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Published: February 2nd 2009
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After 2 nights in Christchurch, Tiffany recovered from the jetlag...and I was in full gear trying great wines, it was
time to pick up our new home for the week.
This is something I always wanted to do...a perfect family style holiday...touring the South Island by campervan. Pick
up early our new home, made my way with Tiffany to the supermarket to stock on great fresh food, and made our way
to the airport to pick up Leslie and Ma'ri, who flew direct from Shanghai via Auckland.
There are going to be a lot of great moments during the coming days, but who had the idea to put the Marlborough wine
region so far away from Milford Sound. So I've divided this entry in two. For today, you'll have the North part of
the South Island.
Our first stop was in the Waipara Valley, just above an hour drive north of Christchurch airport. The Waipara Valley
is becoming more and more famous for their pinot noir. Not a huge number of wineries. So after some homeworks, we
stopped at Pegasus Bay and Daniel Schuster...wow...that was setting the level! Our campervan was ready to become our
wine cellar
on wheels for a week! And first stop at a local vineyard for a great lunch of fresh food and some more wine...
with moderation due to the remaining driving for the day.
Afternoon, we made our way to Kaikoura where it's all about whales, dolphins, and cray. The cruise was booked for the
following morning. So we end the day with the first round of golf for Ma'ri...bogey on her second hole...I was
impressed, and there was more to come. Sadly left the camera in the campervan that afternoon. First evening in
a campervan park also. Not the biggest fan of those ( the parks, not the campevan). The kids loved all the different playgrounds,
and it was the only way to stock on electricity and water. So we alternated setting for the night in camps and in the middle of nowhere.
And first night in the campervan also...way more comfortable than I expected...a great news!
Not that early morning we made our way for our first excursion...Whale-watching. No killer whales this morning, but we
met two sperm whales. These guys can reach 20 meters long. They don't breach much, but as the boat approched them
pretty close, we could enjoy a great sighting. Next, a pod of 300+ dusky dolphins. Never saw those before. The most
playful dolphins I ever saw...what a show!
After this, stop at the local seafood shop for some cray. So what is cray in New Zealand...well, it's not what I used
to call crayfish, but more lobster...and in french, langouste.
So set up the table by the sea..next to a colony of seals...and had a lunch of cray, oysters and some sauvignon blanc.
Small pleasure, but great pleasures, and we had a very happy family.
Next stop, Marlborough Wine Region. If you know me well, you know I love their Sauvignon Blanc. Sadly in Shanghai their
Pinot Noir are a little too expensive, but here...it's so...good and reasonnable...time for seriously stocking
the wine cellar...
First stop....just before the closing time as it was already 5pm. Villa Maria....speak of single vineyards, nice
blended reserves, and some R&D sauvignon blanc aged in oak. These guys have a huge range of wines, most of it
only supermarket level...but with some great special little things.
Diner was at Herzog. The romantic and gastro place in Marlborough. This is where
you are happy to be in NZ with
a campervan. Have the children diner, bed time story and pyjamas....and we were just few meters away enjoying a
wonderful diner while they dreams of more adventures.
Morning of the 26th January...a day I've been waiting for a long time. Visit to Cloudy Bay. Love the wine, and thanks
to Nick, one of the winemakers, we enjoyed a nice special testing. If you need to stock on something more special than
the Sauvignon Blanc, think of the Te Ko Ko. Did try it in Shanghai during a great diner, so this time it was time
to stock on it.
We did also few more stops, Fromm, Spy Valley, Seresin and finally Huia. All these with another lunch at Waiparu wines.
Well, the sun is there, the wine is in the campervan....Sauvignon blanc, single vineyards pinot noir, reserved pinot
noir and some late harvested.
Drive to Picton to enjoy the views of the Marlborough Sound....and the first crazy road with a campervan.
Next stop, Kaiteriteri, the door of the Abel Tasman National Park. Get there early enough to start enjoying the wine
we just purchased that morning. And next
morning, another boat, another sunny day on the Sout Island. This time it's
sailing time on a catamaran. The kids loved it, Leslie even could sail for a few minutes. On the way we spotted
penguin and seals...and enjoy the bubbles of a Pelarus, vintage 2004 by Cloudy Bay....who say bubbles cannot
be enjoyed!
This is it for this entry...next....coming very soon...glaciers, hangliding, rafting, golf,Milford Sound...yes, all these
and a lot more. With love!
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The Travel Camel
Shane Dallas
What an amazing sight - an experience never to forget!