alpine lake surrounded by mountains.

Lake Marian

Water even in summer is quite cold but is very refreshing if you’ll be keen to swim in hot day.

Here are more pictures from Fiordland in New Zealand and information about other short walks in South Island, New Zealand.

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