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Published: March 18th 2008
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We needed to renew our Visa which works automatically if you leave the country, well I have been looking for bargains on the internet,really wanted to go to Fiji but no bargains there, Neil wanted to pay the goverment extra money to stay through the visa but I did'nt agree so I found a good priced flight for New Zealand and that was it booked!Neil wasn't that keen but our Son talked me into it saying you have to go there its only a three hour flight and it's mean't to be awesome, he was right.
We booked for 10 days then rang Kelly and Lee who we met in Sydney as they are in christchurch and arranged to meet them, the plane journey was terrible towards the end as the turbulance caused us to drop 50 feet at a time Neil was not impressed. We arrived late at night into Christchurch it was raining good style, seems to follow us about,got up the next day to the same wet day again we went into town to see the sights were not keen its really cold here and the clouds hang so low there's nothing to see, not impressed so we
just went round the shops,we booked into a backpackers for the first time, it looked ok , we got a room of our own but when we opened the door it was bunk beds Neil not happy anyway I climbed the ladder and that was that!
We met up with Kelly and Lee and went round a few bars it was good to see them,they call us aussie mum and dad,we ended up at a mexican bar it was good food and the latin music was fab,we arranged to go out the next day to the Hamner springs its a selection of hot pools ranging from31-42 degrees, we went in two cars so we could drive up the coast after,well Neil was true to style the petrol got low and we nearly ran out, just as we got to the petrol station great my debit card wouldn't work and he had already put the juice in,more stress, we got a loan of kelly and Lee thanks.
Hamner Springs- good laugh at the springs it was raining but we didnt care, we stayed in there a couple of hours and then had a nice meal we said bye to Kelly and
A Vintage Car shop in Christchurch
Neil always looking to buy a motor Lee and we went up the coast to Kaikoura we found a lovely place to stay and a guest there came from Leeds a Nurse who knows my friend Jo,what a small world!
Kaikoura-the rain has stopped what a view the mountains and scenery are fantastic, the fine weather makes it over here,its totally different to Australia we like it now.We got settled in then had a meal in the local bar all the bars seem to have coal fires in them its got a very ski resort feel where ever you go, Neil went out for a paper the next day and came back with two tickets to go whale watching,he has always wanted to be up close to the whales its a popular trip so off we went,we saw three sperm whales ,the boat trip is so informative about the history of the canyon under the sea and they know exactly when the whales will surface,the trip was about three hours long on the way back to the harbour we saw lots of black and white dolpins only this type in New zealand apprently
Next stop was lake Takapo and Tekaiki- fab scenery the water here is the
Here we all are
our night at the mexican with Kelly and Lee most aqua blue we have ever seen,the accomodation is full around here so we drove to Twizel the rooms here are nice but it looks like butlins its very quiet though, we found a nice Italian restaurant so we booked in
Mount Cook- we drove as far as we could towards the base of the mountain, we took some photos decided not to walk up there and drove back towards Queenstown,as you drive around over here you dont see anyone for miles the countryside is so empty but beautiful to see, they also drive on the same side as us thats great less stress when Neil gets mixed up!
Queenstown-the best place to be,its fantastic everyone who comes here wants to get into some kind of extreme sport, we even saw people in there late 60's tandem paragliding the first time, we got to our back packers it was very posh brand new complete with double bed and en-suite, the town is buzzing,the booking office for all the sports is full of all age groups and big screens showing all the activities you can do, you need a few pounds to do them but its worth it, Neil talked me
into Whitewater rafting and a fast jet boat ride through a canyon, I never slept the night before it I was so scared, when we got the meeting place there were a few like me, worried!anyway It was not to bad after all I ilked it in the end, we bought the offical photos and the dvds,Neil was so funny on the rafting , he had to sit at the front and listen to instructions form the back, well he just did his own thing! he got shouted at a few times,we got stuck on a rock between the rapids and this big lad was on top of Neil a man in a canoe came to drag us out, it was all good fun.
Fox Glacier-this was a village which took a long time to get there and its now warming up to 26 degrees, we got here only accomadtion is then bunks again in a room so small, Neil not laughing, we went to the pub for dinner and a few beers
Next day we booked on a helicopter ride to the top of the Glacier, we have never been on a helicopter before so we were looking forward
A bungy Jump
this girl was at her hen party when they paid for her to jump, she was crying her eyes out scared to death, she did it though! to it, the trip was so good we got out right on the top of the Galcier, we took lots of pictures you can see the Glacier melting and forming waterfalls down the mountains.
We passed through lots of nice places on our way back to Christchurch we stopped at some orchards the fruit is lovely,Neil did lots of driving so we could see alot of the island we only wish now we had more time, its a great country to visit shame it's so far away.
We went back to Kelly and Lee's to see them before we left, then we were off back to Melbourne.
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