Colin didn't have the bullfrog in the end, it put him off seeing them moving around before you chose your meal.
Heard the grand prix last night and the fireworks at the end of the race, I slept badly and woke up about 8ish, there was a thunder storm in the night, so not quite do humid, very slow morning went out for breakfast to local cafe, we had something that looked like a pancake with egg and cheese in it, different, went back to Hotel, felt really tired.
Decided to visit the Changi Museum before going to airport, checked out of hotel who ordered a taxi for us, $12.
the museum was worth the trip we hired the audio equipment to go round the exhibits, it was very moving and so sad when you find out the japanese invasion was a bluff which we fell for, but then ingenuity of the internees and how got through such awful times. stopped for a bite of lunch before gettign taxi to airport, well early, then the flight was delayed by over an hour after a gate change. Jetstar is an airline that is not held in high regard, you have to pay for everything unless , like us we were booked from another carrier, so we got dinner and very strange breakfast of vegetable dumplings and noodles, loads of legroom on the plane.
27 september 2011
Plane landed in auckland over an hour late 11.05am, couldn't believe how quickly we got through customs, immigration and biosecurity-they did have to wash our boots-we were out an on our way to Domestic terminal within an hour. we couldn't book in till 14.25 so went outside and got talking to a girl by the name of Lou who was on a 12 month work exchange with Virgin Atlantic in Oz, she lives just round corner from sandie in cippenham.
Flight with Jetstar was on time and early landing in Christchurch, caught taxi to Designer Cottage in Sydenham (south Christchurch), it is lovely and Chet the iwner was very welcoming-he had upgraded out room to an ensuite. What a great bed brilliant night's sleep,bit chilly this morning, left bags at B&Bwhilst we picked up campervan, only 10-15 minute walk to Escape rentals, as we were the first customers of the day we had first pick and chose Juice a Toyota Hiace with more headroom, took about an hour to go through the paperwork etc. The bloke dealing with us was originally from the UK and was very helpful telling us where to find the nearest supermarket and petrol station, we started with 265360kms on the clock. Found way to campsite settling in for 3 night stay.
30 September
Campsite 219 on Johns, settled in and sorted van loads of storage. Campsite is great with TV lounge, fully fitted kitchen and laundry.
Thursday
After a slow start decided to visit Canterbury Museum-just outside earthquake zone-with parking at Hagley Park just a short walk away. It was fascinating, telling the story of the Maori and the early settlers, to a pictoreal display of the All Blacks, display of the first Antarctic expeditions, and a display of photographs of a well known NZ photographer (can't remember name think Barker). We left just after 4pm and still hadn't seen everything-RECOMMENDED.
Friday
Lovely hot showers this morning, we have been told about free wifi use at local libraries by a cyclist from Essex called Colin, he has been round Oz and is now cycling NZ. Found local Redwood library on Main Road North and caught up with blog, emails and facebook, it seems we can use our own computer in the libraries, will remember for next time. Tried to watch rugby on TV but only on Sky or Maori TV.
1 October
We left campsite 9.30ish to go towards Geraldine, took scenic route 72, very straight road and lots of sheep and cows. Could still see snow on the mountain tops, day has started sunny.
Stopped at Rakaia gorge and had a walk along an overgrown scenic path and dropped down into gorge-not much water-had to climb out using a ladder.
Stopped for lunch beside another little river before continuing down to our campsite for 2 nights called Grumpy's Retreat, it was a very quiet site, Grumpy was saying bookings were down due to Rugby World Cup as people staying near cup game sites.
Fantastic kitchen facilities, they have fully fitted kitchens at all campsites in NZ for use of campers. tried to watch England match but Sky not working.
2 October
Up and away early just after 9am to go to farmers market at Timaru, bit of a let down, had a walk through the park next to beach went to visit the Maori Rock Art Centre. We had a Maori guide by the name of Carl Russell. The centre had been open less than a year. Carl could trace his ancestry back to the beginning of the known history, and had been raised in the heritage. The tour should have been an hour but lasted 3 hours, it was fascinating, Carl told us about the different shapes/depictions and how over time they were fading in the limestone. The art on display had been dug out illegally many years before and had been rescued before they left the country. He also told us of his children, his daughter was working and living in Christchurch at the time of the earthquake 22 February 2011, and has remained to do what she can, his son used to play Rugby for NZ under 19s and had played professional rugby in several countries in Europe. Carl told us of the similarities between the Maori and American Indians-he is off to California in2012 to learn of their festivals-his first time outside NZ. Carl also took part in filming with Ray Mears when he did a programme on the Maori a few years ago. The time went so quickly.
3/4 October
Found the library in Geraldine and updated facebook and checked emails, Karen has sent a weekly update -Emma has been round with the kids for Craig to sort out Skype for her then they went to see Natalie and Robyn.
Headed south -very straight roads again -and stopped for lunch at Waitaki river bridge,
got talking to a couple on their honeymoon from Northern Ireland for the Rugby, they were telling us they took their campervan off road and when they checked in back they had broken all the crockery -oops. It explained all the campervans travelling north the qualifying matches were finished.
Decided to visit the Vanished World Centre at Duntroon,
there we met 2 lovely gentlemen Burns Pollock and John Hore, it cost only $5 each and is a community funded project which started approx 10 years ago when fossils and bones were discovered on land owned by John and others.
Depending who was free, they told us about the local finds some of which predate finds in other parts of the world, whilst we were chatting we were offered a cup of coffee and Burns asked if he could draw me whilst Colin was talking to John. Whislt in conversation John told us how part of his land at Antani and Elephant Rocks
was used in the filming of Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, as Aslan's camp, he then asked us to stay overnight at his farmhouse. We went off to get a bottle of wine from the Kerrow winery nearby-Pinot Grisot and to stop at the elephant rocks on the way, I could only see 3 elephants.
Arrived at John's to find his wife Margaret was out for the night, so John cooked suauges and roasted veg for dinner with homemade gooseberry sauce, the wine was lovely.
He told us about the filming and preparation prior to the cast arriving, new road and access had to be built for catering units and toilets (600 people). He showed us a scrapbook he kept of that time with photos , he said Tilda Swinton was great with the grandchildren.
He told us he sold most of the farmland a few years ago but had kept 100 acres to potter around along with his commitments to the Vanishing world centre and trails.
When Margaret arrived home they were telling us about their 3 month trip to Europe last year, travelling uk by hire car, bus tour of europe and then by rail independantly in Europe.
Over breakfast Margaret asked if we were staying (last visitor stayed 6 weeks), but we had to move on, lovely warm welcoming couple.
Drove down to Moeraki boulders, and had first walk along a NZ beach, weather could have been a bit warmer, the boulders are so strange really round.
Travelled on to Otago Peninsula near Dunedin to campsite for 2 nights, found very windy roads on way to site.
5 October
Leisurely morning downloading photos onto computer, drove to Penguin Place but tour too expensive so went onto Albatross colony centre, didn't do the tour but they had a small history gallery, able to walk to cliff edge and see the Shags nesting-sunny but cold wind-views were stunning.
Bit cold last night, early start, heading to Invercargill. Followed scenic coastal road, very windy, to Slope Point-southern most point of south island-5140 kms to equator 4830 kms to south pole, amazing cliffs.
Drove further on to a small bay for lunch where the worst shipwreck in NZ history happened in 1881, tide not out far enough for us to see it. Met a lady who was fishing for whitebait (nothing like the whitebait at home), she came from Gore and currently has her son serving in Afghanistan in NZ airforce. Drove onto Bluff and found signpost showing over 18000kms to London,
Colin got talking to a German couple on motorbikes, which they containered to OZ and travelled around country for 10 months before coming to NZ and then onto south america, they were on a 3 year trip. they had stayed on some good DOC sites but the weather had been very cold at times-ice on tent in the morning. Then got talking to an Irish couple who were in middle of 7 weeks in NZ before going onto Oz. arrived at Beach Tourist Pk Ivercargill about 4.30ish for the night, another good site.
7 October Friday
Loosing track of days of the week.
Good sleep, great showers again, before leaving site to go towards Queenstown, found supermarket on way out of town to resupply. I took over driving to give Colin a chance to sightsee, unfortunately long straight roads again
till past Lumsden, when we started climbing and found the windy roads following the Lake Wakatipu,absolutely stunning as were the views,
but Rose bottled out driving as the traffic queues behind were growing so Colin took over .As the day went on the weather improved and getting out of the wind it got very hot.Stopped in Queenstown to use library had to pay $2 for 30mins,had a walk down to lakeside and bought a couple of souvenirs before making towards Makarora to find a DOC site for the night ,found Kidds Bush by luck as satnav only recognised part of the road the rest was down 6km of dirt track to the site ,its absolutely fantastic by the lakeside
.Lake Hawea. There were only a couple of other campers on site then 3 German lads turned up with a tent followed by a homemade campervan towing a 4x4 with a rubber boat on the top .After dinner we had a walk to the lake and played skimming stones across the water ,we both scored a 6 ,lovely evening.
8 October Saturday
Had rain in the night, but lovely morning getting sunnier all the time, left site about 9ish making for Haast-windy roads again- visited Haast beach
where the waves were amazing looking out towards Tasman Basin. Colin still driving as roads to Fox glacier still windy and also very hilly, some bends have to slow down to 25km-very challenging (I am scared of windy roads with big drops. why do we always find them!!!). On the road into the site there were signposts to show how much the glacier had shrunk back in the last century,
we also had to go over speed humps the first of which Colin took a bit fast and we could hear a load of clattering coming from the back of the van, when we stopped we discovered one of the mugs had been thrown from the sink to the other side of the van and was still in one piece .Left car and walked 500m up to Fox Glacier , to get to within 400m of base.
The scenery has been stunning today but very blowy in places which has made the driving tiring.
We carried onto Hokitika for the night with me driving for the last 50-60km as roads not so challenging,Hokitika Holiday Park for the night again good site. watched end of Ireland/Wales game with Wales winning 22-10, started to watch England/France but after French try went to bed.
9 October Sunday
Slow start, got talking to older couple in kitchen who are on 5 week tour from Hamilton, he originally came from Brakcley. After filliin up with water on road at 10.15. Made ourway to Arthurs pass weather improving as we go -sunny
-stopped at Devils Punchbowl waterfall at the Arthurs Pass village but didn't fancy the 1 hour walk to base of waterfall.
as usual on very windy roads with lovely drops!!!!!
Stopped at Lake Pearson for lunch, Colin spoke to Colin T and we are getting to them tomorrow night for a few days.
Made our way to DOC site (Grey River, Ashley Forest) 20 km west of Amberley, Crampton BushR road not on satnav, but we just followed our noses, gravel road very windy again and hilly-logging roads-when we arrived lots of kids already campe. It is in the middle of the forest. Downloaded photos onto computer only taken just over 300 so far. after dinner took some wood over to the kids for the fire and joined them for a while, they range in age from 14-19 and are camping for 2 nights, nice bunch made us feel welcome, we left them to it before dark.
10 October Monday
thought felt tremor soon after went to bed. Cold night the windows were frosted when we woke up, glad not camping and in the van with 2 duvets. The loo is a hole in the ground in a shed and the door doesn't shut -oh well. the sun is coming up nicely, left camp 9ish heading to Hanmer springs. Yet again windy hilly roads,
Onto Kaikoura, dropped down across country via Waiu and Rotherham to Hawkswood, to join the coast road, the sea looks amazing due to the strong easterly winds,
Colin spotted a seal but couldn't get photo quick enough. Kaikoura was a nice little town where we picked up a postcard for littluns. Stopped at Ohau Point Lookout to see the fur seals, most of them were laying in the sun on the rocks but a few were play fighting or pups suckling with mum, great sight.
11/12 October
Had an easy day after good sleep, had to go shopping as Colin had volunteered us to cook dinner tonight, then went to MacDonalds to use free wifi. caught up with emails sending messages to Natalie, Robyn and Natalie, Colin downloaded campermate.co.nz onto his ipod. another nice evening, Jan had a Pavlova for dessert, it was scrumptious.
woken up by Phoenix Personnel at 6am ringing the wrong Colin!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 how stupid.
Now my phone is suddenly calling out?
Filled up with fuel and dropped key at Jan's, she had left us a lovely note and a kiwi pin.
Drove to Nelson and then onto Takaka, the roads were challeging from Upper Takaka, had to slow to 15km for some bends, scenery different again with vineyards and orchards before climbing into the forests.
THE THINGS SOME PEOPLE DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
weather good to start but soon after arriving at Takaka it started raining. strange man at campsite.
13 October thursday
Sunny skies after a warm night, showers hot and powerful. As we were packing up got talking to a young couple who had pulled into campsite to use the showers, they have been in the North Island for 4 months aftern buying an ex campervan from escape rentals for $2000. they have been camping free a lot and use swimming pools and campsites for showers costing about $5, we gave them details of DOC sites we had used and campermate. The camp owner came over and told us about happnz and happycampers, he also gave us a local map and suggest we visit Pupu springs just outside Takaka, well worth a visit.
we then headed back to Motueka (the road back not as bad as yesterday) still scary for Rose
. Took road to Kohatu then onto Kawatiri Junction our free stop for the night. It used to be a railway station and we had a walk over the river and along the disused railway tunnel (1923). Another van turned up with 6 young people but they were very quiet-lots of flies.
14 October Friday
Had rain in the night but not cold,left camp abut 8.30 towards St Arnaud, blink and you miss it, up to Renwick and Havelock before joining the Queen Charlotte Drive to Picton, colin had to take over driving due to the roads again-hairpin bends. the views were amazing across the sounds, wepassed a couple of good campsites at the waters edge
arrived in Picton 12.30 ish so booked ferry for tomorrow at 2pm with Bluebridge ($193 dollars cheaper than expected). Parked in nearby park near the harbour and museums, after lunch we had a game of mini golf and I got 2 holes in 1 and beat Colin by 4 strokes (Iususally lose),the weather looked a bit grim so we went into the Picton Museum, whilst in there we had a thunderstorm and torrential rain and it got noticeably colder.
Found Alexanders campsite Canterbury st ,just before 4pm,looks ok.Popped to local shop for baccy and chocolate before visiting the first ever bar on our travels,for a couple of pints and a go on their meat raffle. Its not like a pub at home, it had a massive gambling area within the pub which included slots,horses dogs harness racing electronically.Prices for drinks on par with home.There was also another torrential whilst in the pub (so i hwd to have another pint).
Met a couple in the kitchen whilst cooking dinner , he is an Oz and she is Canadian. They are travelling round NZ before going on to Oz they've just finished working as teachers, they seem to be a well travelled couple both separately and together,he knew of Kettering as he supported the Saints whilst in the UK.nice evening. Wish we were told about the trains.
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