So long, and thanks for all the fish...

Oceania » New Zealand » South Island » Christchurch
June 26th 2005

Published: June 26th 2005

Edit Blog Post

Jo and Graeme

The All Blacks Haka

Well, the time has finally come for us to write our last blog from New Zealand and prepare to head to Australia. This time tomorrow we'll be in the air, winging our way to pastures new. We're excited about moving on, but sad about leaving NZ.

First, I'll bring you up to date with the last week. After our snowboarding extravaganza we left Queenstown to go back to Dunedin for the Lions vs Otago game. In Dunedin we took in the Speights Brewery and the Cadbury factory, sampling plenty of beer and chocolate respectively. We joined the thousands of other rugby fans in the Octagon bars drinking before and after the game, and enjoyed the atmosphere at Carisbrooke stadium. The game itself wasn't great, but there were some choice moments from other supporters. One was on the way to the game: a group of English rugby fans, decked out in their St Georges cross flags and England shirts, were singing 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot' (at the tops of their voices) on the way to the game. You might be forgiven for thinking that this was England vs Otago, given Sir Clive's choice of squad, but it wasn't, there were 4

Lions vs Otago

countries involved. So some Irish lads walking along beind them retaliated with 'I'd rather be a kiwi than a Pom, I'd rather be a kiwi than a Pom...' Oh how we laughed!! United British and Irish Lions or what...!

On Monday we drove inland to Lake Tekapo, where it was bloody freezing and very windy. We had been hoping to get to Mt Cook (NZ's highest mountain) but after driving through 2 hours of fog decided there wasn't much point. After a night at Lake Tekapo we got back in the car to our final destination: Christchurch. Yay!!

Christchurch is a lovely city - it has a cathedral, a lovely river and lots of quaint old buildings. We've spent quite a lot of time walking about and admiring the city from the vantage point of coffee shops and pubs. We've also been out to visit Antarctic World, which is at the NZ, USA and Italian base for Antarctic exploration. It was fab - we got to experience an antarctic storm (-25 temperatures!), take a ride on a Hagglund all terrain ice vehicle, and we know more about Antartcic exploration and life on the frozen continent than we ever

The Haka Man

There was one of these in Dunedin as well, and someone sneaked one into a farmer's field near Christchurch airport recently too. Not sure what it's for, but it's quite cool!

expected to. Great stuff!

Last night was the reason we've stayed in NZ for quite so long - we had tickets for the All Blacks vs Lions. Seemed like a great idea months ago, but when we were frozen to the core, soaking wet from the driving rain, sleet and hail, and watching the Lions being thumped 21-3, those people who were watching it from warm dry pubs seemed quite lucky after all! No really, the atmosphere in town was great, the atmosphere at the ground was good till the weather closed in, and the pubs in town afterwards were good fun. We're glad we stayed this long!

Now we're leaving, we've been reflecting on our favourite places/things we've done, and what we're going to miss. In no particular order:

Hiking on the Franz Josef glacier was outstanding
Milford Sound was an amazing trip
We both loved Wanaka
Walking the Tongariro Crossing was an excellent day

And we're going to miss:

* The fish and chips - fresh snapper and chips from the fish mart in Auckland, you can't beat it!
* Driving for 2 hours and only meeting another car

The Church of the Good Shepard

On the shore of Lake Tekapo - it's a really sweet wee church on the lake shore.

every 10 minutes (not in Auckland though)
* L&P - a soft drink that you only get in NZ, we've only discovered it recently but it's great!!
* And of course all the new friends we've made here - you know who you are!

Well then, it's time to sign off from NZ. Next time I write it will be from the (hopefully) sunnier and warmer climes of Australia.

See you!

love Jo and Grame xx

Additional photos below

Photos: 9, Displayed: 9