Blogs from Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 150

Week 1 in NZ: We landed in Christchurch, only to find that most accomodations and car hire companies are completly booked up for weeks! Since we needed a room for that night and a car for the trip, it was quite a stressful afternoon, slogging around Christchurch with our luggage in tow! We eventually got a grotty room in a hostel no-one else wanted to stay in, and were then forced to stay in a hotel - oh shucks! Sovereign Hotel for 4 nights, which was great. We spent our last night at Base. It was a 'party hotel' and made us both feel about 100 years old...note to other travellers heading to NZ in peak season - book ahead! Anyway, spent the week wandering around Christchurch. It's a very pretty city, with a cathedral, working ... read more

I made it!!! I am finally home. You know not with out incident bc that has been the trend. The weather in Wellington sucked so it took the ferry an extra hr to get to Picton and it was a terribly bumpy ride. But I mean I found a nice seat with a view and just went with it. I meet this really cute lady who was here with a peace organization, she thought me how to play some card games, pretty tight. Well bc the ferry was late, the train was late leaving the station, so instead of getting to Christchurch at 430 (when campus would have been open) I got in around 720 and to campus when NOTHING was open. Yeah. Try finding your way around a campus you have never been to. ... read more

Hello Hope everyone is well. I completed the Abel Tasman track. It was one the best hikes as far as atmosphere and serenity that i have ever done. Brother, it rivals lower dark in that aspect. I spent 4 days there. My second day being the killer 22 km segment. Not ideal with 50 lbs on your back. The key to this experience is camping in the isolated and remote bays, lagoons and small crescent beaches you have all to yourself. The main trail and huts have the usual people, mosquitos, and sand flies but these spots are the places where you feel like you are at the edge of the earth with none or very few of the above. Under the kanuka trees' canopy, you camp under the stars. The beach is 5 meters away ... read more

Vidare till Christchurch, Nya Zealands tredje storsta stad, pa sydons ostkust. Har finns lite trevliga kafeer, en mysig gagata och en katedral och vi insuper stadslivet under ett par dagar. Darefter aker vi till Kaikora som ligger lite langre norrut. Havsbotten utanfor denna lilla kustort stupar brant vilket ger goda mojligheter att se valar i omradet. Den forsta turen vi bokar in oss pa blir installd (vadret igen) och vi tar da tillfallet i akt och gar en langpromenad ut pa en halvo. Pa halvon finns flera salkolonier och man kan ga mycket nara djuren. Ibland upptacker de oss innan vi ser dem och vi blir ivagjagade av en vaktsal som ligger intill stigen pa ett stalle. Tidigt nasta morgon blir dock valutflykten av och vi far se stjartfenan pa inte mindre an tre kaskelotter innan ... read more

Omaru and the penguins We caught the scenic train out of Dunedin up to Palmerston from where we had a lovely ride through Trotters Gorge and along the Beach Road to Oamaru. We stayed with Janis and Russell whom we had met at the MacKenzie Muster for one night during which we were taken out to see the little blue penguins come home to feed their babies. Lesley was so happy and mesmerised by the sight. Michael's sister Margaret should have been with us as she is silly about penguins. We did not bother going north along the plain so we caught the bus to Christchurch staying with a Servas couple. We were their very first Servas guest so we taught them what to do and how to look after people :). The weekend prospects were ... read more