New Zealand at last – Orksome!! (get it?)

As I write this we have been in NZ for exactly one week and we have travelled quite a few km already. We have one more week to go here in NZ before bidding Rose farewell and travelling to San Fran with the boys on the first leg of our trip home.

I am writing this after a day spent in the most torrential rain in the Franz Josef glacier. Internet access here is based on how much you use in kb so uploading photos is a non starter, so forgive the gaps again!

We flew into Christchurch and were there for two nights. Don’t believe the Lonely Planet guide description of it – we didn’t find any gothic architecture, or really anything much of interest. It’s a pretty boring, bland town with a few interesting shops, but high prices. We arrived on a Sunday and it appeared deserted so we were quite taken aback to be kept awake until gone 4.00 am by the noise from the bars behind our apartment. Having slept well in quite a few major cities on our travels, it was pretty ironic to be unable to sleep here! The kids btw loved the apartment as it was the only place to have free internet, and 2 out of the 3 slept on unbothered by the noise. On our second day here we abandoned the town and fled to the countryside. Within 10 minutes of leaving the town we suddenly were in the most spectacular scenery you can imagine, the type I had always associated with NZ and the reason I had wanted to come here. In this place, Lyttleton, the lush greenery, clear blue sky and blue of the water seemed especially dramatic after the burnt out colours of much of Australia.

We drove on to a town called Akaror which was established by French settlers who arrived on one boat back in the 1840s. The French influence is still very apparent with boulangeries and French road signs.

 

But Maori too?

 

Our destination on this day was the Banks peninsula (so on the East coast of the South island). We reached a beautful beach but the sea was freezing and I stepped out after getting my ankles wet, being made of sterner stuff the others made it in for a game of ball. I think most of the others on the beach were locals as they had boats with tractors, not pulled by cars!

After another sleep deprived night, we left Christchurch for our next destination Queenstown, in the centre of the South island and on the edge of the Fjordland National Park. Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of NZ and J had thought it would be a good place to spend new year. The drive there was long, but spectacular. When we stopped the drop in temperature was immediately apparent even though the sun was still shining. You can tell by the mix of apparel that some felt the cold more than others (TJ), and even Rory sported his recent purchase of a a NZ beanie hat! Here we are at Lake Tekapo, where the water was such a deep glacial blue, all around the lake were beautiful flowers. As we drove on we saw fields full of lupins in every shade of mauve, lilac and pink, with a very few white ones. These colours combined with the deep greens and blues were really wonderful.

 

As we drove further on we passed snow covered mountains including Mount Cook, the highest mountain in NZ. Our apartment in Queenstown was overlooking the lake and away from the centre. Once again we had floor to ceiling sliding windows and balconies – and best of all it was peaceful! The town itself, although beautifully appointed at the top of the lake, was teeming with holiday makers with concomittant traffic jams and queues so we didn’t stay long. We had thought of walking back into town to see the fireworks at midnight, but I hadn’t been feeling too well and the others, whether in sympathy or laziness, decided they would stay in with me. I didn’t even have an alcoholic beverage all night!

This was the view from our apartment!

Queenstown certainly lives up to its reputation as adventure capital, you can do the most amazing things there if you have enough money to burn – and if you are devoid of the gene that makes you think of the risks involved. The local paper for the New Year’s edition listed all the people who had died that year in the area – and how – jet surfing, river surfing, micro gliding, jet skiing, mountain climbing, heli climbing…the list goes on. Although I was very surprised to learn that noone had died from bungy jumping. Anyhow luckily none of our three had any money to try anything other than walking with ma and pa…..

We drove from Queenstown to the Southern Alps. This is true Lord of the Rings country, so I have to say the scenery was totally orksome (man). On New Year’s Eve we walked around a river to a lake. After France we were now in Scotland, crossing Mull Road and Oban Road to reach Glenorchy. After a picnic lunch we planned to go to Paradise for a walk but we had to give up. We couldn’t reach paradise!

 

The road there was unmade and very rough with clouds of dust swirling in our wake, but then we came to a ford that looked a mite too deep for us and our rented vehice. J realised that we weren’t even covered on our policy for driving on unmade roads so we figured we had better not attempt to cross it – so turned around, leaving Paradise for another day. Admire the latest headwear in these photos – J is modelling his Christmas present, genuine Australian and made of Kangaroo leather! Rose and I bought the same hat made from Alpaca wool, but I have had to promise that after NZ I will never wear it when I am with Rose again

 

New Year’s day was bright and sunny and hot, so we set off for another walk. This time an 8km ‘strenous’ uphill ascent to Sawpoint Gully. This used to be Gold Mining Country so when we reached a stream J and the kids tried their luck. A fault in our plan was that we weren’t sure whether what we found was gold or not, but we presumed not. The walk was beautiful, but exhausting. I don’t think I was fully fit, but it was a really difficult walk for some of us.

 

 

Even TJ will now wear a hat to cover up in the sun – and its John’s!!  (I can put this up safe in the knowledge he only looked at the blog once – but he looks kind of cute!).

Thomas is teaching Rory how to whistle with grass!

Another spectacular view!

Arrowtown

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