I awoke this Friday in Manapouri to a mixed bag of weather. This is my first view of the morning at 07:49am, looking northwest .. AWAY from the rising sun. Pretty - but weird, huh?
So it's onto the bus to take the short ride west to Pearl Harbour wherein I ...
.. and my fellow passengers, embark aboard the first of today's two small cruising vessels; the initial one takes us across Lake Manapouri where we all disembark at West Arm.
We then travel underground by coach to see the Manpouri Power Station machine hall. It looks like something out of a James Bond movie, doesn't it?
A tunnel network leading to a huge hall all of which have been hewn out of solid rock ...
.. with seven giant power generating machines humming away beneath the stone floor
Then it's over Wilmot Pass, again by coach, stopping along the way to experience some of Fiordland's most dense rainforest, where at Deep Cove we take passage on the second of today's vessels to cruise around Doubtful Sound for three-hour; taking in some dramatic scenery.
Our skipper provide a detailed commentary and point out highlights At first view, looking at these pictures, it might appear disappointingly overcast. That it was, with rain and drizzle perhaps spoiling the day.
But not so - as whatever mood Doubtful Sound is in brings a new and different dimension for the visitor. It was a day full of shadows and mystery. The rain brought with it some spectacular waterfalls which otherwise, on a fine day, would not have been present
I'm glad I went to wet and moody Doubtful Sound on this particular Friday .. :o)------------------------
Lake Manapouri stats:-
Area: 142 sq km - fifth largest lake in New Zealand
33 islands
Shoreline length: 170 km
Catchment: 1,388 sq km
Maximum depth: 444m - second deepest lake in New Zealand (Deepest is Lake Hauroko with max depth of 462m)
Natural mean height above sea level: 177.8m
Deepest part below sea level: 266m
Average annual rainfall at West Arm: 3280mm
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