Blogs from Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania

As always happens, the trip gets in the way of writing up the account. So almost a week has passed in blog time and I realise I have no chance in catching up. In an effort to ensure the blog is complete before I tell everyone about the trip in person, here is a synopsis of the past few days. I am now sat in our bedroom in the Oinako B&B in Akaroa on the Banks peninsula, just SE of Christchurch. It’s a glorious day and Pam and I took a boat trip to spot the rare Hector’s Dolphin (the world’s smallest and rarest ocean mammal), little blue penguins (also the smallest) and fur seals earlier today. I think she is now somewhere in the village eating mussels and sipping Rosé. To look at, as we ... read more

Following the stunning beauty of Kaikoura and our Xmas day sunshine, we started boxing day watching albatross and whale, and finished off in the middle of a francophile filled volcano cone. Like an ice cream but without the flake. Apparently the French 'bought it' from the Maori in 1838...not in the military sense, you understand...in fact in that sense the Maori 'bought it' from a rival Maori tribe, virtually wiping out the locals, and somehow the British then nipped in and nicked it from everyone..under a sleight of hand called the treaty of Waitangi. Any roads, the subsequent descendants of the original FESMs decided to preserve their heritage and, it has to be said, have slightly overdone it. A beautiful South eastern NZ seaside town ( which does, actually sit in an extinct…we hope..volcano), has rues ... read more

"I'm sorry.... all the bars and restaurants in the city centre are closed". How silly do you think I felt, completely forgetting that Christchurch endured a massive earthquake not more than 18 months ago. The city is still well and truly in restoration and repair mode with streets still being blocked off or reduced to one way, and entire city blocks behind fences as buildings that are propped up with scaffolding are either being repaired of waiting to be demolished. It was crushing to see some beautiful old churches with entire sides hanging out from the main structure as well as the sense of defeat that was almost palpable in the air at the loss of some of the city's best landmarks. Drinks forgotten, I spent the night thinking 2 things.... that people are resilient and ... read more

We stayed last night at Akaroa, on the Banks Peninsula near Christchurch. The Banks Peninsula is the remnants of two extinct shield volcanoes and the campsite is right in the very centre of one caldera. At the height of volcanism, 8-11 Ma, both volcanoes were islands that merged. The Akaroa cone was erupted to the SE causing the sea to invade the centre of the cone when it collapsed to form a caldera. What a view we had from the camp site high above the harbour! You don't get a view like that everyday when you wake up in Manchester. Breakfast on the 'upper morning terrace' was also something I will long remember. Sadly the effects of the first Canterbury earthquake of 4th September 2010 is still evident in Akaroa. The hospital has been closed, many ... read more

Today was a day of finding, not finding, clues and hairy armpits. It started with a fabulous sleep-in in a cosy bed while outside it was below zero. The inventor of the electric blanket should be given an award! The girls had planned a shopping trip for shoes (three generations of them - girls I mean). Some gut instinct told me I (and the boys) wouldn't fit in so instead after receiving a generous snak-pack from Penny, the boys and I drove over to Lake Forsyth and Birdlings Flat. I wanted to let Joseph have a fossic for the agates and petrified wood that can be found there on the beach. Liam must have been still recovering from jet-lag because he fell asleep almost straight away in the back seat, while Joseph and I enjoyed the ... read more