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Home Page of Ben

Hello, I am Ben. That's a photo of me over there. If you are on this website, chances are that you already know me and have my email address. If you do not, but would like to send me an email click here.

On this site I have included many photos which I took recently, while on holiday in New Zealand. Most of them were taken when I was "tramping".(New Zealand for walking, hiking, trekking or rambling).
This site is totally Ben and you won't see anyone other than me in the photo galleries which accompany each heading below.
Also, please take time to sign my guestbook while you're here!

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Dunedin and Otago Peninsula
Spent a few days in Dunedin, didn't take too many photos, but click here to see Dunedin city, two photos of shags nesting in a cliff on Otago Peninsula and the lighthouse on the aforementioned peninsula.
Stewart Island
Reached Stewart Island ready to do the three day Rakiura track but decided this was a bit "wussy" and headed off on the ten day tramp. A description of this walk, "the North-West circuit", is here. Turned out to be the most challenging walk (tramp) I did whilst in New Zealand. It was quite muddy in parts and also quite hilly, but very rewarding for its isolation.


Click on the left thumbnail to see Gallery One and the right thumbnail to see Gallery Two of Stewart Island photos.

The Kepler Track
Arrived at Te-Anau. Was told the Kepler track was closed due to avalanche danger. Did the first leg up the hill and into the snow as a return day-trip. Worked well because it gave me a rest from lugging my 20kg backpack around. Good views of Lake Te-Anau, but the attraction for me was seeing snow. Always a thrill to someone raised in Australia. Didn't just see snow, got snowed on. Rainbow came out nicely in one of these photos. Mission accomplished!
Milford Road and Milford Sound
Back at Te-Anau met two girls and a guy who needed an extra person for a sea-kayak tour of Milford Sound. Joined them. Trip to Milford was spectacular, out on the water even more so. Some photos are here.

Even more Milford - The Milford Track
Could not access the Lake Te-Anau end of the Milford Track because Mackinnon Pass was shut due to avalanche danger and the boats were not running. Instead walked into Dumpling Hut in torrential rain, walked up Mackinnon Pass the next day in brilliant sunshine and left in drizzle the day after that. Click on the thumbnail to the right for the pictures.
The Caples Track
Looked at a map and figured the best way from Milford to Queenstown was not by road but cross-country as it is about a quarter of the distance. I was advised the Routeburn was shut, so decided on the Caples Track as my route across. Photos are here.
Queenstown and Wanaka
Seven of these photos are taken from Ben Lomond, the big mountain behind the tourist town of Queenstown. One is just a random shot of Queenstown, included because I don't know why I took it and the last is of Lake Wanaka.
The Brewster Hut Walk
From Wanaka, I did a walk that was basically three hours straight uphill. Got above the treeline, to find it Finally reached Brewster Hut up in the snow. Stayed longer than expected here as it poured with rain and we couldn't make the river crossing on our descent and had to return. I finally got to see proper snow. It snowed a lot while we were up there. Built a snowman. Unfortunately the photos of him didn't turn out, however the photos that did are in the hut, to the left.
Welcome Flat Walk
After being trapped up in the snow for four nights, what better way to thaw out than in steaming hot pools. This was the attraction of Welcome Flat where I think I ended up staying three nights (four days).
Franz-Josef Glacier
Did an ice-climbing course at Franz-Josef Glacier. Some photos of me (always a thrill) and some scenery shots are to the left


Christchurch, Kaikoura, Picton and Wellington
After catching the train from Greymouth to Christchurch, I headed up to Picton and the North Island of New Zealand. First stop on the North Island is Wellington where the ferry pulls up. Here are two shots from the hill at Christchurch, two of seals on the rocks at Kaikoura, one of Picton, the departure point of the ferry and two of Wellington.
Tongariro National Park
Started at National Park Village with hundreds of other people on the Tongariro Crossing. Weather turned bad on the top of the volcano. The intense wind turned the walk into a bit of an ordeal. The next day was ideal for taking photos and they can be seen by clicking the thumbnail to your right. The third day was misty again and I left to go north on Desert Road to Rotorua.