This was down in the power plant. They built a power plant to get energy for an aluminium smelter. The water goes from the lake, down a tunnel, through generators and then shoots into the sound which is lower than the lake. The tunnel to get to it is 2 kilometers long and it is big enough for two busses to fit in.
We went on the doubtful sound tour. It is the biggest of the fiords on the southern tip of the south island. It was one of the highlights of our trip.
Mt. Cook
Mt Cook is the highest mountain in New Zealand. It is also one of the most technical hikes in the world. The first to conquer Everest trained on Mt. Cook.
This was in Kaikora on the east coast about two hours north of Christchurch. There was a bunch of baby seals right off the road about two minutes walk up a stream. Their mom's leave them for the day while they go get food and the baby's have a ball playing in the stream and water fall.
Weston's cute belly
The Abel Tasmen is a great hike at the very north of the south island. It is a very easy hike with beautiful views of the ocean and the water is quite warm.
New Zealand Hikes are nothing to joke about. They are tough. If they say strenuous, you can bet they will be harder than any strenuous hike in the states. If you look close there is a marker at the top of this hill. The trail went straight up, no switch backs.
There were quite a few streams and swamp things to cross on the way out.
This was the way out on the second day and I was pretty tired.
This was at the hut.
Here is the hut we stayed in. There were two rooms with 8 padded bunks and a big room with fire place and picnic tables.
This is the hike we did. It was a loop. 6 hours in to the hut from Andrew's shelter, and 8 hours out back to the shelter. It took us 6.5 to get in, and about 10 to get out. I totally hit a wall on the way up through the saddle. Once we got a little food in me we were able to finish. The good news is cause we were hiking out in the dark we got to see a Kiwi bird. Kiwi's are nocturnal and they are very rare. Not many people have seen them in the wild, so we felt pretty special.
Here we are in the hut getting ready to go. This is right before Weston puked all over the floor as we were getting ready to walk out the door.
This is a board walk they build over the marshy part. It went on for about a quarter of a mile.
This is about half way on the hike. We were completely soaked to the bone from here on out until we reached the hut.
This is the first hour or so into the hike.
This is the start of our hike.
This is a via duct that shoots the water over the road into the river so it doesn't wash the water out.
This is Arthurs pass. It is one of three passes that connect the east side of the south island to the west side. 
Weston got his two bottom teeth right before we left and learned how to use them in Sumner as I was letting him chew on my apple. He bit right into my finger. Hurt pretty bad.
Sumner is a little town outside Christchurch. It was hit pretty hard by the earthquake as it is right next to a big cliff.
Beautiful sunset on the most windy road I have been on. Made me car sick.
In front of the Akaroa Bay.
This is an army truck, check out the kiwi bird on the left side.
Cool ol' car
This is a little harbor town south of Christchurch with amazing fish and chips, which we were too busy eating to get a picture of.
We had a fun time walking around what is left of Christchurch after the earth quake. 
The trip over turned out to be a lot easier than I was expecting. Weston got to hang out in this basinet and slept for the 10 of 13 hours. He had a great time.
