http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Ian and Pru/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Ian and Pru en-us Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:26:02 UTC Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:26:02 UTC Well it was getting to the point where we thought the only way left was downhill but it turns out New Zealand still had amazing adventures in store for us The day after our Queenstown adventure we got on the road for the day our final destination being Fox Glacier. However in New Zealand no driving day is ever boring and some stunning scenery awaited us even in the rain. The first stop of the http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Christchurch/blog-345832.html Well the adventures continues if not a little more sedately. From Hamner Springs we started to head south over the Canterbury plains. Our first lsquosightseeing stoprsquo was Lake Tekapo this is a crystal blue lake with the perfect back drop of snow covered mountains. On the edge of the lake sits the church of the good shepherd built in memory of the Scottish shepherds who managed to work http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Queenstown/blog-345819.html Wow what a start to the South Island and even the weather has been with usDay one of the South IslandWell following our crossing over the Cook Strait and through Queen Charlotte Sound we arrived in Picton. First consideration was the fact the wine had run out so it was of to a couple of wineries for the afternoon We visited Saint Claire Winery first and had a spot of lunch before a bit of tas http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/South-Island/Nelson-Lakes-National-Park/blog-340481.html Well since our last entry we have spent our last couple of weeks in Wellington and had a tour of the west coast and met up with Wim Agatha and Jan Ianrsquos parents and uncleBack to our last couple of weeks in Wellington we had two more weekends here after our last blog entry. The first one we decided to take it easy tidy the van and have a good night out in Wellington We found ourselves http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Egmont-National-Park/blog-340465.html Well it has been a while however as it is winter wet windy and cold we have not really had much to say However now spring is just about here Anyway back to the last entry after much tooing and throwing and a variety of job offers interviews and options we have found ourselves settled in jobs. Ian is now know as BATman due to his job on a construction site as a labourer and insulatorBA http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Wellington/blog-330876.html Hello..... well as a few of you keep telling us it has been a while since we updated our blog so here is the updateOur last entry finished with us going to work in a Feijoa orchard pruning the trees. On the Monday we moved into our new home an old packhouse big shed We parked up our van inside plugged in and settled into our living quaters a nice sofa toilet and kitchen better than some http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Hawkes-Bay/Porangahau/blog-304903.html Well our plan of working in Tauranga never really happened. We arrived at the worst time of year for work as it was the gap between picking and pruning which meant there were lots of backpackers trying to find work. So after a couple of nights there and at a neighbouring town Mount Manganui we decided to head off. However Mt Manganui was a nice spot with a mount which Ian took an early evening http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Rotorua/blog-289479.html Ok well we left it with setting of for the north of NZ. On the sunday the weather was very sunny and we headed to Doubtless bay. Which has some amazing beaches including Maitai Bay which there is a photo of attached. We also visited what is reputed to be one of NZ best fish and chip shops in Mangonui for lunch which was very good We then made it round to a fairly southern point on 90 mile beach. http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/blog-284850.html Well it has been a while but this travelling thing is hard work and very busy We will break things down into a couple of entries first I will go back to our last couple of weeks in Kerikeri. Well we continued to do lanscape gardening till 2 days before we left when the rain allowed. Then at weekends we took it fairly easy but we did manage a couple fo days trips We did some more finishing http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Bay-of-Islands/Kerikeri/blog-284843.html Well we left the last entry with the starting of kiwi box making on the monday. Well it turned out we were putting spray covers on kiwi vines at a research centre for kiwis and it started on the tuesday So we found ourselves with a free day on the monday. We had a bit of a relaxing morning and then in the afternoon headed of to another local waterfall the Rainbow falls pictures attached Howe http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Bay-of-Islands/Kerikeri/blog-274884.html Week 2Well we left it last week with our arrival in Kerikeri. Our first job was to find work however the fruit was lacking sugar so the normal seasonal work associated with the fruit picking packhouse work etc. was not available. So we took things easy for a couple of days whilst watching the torrential rain it gets pretty bad here the weather is referred to as subtropical so generally when http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Bay-of-Islands/Kerikeri/blog-268160.html We arrived on the Thursday and spent the first couple of days eating and finding our bearings We also ahd a van to buy On the friday we visited a local backpackers car market not one to be recommended then on sat we found another and on sunday morning we went to a big one at the race course. To get to the race course we did a train journey unfortunatly they are not as frequent as in London http://www.travelblog.org//Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Auckland/blog-268155.html