Blogs from Otago, South Island, New Zealand, Oceania - page 3

Day 121-122 4th-5th January Knowing we were not that far from Dunedin we took our time getting there the next morning. We were not to do our next wedding present until late that evening (Penguins in the Forest) so we planned to hang out in Dunedin for a bit before heading up to the Otago Peninsular. We had a couple of things we also wanted to sort out as well. First of all, some eejit had taken the wing mirror cover on the drivers side and knowing that it we took it back to the hire company like that they would charge us $350 (ouch) we had decided to replace it ourselves (as long as it was cheaper). We drove out to Toyota only to find they were still shut because of New Year! Well ok ... read more

Hey, Some more pictures from the nice wildlife here in Dunedin! Cheers, Stefan... read more

Day 116-117 30th-31st December Today was the day we were off to Queenstown, Gillie and Simon’s friend from London, Stef had kindly invited all of us plus a couple we know from London, Dan and Julie to stay at his house to celebrate New Year. Gillie, Simon and Stef had also booked in to do a bungee jump at AJ Hacketts (first bungee jump in the world), so we had to be in Queenstown for that. We said goodbye to Simon’s family who had been really cool and headed off. Queenstown was only a couple of hours away and soon we at Stef’s house. It was a gorgeous day again and we all decided to have a couple of drinks on the roof before driving to the bungee site. For anyone that is going to visit ... read more

Lazy day in Queenstown today. Have returned the hire car as it would be wasteful to have it hanging around for the next six days while I go off tramping. A day of menial tasks - washing is drying as I type so I can then pack once I'm done here. Have been out and bought an x-mug and an x-plate to replace the aforementioned dying ones. Have booked transport out from the last day of the Cascade Saddle. So, tomorrow morning I dump a bag here and head off with a rucksack, to return here in six days (Saturday). The days unfold like this: Monday: Bus to Wanaka, check in hostel up there, get last few top-up food bits (running out of muesli bars) Tuesday: Up to the DOC office first thing to claim a ... read more

I leave Te Anau behind after a last visit to my favourite coffee shop for breakfast. Bump into local deer farmer Roy who I'd shared a drink with last night - very nice chap. Spent the rest of last evening with a couple from the Isle of Wight (sorry Rob - they're invading) and a couple from Colorado. Interesting people who don't know each other but keep bumping into each other all over NZ. Then in the car and the long drive up to Queenstown. Take a detour up the Remarkables and take a couple of pics then down into town and check in to my second home at Pinewood. Being back in a town makes me feel a bit low so I jump in the car again and drive out to the road end past ... read more

It was sad to leave Aoraki Mount Cook as it was such a lovely place and we could have undertaken a few more of the excellent walking tracks but we have to move on. We headed back following the edge of Lake Pukaki and arrived in the small town of Twizel, a town that should not exist today. It was built in 1968 as the base for the Waitaki Power Development and the plan was to bulldoze the town once construction work was completed. However the inhabitants had grown fond of their home during the 18 years of construction, so they successfully campaigned to retain the town. It’s now a vibrant place with plenty of cafés and bars that enhance its appeal and we stopped in one to have a break and of course coffee and ... read more