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Published: July 28th 2006
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As soon as Mick left Auckland, I booked a flight down to the South Island to see the true New Zealand! I met Mads in the hostel in Christchurch and decided to go for the stay 2 nights, get one free offer! There wasn't an awful lot to do in Christchurch but Mads had a dutch guy (bob!) coming down to see her on the 2nd day and I found out that a guy I'd met in the North Island was also in Christchurch so we managed to entertain ourselves for the 3 days spent there. Mads and I booked an intercity flexi pass which enabled us to travel on around the entire south Island for around 90 pounds sterling which was awesome.
Our first stop was Lake Tekapo, a tiny place but absolutely stunning. We just spent one night here, thank god, as there was literally NOTHING to do but keep warm in front of a fire! The next day after a walk in the snow to the pretty little church on the hill, we took to coach to Queenstown in the hope of catching some of the winter festival. The festival seemed to be non existant but the
place itself was fantastic. Some of my best memeories from this trip will be from Queenstown as I did some once in a lifetime things. One day Mads and I went Lugeing down the mountain (which is pretty much sledging but with wheels on the sledge!), the day after I booked a skydive over the remarkables (the mountain range surrounding Queenstown). I also bumped an old flame from the past which was quite surreal being on the other side of the world!
After a week in Queenstown Mads and I took the coach over to Wanaka, another small but pretty town based on a lake surrounded by snowy mountains. It was here that we visited the best cinema in the world! A tiny cafe from the outside but inside there was a door to a cinema. All the seats were sofas, thre was even a car you could sit in and watch the movie from if you so chose. There was an interval half way through the film where you could buy freshly baked homemade choc chip cookies which were just devine! The choc chips were gooey as they were still warm and the cookies were all soft! The
2nd day in Wanaka we visited a place called puzzle world which really messed up my brain! They have different illusion rooms that test your perception to the maximum!
After Wanaka we made headed over to Franz Joseph where we booked to do the glacier climb. This has to be one of the most amazing experiences of my life. A winter wonderland, like another world. We then made a brief over night stop to Punakaiki, the location of pancake rocks. The thing I'll remember most about this place, is the most amazing rainbow that appeared on the beach one day when Mads and I were taking a stroll along the sandy beach, embracing the beauty of what was around us! Next stop Nelson. From Nelson we visited the Abel Tasman national park to do a 4 hour hike. The park was beautiful but we picked the worst day in history to go. We had thunderstorms for the entire duration of our hike. Our clothes were literally stuck to us as they were drenched through. It was a complete nightmare.
Kaikura was our next destination. The hostel we stayed in was pretty much dead but it was homely. I
booked to go whale watching the day after we arrived. I've never been on such a rocky boat, there were people being sick everywhere! Luckily I didn't. We saw 7 sperm whales which was magnificant. That night myself, mads and 2 other girls from the hostel went to a non existant fancy dress night at the only pub in town, dressed as kaikura high school sports team! We looked ridiculous, especially as there was no fancy dress night, and we'd been had by the guy in our hostel who worked there. Still, we got a free shot out of it! I left Mads in Kaikura after 3 nights and made my way back to Christchurch with my new dutch friend Nadine, in preparation for my flight to Melbourne the next day. I found out whilst there that Mick had had an accident at footie and was in hospital, therefore couldn't meet me in Melbourne when I arrived! I spent the last night in New Zealand worrying about the prospect of spending a 2 hour long drive with Micks Mum who was going be meeting me instead!!!
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