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Published: September 21st 2015
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And now to the One Trip to rule them all!
New Zealand experience was undoubtedly one of the best ones I had!
Me, Samwise and Andy (later called Merry), after very long flights and stop over in Sydney, have landed in Christchurch about 1 am. As our car was waiting for us from 8 am we didn't know what to do. To our surprise, Christchurch airport offers a room with bean bags, blankets, tv and a guard for whole 5 NZD, where you can have a nap until 5 am when the terminal is open again. We've collected our faithful Jucy, went to the nearest supermarket, where to our even bigger surprise we found out that beer, wine and sausages are cheap (perks of leaving Singapore) so we've stocked up and went for a walk around a city. Christchurch itself still tries to lift itself up from the last earthquake. Walking down the street, you can see that a lot of empty spaces haven't been filled yet and are waiting for their turn. Even if new building are being build you can see the trend where nothing exceeds 4 stories and a skeletal construction are light and made of
metal rather than fragile concrete. Apart from that Christchurch developed an architecture of recycling. A lot of new buildings are made of shipping containers and other recyclable materials. The best example of it is a cardboard cathedral. After the classic brick one was destroyed during the earthquake (and still being under construction) the temporary church was build using shipping containers as walls, cardboard pylons, and plastic roof. From the outside it doesn't look very impressive and you almost don't want to walk in. But after you do, it's most interesting church I've ever been (and I'm Polish, we know how to spend millions on churches, while forgetting about the orphans and sick elderly people). Inside it is simplest and least decorated place available. the only two decorations are simple pine wood cross and a wooden eagle (most likely saved from the old cathedral).
Moving away from Christchurch we drove about 100 km towards little lovely town called Akaroa. The road leading us there was absolutely lovely, with all climbing up the hill and serpentines. Our first night we spent on the free camping site just beside the bay. About 500 m away was a lovely winery called French Farm,
where we decided to go for wine tasting 😊 And again, 10 NZD per bottle of an amazingly tasty and rich wine was a bargain. The next day we woke up to the most stunning view of the lake, perks of living in the van- you can park it almost everywhere!!! After a breakfast surrounded by something about 10000 sheep we decided to go for a hike. After short visit in the Akaora's most helpful information center, we set of for our first of many hikes. Uphill, through the sheep grasslands, to the top with the view over Antarctica (in allegory). All of us even now think that it was one of the best hikes we had. After a dinner with a pint of a hoppy lager and rugby game, we went back to our lovely French Farm. What a place!
next day we set off to see penguins in Dunedin. Passing through the Omara, we were too early for the show and then unfortunately we arrived too late for a show in Dunedin, as they come ashore once a day usually about dusk. Though when we woke up in the morning and went on the small beach nearby
we saw a sea lion (we called him George) laying on the beach and (as sea biologist told us) having no life. Apart from lazy George, we were lucky enough to see albatrosses flying above our heads nearby picturesque cliffs. After Dunedin we set of to the Queenstown, which we reached after 5 hours of drive on very empty mountain roads. After getting skis and other necessary equipment we set off to the slopes. I must say the Remarkables are really remarkable, few km of all kinds of routes, from super easy to super difficult, everything covered with fresh snow. The next day boys hit the slopes again (this time the Corona) and I went for a walk around the lake. Up to this moment we can;t decide whose day was better. Queenstown is laid on the verge of the lake in the middle of the high mountains and on the clear winter day the walk around this lake is absolutely amazing, especially if you finish it with the local most famous lamb burger!!! Oh, one thing at the end of Queenstown paragraph- make sure you park your car as the traffic goes, other wise it's a 40$ ticket.
In the evening we decided to go further to Wanaka (there are slopes as well) and instead of listening to the gps we followed the signs and took shorter and the most beautiful road in the world called the Crown, going 200 m high and giving a driver as me goose bumps and tiny heart attacks with every turn (there was a full moon in addition, so I was waiting for the vampires to attack us).
Wanaks itself is a typical vacation town, with not much else to do than work in tourism. Apart for the slopes it offers lake activities, puzzle world and a plethora of walks (sic!). After a quick visit in the Ministry of Silly Walks where we've been advised by the Minister where would be best to go, we drove about an hour further passing yet another lake and a lot of view points, with as usual breath taking views (New Zealand has it, it just does) we reached place called Blue Pools. After about 20 min walk through enchanted forest we reached the bluest waterfall and creek you would ever see. We decided to go even further into the forest following the trail and
we passed what we thought was yet another LOTR scene.
Next day, after spending the night by the warm fire place in one of the local camps, we decided to climb a Mt. Shrimpton. Have I mentioned that the hiking trails in NZ are stunning?
That would be about the end of splendid weather we had and about time to start raining. In the morning we continued our journey heading up north-east, had yet another failed attempt on seeing penguins, drove yet another twisted road on the verge of furious ocean and almost run out of petrol. In Abel Tasman park unfortunately it was too rainy for a proper hike, which is a pity, as it's suppose to be one of the best places for it. We've spent night in the backpackers in Nelson, tried to had an attempt on having a night out (slightly failed since almost everything was closed) and next morning headed for a ferry in Picton. Ferry ride itself was very nice experience, with yet again amazing views, dolphins swimming around the boat and wine served on the deck. Straight after the ferry we started heading up north, completely unaware that we are passing
Mt. Doom (Mt. Ngauruhoe), spent the night somewhere near Taupo and about afternoon reached the Rotoura with it's hot springs, geysers sulphur outlets. We've visited Hell Gates near Tikitere and near by the Maori village, which was even more amazing taking into consideration the fact, that it was taking energy solely from the ground.
By the evening we've reached hobbiton (the area), spent the night by the river and in the morning set of to the Hobbiton (movie set). Even though this tour was a bit pricey it was absolutely worth it, especially for all the Tolkien's fan.
We've decided to skip the Auckland and headed south-east to Napier, a lovely city famous of it's wine and art -deco style. Night we've spent in the backpakers looking like the one from Grand Budapest Hotel and managed to make friends with a locall Maori people, which ended up with a massive hangover.
It was time to start thinking about our flights back, so we've taken the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail hoping to stay our last night near the winery, as the first one. But unfortunately there weren't many wineries on our way, and if there were, they
were mostly closed.
We finally reached Wellington, gave our car away and spent last evening in the bar, then had few hours of sleep and around 4 am we've left our best hiking tours and sausages and wines and lagers and IPA's and nice people and everything in what I personally I fell in love with.
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