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Published: January 18th 2007
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Rotoria
The Geyers and the coloured surround After the Waitomo Caves and Black Rafting Ride on the Tum Tum Tooing Tour, Bob and I returned to Auckland and got our flights down to Queenstown. The booking in and flying around the Australias is so much quicker, easier and relaxing than in England and Europe!
Anyway we arrive in Queenstown to lovely sunny weather, pick up our car and travel to our first stop the Colonial Village Motel overlooking Lake Wakatipu. We walked down in to Queenstown and had a lovel antipesto lunch with wine overlooking the water then wandered around Queenstown getting our to know the area before heading back to our room. Obviously as we had walked down to Queenstown, it was an upward walk back to the hotel, only around 15 minute walk but it was quite a steep hill the way we had decided to go back and Bob was moaning about the climb... bet that isn't a surprise to you Mandy and Steve eh?!
Morning of 12th we were supposed to be flying down to Milford Sound and then doing the Dart River Safari but unfortunately the weather was not good enough and the Milford Sound flights were cancelled. We chose to
Hukka Falls
The sound at these falls was spectacular do the trip the alternative way round so we went on the Dart River Safari first which was great but unfortunately the weather was still not good enough over the Sound for that part of the trip to go ahead, so we went back to our hotel, changed and went back down into Queenstown and booked a Heritage Tour on the TSS Ernslaw, which took us over us over the river to the MacKenzie Farm over in Glenochy where we did a tour of the garden had a wine tasting and antipesto selection of foods plus saw some sheep trials and sheep shearing. The weather was glorious and it was a really good trip, one thoroughly recommended.
Morning of 13th we woke up to fantastic clear blue skies and our Milford Trip was on. We got picked up from the Motel and taken to the airport where we got in to a very small plane. We had a total of 9 people going on the trip that morning in two planes, in our plane there were only four of us. There pilot pointed out particular mountain ranges and glaciers as we flew over and it the ride was so
Milford Sound
This is just one of the fantastic views when you travel to Milford Sound in New Zealand. smooth and brillent. Once in Milford Sound we got on our boat and ventured round the water. We saw loads of dolphins and seals, waterfalls and spectacular scenery. Unfortunately as I turned round to walk towards Bob after taking a particular photo of the falls on the return journey I triped over a bolt on the deck and had a mighty fall down on my knees which are still very painful, red, bruised and not very nice at all really but I'm bathing them twice a day and they are beginning to get better now - silly bugger eh!
Anyway, after we returned from the Milford Sound Trip we set of for Lake Wanaka, we drove over the Crown Range and stopped at the Cardrona Hotel for a nice cup of tea before continuing on. The weather starting changing again whilst we went over these ranges and we arrived in Wanaka to more grey, cloudy dull weather so we booked in to our accommodation which was on the outskirts of the town our in the fields overlooking the mountains and stayed watching video's, washing and downloading my photo's so I have been able to post a few on my
Lake Tekapo
Yes the colour of the water is really this blue site.
Sunday 14th Jan we were supposed to have a crand circle glacier ski plane landing at Mount Cook but when we rang in the morning to confirm this was still going ahead we were informed that the weather was too cloudy and we would only be able to see part of the glaciers and they couldn't gaurantee a landing but the weather was more promising on the 15th so we changed our flights to afternoon of 15th and spent 14th around Wanaka. We went to "Have a Shot" where Bob had a go at Archery and Clay Pigeon shooting and I had a go at the Riffle Range. Then we went on to Puzzle Land. This was fantastic, anyone that goes to Wanaka needs to ensure that they stop off and go in to this maze, we managed to get to all the coloured corners but Bob gave up in trying to find his way out, I continued but it took me another half an hour!
The Illussions and puzzles around are fantastic and everyone needs to visit the toliets located in the building whilst they are there.
Monday 15th we left Wanaka and headed off to Mount Cook, the drive round Lake Pukaki is really beautiful but it is a long way to Mount Cook. The weather was very clear, sunny and hot but it was very windy and unfortunately this meant that our flights were cancelled again. We drove in to the Mount Cook Village and had a look round there whilst we waited for an hour to see if the weather would improve but unfortunately it didn't so we headed off again and on to Lake Tekapo. Our accommodation there looked over the lake and it was another really beautiful view. The lake was a glorious colour blue and apparently Lake Tekapo has the clearest sky of the whole of the southern hemisphere. We had a great walk round the very small village, saw the small church and statue of the "Good Shepherd" dog then we had a meal and relaxed for the evening.
Tuesday 16th we headed off from Lake Tekapo and headed on the Scenic Route on to Christchurch where we stopped off at Geraldine and looked round a museum on vintage aircraft, cars and garden machinery before continuing on. Unfortunately we got as far as Oxford when Bob decided that he wanted to go to Akaroa so we diverted off, round Christchurch and headed out to Akaroa. This must have added another three hours to our journey but we stayed in Akaroa that night and in the morning we went on a trip to swim with the smallest dolphins in the world (the Hector dolphin) and that was brillient. From here we then drove in to Christchurch and on to Sumner where we met up with Dave's Aunt and Uncle Melody and Rob who have a house up in the mountains overlooking the pacific sea. They have made us very welcome and we have had a great fun with them. Just above where they live there is a place called Noar's Arch and yes it is a boat built in the hillside with the animals etc. There are three floors to the Arch, the top desk which is a chapel, the middle deck which is a small restaurant and function room and then down underneath there is a huge ballroom, this is really wonderful but my favourit is the very small church that is building outside in the large grounds. I will put a picture of this on the site when I have downloaded those photo's but in the meantime my pictures will be mainly of Queenstown and our journey!
Yesterday we went in to Christchurch and then on to Woodend where we met up with Martin and Donna Drake. Donna was at work when we first met up but Martin met us and took us on to there place where we sat in the garden, enjoyed the wonderful sunshine and had a drink. When Donna came home we all had a good chat and laugh but much too soon it was time for us to leave and return back to Sumner. We can't believe that our stay in New Zealand is coming to an end so quickly..... gosh I will certainly look to return and take more time exploring, there is just so much to see.
We are now packed and ready to go on to Christchurch airport for our flights on to Melbourne and the heat and fires!!!! Really looking forward to meeting up with Margaret and John and my as yet, unknown cousins.
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