Chapter 19: Glenorchy

29/12/2019
Watching the stars in Glenorchy

While the Dutch speaking squad is heading back too Queenstown for some bungee jumping (or rather swinging, the Nevis swing, the largest swing drop in the world), I am heading back up North. I had already different plans so my next destination is Glenorchy. The scenic route is described as the gateway to heaven as it takes you next to a blue water river towards the Mountains adjacent to Fiordland. Here the Routeburn track starts which I want to hike

tomorrow.

I check into the Glenorchy ecocamp, the most ecofriendly and self-sustainable accommodation in New Zealand. It has the largest solar panel farm on the Southern island; only uses micro filtered and UV treated rainwater, which is recycled before going back into the water system. Showers are only operational for 5 minutes and the advanced compost toilets can be used after 2 years as fertilizer for agriculture. It kinda looks like a western theme park and the continental breakfast is included. Now I remember why I payed so many New Zealand dollars for my bunkbed.

I go out for a walk and explore the little Glenorchy town. The major reason people come here is for being in the middle of nowhere. Secondly, to watch nature. I visit the local coastline, to see the sun paint the sky (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAE1NbKstqk). It

feels like a place where the clouds are born before they reach the sky. The return trip only takes me 5 min since the town is that small and I start to cook. The kitchen here is awesome and huge. The first place I am staying in New Zealand that uses induction stoves! A family of 21 people is celebrating the holidays in the Ecocamp and prepare a very nice looking BBQ banquet. Almost as nice as my Couscous and vegetables which provide me with sufficient amount of energy to do a nightly walk. The stars in this place are awesome but my tremor in my hands prevent me of taking nice pictures of them. Well, on my stop at lake Tekapo I hopefully will be more prepared to capture this beautiful moment! I don’t stay out too long since it is fucking cold here in the mountains!

Good night you all,

Steven