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Published: October 29th 2008
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After spending hours carefully packing up the van so that everything fitted in just right, we were waved off by our flatmates and left Queenstown to start our tour of the South Island.
Within one hour, our van had broken down. Not only had it broken down, but it was steaming, smoking and hissing. We sat by the roadside, puzzled at how our temperature gauge had risen so dramatically, considering we had only just filled it with water and had it checked for leaks. Thanking our lucky stars that we had breakdown cover, we called the AA and waited for rescue. We were towed to Mossburn which was the nearest town with a population of about 100 people only to be told by the garage that the head gasket had gone. Unfortunately repairs would cost more then the whole van was worth, so we decided to kick the van instead. It looked like we would be stranded in Mossburn, with all our worldly possessions in the van, and no way of getting anywhere. Thankfully the Kiwi hospitality kicked in and the owner of the garage offered to keep our van on his property while we sorted ourselves out. We managed
to catch a coach back to Queenstown that evening, and started a frantic search for a second hand car to buy. We came back to our old house (which still had a few days lease left on it) and were consoled by our housemates, who made us see the funny side. Unfortunately we had no bedding and no mattress, as it was still in the van where we had left it, so we had to sleep in front of the fire wrapped in sarongs.
The next morning we made a decision on a car and bought it straightaway. Compared to Rocky the van, Yoshi (our newly named Japanese Honda Civic) was a complete delight. Sunroof, power steering, electric windows, central locking - we never had it so good...and tinted rear windows. We are now living the life.
We set off again from Queenstown, without such a send off as before, and successfully passed the point we had broken down just the day before.
We transferred most of the stuff from our van into the new car, with the intent that in a few days time, a mate will help us out by towing us to his house
(7 hours away) in a pick up truck from his work. We are ripping Rocky apart for his goods. Hopefully we will make some money back, plus we had a full tank of petrol in there - which is just sods law.
We eventually arrived in Te Anau, which is a little town near Milford Sound. We rented a cabin for a few days and took a drive to Milford Sound, which is the highlight of the South Island, and a must-see. It is basically carved out Glaciers sitting on fiordland, with Mitre Peak being the famous sight which dominates the skyline. Maori legend concludes that the fiords weren't created by rivers of ice, but by Tu Te Raki Whanoa, a godly figure who came wielding a magical adze and uttering incantations. Whatever the origins, it is a truely remarkable sight. We got on a cruise boat which heads up towards the Tasmin Sea. The weather was wet and windy, which created hundreds of waterfalls falling from way above, with big stormy clouds. We really had a great day and even saw some seals sunning themselves on the rocks. We finished it off by going to the pub where
the Lord of the Rings actors used to hang out. I might have even sat in the same seat as Gandalf.
The next day was also incredible, as we decided to go on a horse ride. We met our horses and quickly got to know their personalities. Mine was a complete madam and only wanted to go where she wanted to go. She led me into bushes, decided to do a fast trot and then suddenly stop to eat some more grass, and then went half way into the river, before deciding she didn't like it and didn't want to go any further. It was so much fun, and I especially loved the trotting, whilst desperately holding on, and running up and down the big hills. We had the most wonderful scenery with Mountains surrounding us, and lots and lots of sheep with their lambs. And we saw some rabbits. And did I mention the sheep?? We also stopped for a picnic of Muffins and Cookies and got a wee bit lost in the woods. I now want a horse to ride everyday.
Milford has been really amazing, and I can see why it is the most famous
in New Zealand (apart from Lord of the Rings).
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