I added a photo below of the rainbow that arched across the waterfall during our cruise yesterday. So lovely. Also, I found out today that it rains in Milton Sound more than 270 days a year, so we were so extraordinary lucky to have such a beautiful sunny day.

Yesterday I mentioned purchasing a winter hat. A few days ago, I purchased a beautiful shawl, made of the same material…merino wool, possum fur, and silk. I told you in a previous post how the possums are decimating the wildlife and the land in New Zealand. They came from Australia and were introduced to New Zealand in the 1860’s to start a fur trade there. The population got out of hand quickly, and now the possums are hunted, poisoned, trapped and shot and conservationists are seeking alternative solutions to rid the country of these pests. They eat the birds eggs so the birds are in danger of becoming extinct. There are currently over 47.6 million possums in New Zealand.

In the meantime, scientists have discovered that possum fur cannot be knitted like Merino wool, but it is hollow and holds warmth very well and it never freezes. They realized it can be incorporated with Merino wool to make beautiful garments. It takes about 18 possums to provide 39 lbs of fur and when combined with the Merino wool, the outcome is outstanding! My items are 53% Merino wool, 40% possum fur, and 7% silk. They are warm, soft, and just beautiful. So for now, possums that have been hunted or trapped are used for at least some good.

We were able to sleep in today and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. We did a bit of laundry and then at 12:30 we walked over to get the coach for our adventure of the day: Jet boating on the Dart River!!

We had about a 45 minute ride to where the jet boats leave from, traveling all along Lake Wakatipu and enjoying the beautiful mountains. We were bundled up with lots of layers since Catherine said it would be windy and cold on the water.

We arrived at the town of Glenorchy where we would depart from in our jet boat. Glenorchy is a little town with 400 residents. The jet boat folks gave us heavy rain slickers and life jackets and we were also given gators for around our neck that we were told to pull over the top of our heads so that we could tuck our sunglass frames inside so the sunglasses didn’t blow away.

We boarded the jet boat and were given safety instructions and then…we were off. It was exhilarating and a lot of fun!!! Our pilot Pedro did 360 degree spins in the water every now and again, letting us know he was going to do one by circling his hand above his head. He had to navigate the shallow waters and the rocks and we zipped through and around curves, holding on for dear life. The handle bars we held onto were heated, so that made our gloves nice and cozy.

Pedro stopped every now and then to make sure we were all okay and hadn’t turned chartreuse, and he would then tell us about the mountain and the areas where parts of The Lord of the Rings was filmed. He also told us he came from Brazil but fell in love with a kiwi girl and didn’t want to leave this beautiful country. He’s been driving the jet boats for about four years.

According to Wikipedia, “A jet-boat is a boat propelled by a jet of water ejected from the back of the craft.” It differs from a powerboat in that it does not use a propeller that sits under the water. It draws water into a pump inside the boat and then expels it. It rides along the surface of the water for the most part.

In the 1950’s in New Zealand, a Kiwi by the name of Sir William (Bill) Hamilton, developed the Hamilton Jet unit. You can read more about him in one of the photos posted below.

We were out in the jet boat for about two hours, cruising between the beautiful mountains and enjoying the ride. It was a fabulous adventure!

We came back around 5:15 and went to dinner with the group at 6:15. We have flights tomorrow to the North Island flying first to Wellington and then on to Rotorua.

Seeing the South Island of New Zealand has been amazing! Christchurch, Canterbury, Otago, Milford Sound, Queenstown! Just fabulous! Looking forward to seeing what the North Island adventures will be.

Below – The rainbow on the waterfall during yesterday’s cruise in Milford Sound.

Sunrise this morning in Queenstown

Our friend Sharon caught a photo of an Aotearoa in flight. Great pic!!!

Along the Wakatipu River

Black swans with their cygnets

The peak in the distance was in Lord of the Rings.

The pilot has to avoid the rocks. The waters are very shallow.

My Merino wool, possum fur, and silk hat and shawl.