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Published: June 22nd 2009
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Heavy Cloud
It was very hard trying to hold the cloud in place for the photo Well we have set off again and after a ridiculously long 31 hour flight, we arrived in Christchurch on the South Island in New Zealand. We stopped in Bangkok to refuel and walk about the airport so I can technically say that we've been to Thailand. It was really hot there and a bit different to the weather in NZ. We arrived around midday last thursday and because of the timing we weren't really that jet lagged; well maybe a little monged.
We got a shuttle bus to the hostel that we booked on the internet, a hostel that I'd been to before. The first night we just went down to the hostel bar and got involved in an organised competition of rock, paper, scissors to win a car rental for a day. I got through to the semi finals but unfortunately got rocked to death by a German.
Anyway we had a few things to sort out in Christchurch like getting NZ mobiles, banking and travel arrangements. (My number is 00642102785964)
We booked a coach trip down to Queenstown which is on the west coast and down at the south of the south island. It is a 7ish hour drive
Bangkok Airport
Knackered after the 15 hour flight... still another 15 to go and we got a good deal on tickets, only around 12squid each.
Anyway the day before was planned to travel down to Queenstown we decided to go and have a look at car prices to get an idea of the price. We found this garage at the edge of town that held all backpacker cars and camper vans; I've never seen such a shoddy array of shitty cars in my life but they all worked and were fairly cheap. There was a German couple waiting in the reception because they needed to sell their car that day as they had to leave for home. There car was up for $2,500 but they knocked it down to $1,000 (about 400 pounds). After about half an hour we decided to buy it. Well Tim paid!
So we had a car, and two coach tickets.
In New Zealand they are pretty relaxed about documentation for cars, all you need is a driving licence and you can drive off. No insurance, no tax, no problem. A bit mental but very cheap.
When we got back to the hostel and I put a shout out over the P.A. system asking if anyone wanted
Manolito
Named after an Argentinian cartoon... Manolito the old trusty Mitsubishi Chariot. to buy the tickets off us. We managed to flog them to some bloke for about half price so at least got something back.
The next day we set off in the car, a Mitsubishi Chariot called 'Manolito' down the east coast and then cutting across to Queenstown. The drive took around 7 1/2 hours but it went fairly quickly compared to the flight and we killed time by swapping driving and playing games like, guess the number of roadkills, spot the cone and try to tune the ridiculously old radio.
We arrived in Queenstown in the evening and it was cold but not as cold as last time I was there as winter hadn't properly kicked in yet. Every person that we met was also there to look for work and saying that there were no jobs anywhere; in fact every person in the town was a backpacker walking around with a folder of CV's.
It didn't look too good and even the job agencies weren't taking people on because their waiting lists were too long. We handed a couple of CV's out into hotels and filled in a few application forms but after 2 days it was
Lovely Lake
Another random lake on the way up the west coast clear that we were gonna struggle to find work anywhere; so what did we do... what any self respecting men would do... we gave up.
We booked 2 more nights in the hostel and decided that we would sack off Queenstown and the whole of the island, then make the 16 hour trip to Wellington, the capital, which is at the south of the north island. We put up signs every where saying that we would be driving up to Welly and that if anyone wanted a lift, they could share petrol costs. We only got one response; an English bloke called Jack.
We spent the last couple of days in Queenstown doing stuff like the downhill luge track at the top of the local hill. We walked up there then had 5 go's on this luge, which are like go carts and you can race down; no acceleration, just brakes, which you do need. Me and Tim had a best of 5 race-off which was amazing, especially when Tim came off on the corner at some speed and thought he'd ripped his arse off! it was well fun and that night we went on a session with a
Hiking Queenstown
It was a right trek up the mountain to the luge track... at least we saved $17 though couple of peeps from our dorm, down at the hostel bar.
So 2 days later we were off again:- Me, Tim, Jack and Manolito the banger, which probably couldn't understand what was happening to him, especially seeing as he'd already driven 200,000 kilometers.
We drove up the west coast this time which is a lot more scenic and has loads of lakes, mountains and national parks. The first day we drove 8 hours to a town called Greymouth that I stopped at when I was here last; we checked into a YHA hostel which was like being in a house, got given hot water bottles by the woman and watched some TV. We stayed in a room that was a converted chapel and there was no one else in there. It was freezing at night but comfy.
Day 2 driving and we heading up the coast a little more before cutting across to Picton which is where the car ferry leaves from to cross to Wellington. It was a 5 hour drive to the ferry, then we had to wait another few hours for the ferry to arrive. We called up some hostels to try and book for
Sheep Everywhere
All those white dots are sheep... there's bloody loads of them everywhere that night in Wellington only to find that every hostel in the city was full, due to the France/ All Blacks rugby match... great. so after a bit of panic we found one 30 minutes outside the city which was a holiday park.
The ferry was a reasonble size but only had 5 cars on it so it was pretty spacious. Once we got out of the bay it was very rough and there were people lying all over the ferry looking ill; including Tim. I wasn't sure whether it was the rough seas or the fact that he gobbled a whole box of cereal bars before we got on the boat!
When we arrived, a little late, at about 11 pm we had the drive to the holiday park which was cabin accomodation and was nice for one night although I'm pretty sure the manager was gay and giving me the eye.
So the next morning we drove back to the city and saw it by day time; it looks smallish as its surrounded by hills, but it spreads over the top of them and into the next valley.
It is right on the port and
Wellington
The lookout point in Wellington. Yes the hand is W for Wellington.... not anything else! has quite a nice vibe to it. We booked into a hostel called Wellywood last night which is painted like a massive zebra. After a walk around town yesterday to get our bearings, we went out last night and met some people. We are definitely gonna be able to get work here so we are now trying to decide where to stay for the time we are here; either in this hostel which is good and has long term accomodation, or a rented flat which may be cheaper but not so friendly.
Well decisions decisions, where to work, where to live, what lager to drink.
So yes, that is where I am now, in the hostel in Wellington; its very bloody windy but not as cold as Queenstown...
I am glad I didn't bring my ski's!!!
Craig
Miss you all
(but not England)
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Craig, Your photos are fab and its great to read your blog. I like Manolito-hope he's running ok. Good luck with job hunting!xx