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Our wheels! Kia Ora from New Zealand eh!
We are in Lake Taupo for a few days eh so we have time to update you on where we've been so far. After we picked the van up we travelled west from Christchurch across Arthur's pass National Park then on to Franz Joseph. Arthurs pass was beautiful and for much of the journey we were the only van on the road. We met the cheeky Kia birds but didn't stop long because they started to tear away at our van and the windscreen seal was on the lunch menu! At Franz Joseph we did a heli-hike. Fantastic! Loved being in the helicopter, the views were amazing and the hike was good fun. Adam saw an Indian restaurant before we left so enjoyed the trip but didn't stop talking about which curry he was going to have for tea and did they sell Kingfisher! (missing Indian for tea already eh!) We have noticed that most people end their sentences with "eh!" haven't caught that just yet but I think it's only a matter of time eh!
We drove on further south, stopping at Wanaka and other beautiful lakes for us to fish. Caught
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Cheeky Kia bird! a rainbow trout and had that fresh by the lake, Adam prepared, gutted and filleted the trout with his penknife and quite a bit of cussing! We spent time in Queenstown, although most of it was in "Pog Mahone's" Irish bar! We did the shotover jet and the cable cars and luge which was fun, although due to our competitive personalities, could have ended in tears! Millford Sounds was really pretty and we got a cruise around the sounds to really get a grasp of the scale of it. We spent a day at Hanmer Springs which was a nice treat after a few weeks grabbing quick showers in cold and skanky camp site showers! After 4 hours of soaking in the thermal waters, I was done! Although, have to warn anyone who may go there, the sulphur pools stinks of rotten eggs (not the toilets as Adam and I had initially thought!)
We visited Christchurch again as we only stopped really to book a van. We weren't able to see the city because it's being guarded by the army. You get a real sense of the damage done by the earthquake by the surrounding areas though. We left
a few hours before an aftershock of 5.2 happened so it's not settled there yet. We went up the east coast and most liked Kaikoura. We had only planned to stay a night but because of a mean hangover we eneded staying a further night because I couldn't face me Whale watching trip after a heavy night! Adam went sea fishing and caught 3 Grouper fish on 1 line (30lb each!) We ate them for about 3 days after! We met a lovely family who invited us to join them for lunch, Adam knew the guy from the fishing trip and we ended up sleeping in the van on their driveway, having more fish and beers and then treated to sky t.v, leather recliners, tea and cakes, showers, log fire and then our washing done! (landed on our feet there!) They set us up for a trip to Abel Tasman which we both really enjoyed. We walked for almost 4 hours around the rainforest and up through the mountain tracks, being dropped off and collected by boat.
A few days ago we got the ferry across the cook strait and as I said, we are now travelling across the
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Adam fishing north island. The south island was beautiful, huge lakes, snow capped mountains, tree after tree in autumn colours and we met some really kind, warm people. Hoping the north island will be as much fun! (eh!)
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