A long walk in New Zealand

Olympus XA / Leica CL

In 2019, Me and my sisters went backpacking to New Zealand, We took the highway bus from Christchurch Airport to Aoraki National Park. There were some hiking trails, we picked one called Hooker valley track. It was really a long walk, but the sceneries along the way to Mt. Cook were spectacularly beautiful. I brought film cameras Olympus Xa and Leica CL with me and took numerous film photos.

From the airport to Aoraki National Park (Leica CL / Fuji C200)

Photos taken on the bus (Olympus XA / Portra160)

We started from YHA, long way ahead. (Leica CL // Olympus XA)

Can barely see any vehicles. (Olympus XA)

Amid wild and nature solitude took on a different character. (Leica CL / Kodak Portra400)

I had never experienced this level of solitude before. Walking on the gravel and gazing the tremendous mountains. The connection between me and the world calmed me down and stopped my lonely mind from yearning for connections to others.

A peep of Mt. Cook. (Olympus XA / Fuji C200)

Olympus XA / Fuji C200

There were three drawbridges along the track. (Olympus XA / Fuji C200)

Tranquilly gazing (Olympus XA / Fuji C200)

Finally met Mt. Cook after 16km hiking. (Olympus XA / Fuji C200)

Queenstown is a big city in south island, a good place to shop and have fun. But sorry I had to say NO to those extreme sports, they were just terrifying for me. Gondola will be a great option for someone timid like me.

Much more lively in Queenstown (Leica CL / Kodak Portra400)

Olympus XA / Fuji C200

Olympus XA / Portra160

Gorgeous scenery in Arrowtown (Olympus XA / Portra160)

Arrowtown is a delightful village nestled beside the sparkling Arrow River, we took a bus to there, it was only a 20-minute drive from Queenstown to Arrowtown, worth a visit.

A small trail beside the river up to the hill. (Leica CL / Fuji C200)

After towns visiting, we headed back to lake Tekapo , again amazed by the breathtaking sceneries.

The meanders of Tasman river. (Leica CL / Fuji C200)

Leica CL / Fuji C200

wandered around Lake Tekapo (Leica CL / Fuji C200)

Hello from a seagull. (Olympus XA / Fuji C200)

Pure nature and the innocently happy children. (Olympus XA / Fuji C200)

We stayed overnight beside Lake Tekapo. (Olympus XA / Fuji C200)

It was an impressive journey, a process to embrace solitude, will always remind me how big the world is, reveal the vastness inside me, try to sense it ,and then hope emerges.

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Thanks for reading and sorry for my bad english X)