Blogs from Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 4

Heading into Dunedin we stopped off and took an extremely steep climb up Baldwin st -the steepest street in the world! The energetic amongst us attempted to run up, some walked forwards, some walked backwards, others shimmied in a zig zag in order to make it. The views across the valley were great and we gulped from the water fountain at the top. With part of the group heading to the Speights brewery, part heading to sample the delights of the Cadburys factory the rest of us took a long leisurely lunch. After picking up some cheap goodies for our upcoming hike, taking in the architecture of the station and gothic style buildings we jumped aboard the Flying Kiwi bus for our camp at Kaka point. Tonight was dress up night and guides and passengers alike ... read more

PP-DN We started off hesitant about whether we were going to be able to make it all the way to Queenstown, where we were booked in for our first stop. At our first full stop in Omaka we could see towering cumulus clouds forming up high. This restricted us to flying about 1000 ft and only occasionally managing to get a bit higher. We followed the coast all the way down stopping at Kaikoura, Ashburton, Oamaru and finally making it to Dunedin. Our bad weather training was being put into full force as bands of rain came and went. With the patients and good decision making from our instructors Brent Blacktopp and Dave Watson, we all managed to make it through to Dunedin before nightfall. Although not having accommodation booked there, Dave's uncle kindly gave us ... read more

Well me and my bike got here safely on the bus and I felt like an awful fake as I arrived at the hostel people asked me where had I come from? I replied the bus station. I can't stop laughing even now. For a while I seemed to have routed myself here for no particular reason, oh yes I ordered some paniers off trade me (the same as e-bay) so I am waiting for there arrival and well, I need to rest my weary backpacking legs. I haven't wasted my time here, I am out and about trying to find my cycling legs and the wildlife, which I have to say is running away from me. I set off down the Otago Peninsula one day in search of the Royal Albatross, they had all flown ... read more

South island road trip to go see England v Argentina (lost 10 years off my life) and Wales-South Africa (Rob lost 15 years off his life) and stop offs in Christchurch, Lake Tekapo, Wanaka, Dunedin and Wellington. Whilst James worked about 23 hours a day at the world cup and the bar! James has some cheeky opening night ceremony photos too i think but he's not here right now so I'll get him to add them!... read more

Dunedin is quality. Watched a distinctly average England performance yesterday followed by what can only be described as one of the best nights I have ever had. Having a couple of drinks in a bar on the main square and none other than 9 England players came along. Apparently Tuilagi is even bigger in real life than he appears on tv, if that's even believable. Thompson, Hape, Banahan, Easter, Lawes, Armitage, Shaw, Tuilagi, Tindal. Apparently Tindal also agrees than Sharples should be here. And when asked if he makes the lads call him Prince, he casually replies "Nah, just Lord" and sees off the rest of his pint, before scratching his twisted stump of a nose triumphantly. But before all that we had a drive down to here from Christchurch, choosing a route that was slightly ... read more

We left Bangkok late after a massive thunder and lightening storm grounded the plane for over an hour. A 9.5 hour flight on Quantas (the most uncomfortable airline EVER!) and a very whistle stop tour of the airport at Sydney Australia and finally arrived in Christchurch. I would love to say how beautiful the city is, but the devastation of the centre of the city from the recent earthquakes has taken the heart out of the place. It's like being in a war zone or after a nuclear bomb! Buildings are still standing exactly as they were left with umbrellas still up outside cafes!! Buildings that they were hoping to save from the quake in February were ruined in another quake in June. We had a few moments of contemplation hoping that the people of Christchurch ... read more

Spring is here and with it the prospect of colour and growth and hope....a good time to be thinking of the trip next year.Like the purple magnolia flowering outside, which will all be gone to leaf in a month, so will our trip bloom and be forgotten...but that is a bit too deep at the moment! A first blog to get the trip underway. We have much to do before we head off.... read more

Crikey! -Liz does a bungy Jump!!! Near Queenstown is the birthplace of bungy. We went out just for a look and what do you know but next moment the Sheila’s only gone and leapt 43m into the void. Well actually we watched some other much younger folk do the real deal and good on them, but not for us thanks. Queenstown was good fun good to socialise with some of the locals, or tourists. Somebody tell Andy Dempster he should get his svelte torso over here and up some of these mountains. The Remarkables are remarkable. We camped at a place called Te Anau where Alan got excited by the sight of some tree ferns on a walk which was part of the famous Kepler track. Apparently the larger ones are very old. Really Alan, how ... read more