Back within 3 weeks. ;)

Just like Tim, I'm also on holiday from tomorrow.

I'm travelling alone to New Zealand's BEAUTIFUL South Island. I have made no bookings, travel or nothing, with the exception of booking the InterIslander ferry for Sunday morning, and returning via Wellington on Friday 23rd. I'll then be in Wellington for a couple of days, returning late on the 25th September.

I'll be driving where my steering wheel takes me. I have a fair route I would like to take, and have observed a few good places to shoot (actually, that is ANYWHERE in the South Island). You may see a few places familiar from Lord of the Rings..

Other good news, I received my Vosonic VP3320 80Gb! today.
I checked my order, and receipt, and YES, I did pay for a 60Gb, but received a 80Gb. All for US$291 including $22 shipping to New Zealand. That's a total of only $430. I'm charging it as I type, and will test it out late tonight, and make sure I know what I'm doing. Just importantly will have to check the Verify Function. Any tips Pete?

So that means, no photo sharing for a bit, but I promise, I'll make it up to you all.
I'm also hoping I can get a backup camera tonight. Have to ask an uncle of mine. He has a UNUSED 350D, and a smaller Canon IXUS 400 or something similar to that.

Anyway unwanted 20D bodies, 100-400L's etc, I'm willing to TAKE off fellow Kiwi photographers.

I'll be hanging around here for the next 24 hours, then that will be me.

Have fun all, and hope for some interesting weather for myself. Looking for good cloud formations, and a bit of snow would be awesome.

Have a good trip. The South Island really is a beautiful place and it's probably a good thing they gave you those extra 20GB just in case .

Not sure if you know, but the NZ AA have a guide book and accomodation book available which is quite useful for planning where to go etc.

Looking forward to seeing some of the great pics.

My silly mistake. I don't know what I was thinking, but I was adament I had chosen 60Gb. But when I did actually check the receipt and online price, realised I did choose a 80Gb. The price wasn't too different. A 100Gb was considerably more though. Only 8 hours of work left today, pack my stuff, small sleep, and I'm off.

CU Warren...
Oh wait, you're already here

Have a great trip mate!

I did exactly the same thing when I was your age, and wish I had had a camera with me when I did.

I booked an open return ferry, and just took off on boxing day in 1996 I think it was.
Landed in Picton and asked at the gas station what the best way to go was, they suggested Nelson and down the west coast, which I did.

Some advice?
Pick up hichhikers, especialy if they have a big pack and look forgian. They will teach you things about traveling you can not learn anywhere else, and will already know the best places to stay.
Stay in as many backpackers as you can stand, awsome way to meet people, just look after your camera gear.

And take your time, there is much to see and explore, the SI might as well be another country.

Enjoy!

Hehe.

Without reading your advice, I've so far been to Picton,
then Abel Tasman National Park on boat trip, down to Punakaiki, through Lewis Pass to CHCH where i currently am. Weather has been good except here on East coast its foggy. GTG. Time out. 20min for $2! CU in 1 more week.

Looking forward to your photos when you get back.

Don't worry about the east coast, apart from Kaikura its pretty boring. However Omaru and Timaru are interesting old little towns, and of course ChCh is a very pretty little city.

Shame you went down the east coast, the west coast is where its really interesting, and there is something magical about driving up into the southern alps off the west coast.

20mins should've bought you enough time to upload a couple pics!

Well as I said before, I was down the West Coast at Punakaiki, where I slept overnight, and watched the sun come up from the wrong side .
It was how I wanted it anyway, then I travelled back East via Lewis Pass. I'm here in CHCH for 2 days, then down to Moeraki Boulders for a sunrise behind them in the East, I'm kinda hoping for something amazing. Then probably day trip or less through Dunedin, and maybe even Catlins (East of Invercargill), where there are some mighty waterfalls. Then up to Queenstown, where I may be based for 3 days or so, and cover Milford Sound, an overnight trip, for a sunset, and then early morning light the following day. Again that's why I'll be in Queenstown area for 3 days, hoping for the best weather possible. And I'm possibly going back to East coast to Kaikoura on Thursday 22nd, if the weather is ok, and if I still have some cash left.

My pics are all saved on my Vosonic 80Gb player.
So far done maybe roughly 10-15Gb of shots, with many in RAW+JPG Fine.

My best photo so far is from Lake Rotoroa, in Nelson Lakes district. It was sunset time, with a mirrored lake, reflecting mountain in background, hills left and right, and a wharf with a boat in foreground. It was at the same time I was being swarmed on by musquitos... And thought I had splattered them all off my body, when I hopped in my car, as a swarm followed me in the car. I happened to be driving up the road, swatting my window, killing another 30 odd damn things!

I'm probably going to walk back to CHCH city, and do a few night shots. Even though there's some persistent drizzle, and still foggy.

coooool! I leave friday for some more good times with my sexy friends up Mt Rueaphu. Im thinking about snowcaving somewhere high so i can get a sunrise shot of the craterlake.

Depends of my snow queen is keen on spending the night in a snowcave tho!

Your gonna need a long time for PP on all those photos!

I'm very jealous of your trip. Here's some shots of the South Island I took...

http://gordonhodgkinso​n.com/showlarge/show41​.htm
http://gordonhodgkinso​n.com/showlarge/show70​.htm
http://gordonhodgkinso​n.com/showlarge/show74​.htm
http://gordonhodgkinso​n.com/showlarge/show75​.htm
http://gordonhodgkinso​n.com/showlarge/show22​.htm

Those shots are great. Too bad the weather doesn't look like that today. Your Lyttleton Harbour shot looks like where I was yesterday on Summit Road. I couldn't see more than 20metres ahead though!. Off to airport now, and maybe Akaroa later today if it clears up! Cheers

Ooh, I'm so jelous!
Spent two months driving around NZ last year, and I loved the place... Will come back and stay longer some day, need to save up a lot of money first though

Looking forward to seeing your photos, and I hope you have a great time! And yes, don't forget to hang out with the backpackers, you can meet some really great people!