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Published: March 11th 2007
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I think the picture tells more than words... Our First Campervan Experience.... We have heard that you have to be a born camper. I always wondered why. Now I can hold my head up high and can say we have learned to be campers. We get up when the sun rises and go to bed when the fireplace has no wood to be held alive.
We figured out how to build a bed out of a table and two planks of wood, washed our teeth and dishes in the same basin, acrobaticaly with one hand as the other you need to pump the water, made our gas stove work after filling up the tank, bought a yellow candle to fight with all kinds of insects that we got sick of and found the remotest and most beautiful places to camp. Hey we are campers! And yes we did not have a shower everyday, this is impossible. We even had a bath in a freezing lake and rivers. That is dedication, I tell you....
Hanmer Springs After Ali's whale watching it was my turn to relax - at the Hanmer Springs thermal resort. A two hour drive took us away from the beachy feel of the the
Camper Bed
Look at the back, yet another beach we stayed at, was just a bit cold, brh... East Coast towards the central area surrounded from the southern Alps on the west and hilly terrane on the east. It was time to use a campsite to fill up on water, electricity and our cleaniness. Quickly we found a remote but well taken care of campsite, which offered us bike hire as a very affordable rate if we stayed with them. Thus we ended up on a green field with another 2 cars and us, bathing in the sun, campsite facilities - mh, nice to wash up with both hands and people. We just then noticed that we did not socialise almost a week.
The first day we used to shape our bodies by taking out the mountain bikes, hitting straight onto a difficult hiking route, up the hill to the waterfalls. I should have known that my feelings were right in saying it will be more a walk than a ride. But with Ali in my back, telling me to take the challenge and my ego saying not to be a wining women, I jumped on my highly geared mountain bike, put on the stylish red helmet and went off...
Well besides being bit by a wospe
Rakaia Lake view
On our 2 hour hike this the views we got. and having ended up with a few bruises and cuts I was fine. Actually I enjoyed the challenge of navigating my little transport under me, jumping over roots and stones, pushing it up the hill and mostly seeing those astonishing views on top of the hill. Ali was in his element and could test out his limits also especially when it went downhill around a curve, onto a little river bridge and than up on to another hill around a tree and on....
After this exciting day we used the campsite facilities again, mh, did a nice BBQ and chatted to Martin our new friend from Chech, who was travelling with his friend and brother, improving his english skills by working as a porter in a hotel.
The next day we used to surf on the net - by the way I have got a first on my dissertation on the MBA!!! Thanks to Mohammed I am always updated on university progress, thanks to Zeina I had a great topic - NUTZ my baby and thanks to Ali, my night english lecturer so my prof understands what I have written. Ah now I just have to graduate when
Track scenery
The views from our trek we return, this shouldn't be too difficult I guess.
Having found out this great news, we went to the spa. Uh, the first jump into the 40 Degree Pool in the Hanmer Springs (the Sacred Waters as the Maori call them) made us close our noses due to the Sulphur smell and jump out shortly after as it was too hot, like in a sauna. Besides those hot springs we had loads of other springs to try - mineral pools on rocks, sulphur pools and a freshwater 25m lap pool for me to swim my rounds. This relaxing day in the spa, combined with fresh air lead to new energy in our bodies and we were keen to move on. We jumped into Berti and started the journey East, where we stayed at yet another impressive scenery Amberley Beach, watching the sunset over the ocean.
Sheffield The next morning we used the beach to enjoy a long walk on the stoney ground realising once again our freedom and how fortunate we are to experience such moments. Two horse's were trotting by, a man taking his dog out for a walk, a few sea eagles and us.
Filled
Ali Rakaia Wrestler
After going through freezing cold water and a strong stream - "made my feet numb (Ali)" we warmed up by doing pics. with rest we started to head towards the two Lakes that we heard about so much. But before we can get to the lakes we had to stop in Oxford and Sheffield more out curiosity than anything else.
Oxford was very small, which we dismissed when we were heading out of the town after a minutes drive. But Sheffield was a must. After taken a few pics with the town signs - must have looked rediculuous to some, we found a Sheffield pie shop. Yes Ray, that is were we thought of you 😊. When I was munching away on a chicken and veggie pie Ali was reminiscing on Sheffield whislt writing the postcard.
Tekapo and Pukaki Lakes Lake Pukaki was the more impressive one, but both showed off on a sunny day their turkoise waters reflecting the blue crush (sediment in the water). We went on lake Tekapo for a 3 hour walk on to mount John, presenting us with a beautiful view from the top. On the way down we were looking forward to a nice bath though.
Yes our first Lake bath. It must have been around 10 degrees but if kids could
swim in it, we could be man or woman enough to bath in it. It was so clear that when we were almost covered with the water we could still see the pebbles on the ground, little fish swimming around our legs and seahourses checking out what we are doing. The sun did it's job in heating us up afterwards before we walked to the shepherds church, where you could see out on the lake from and than on to lake Pukaki.
This must have been the best camping place that we found so far. The lake was reflecting the setting sun. We could not believe our luck when there was suddenly many driveways to the waterfront and no signs against us parking there, plus there were many fireplaces scattered around. Perfect, that was our night settled.
Lake Wanaka The next day we slowly started our day making our way to lake Wanaka were our next adventure a sky dive was booked for. You can read about that in the next blog 😊.
Lake Wanaka itself reminded me of a Swiss skying village, with mountains surrounding a bay of water, offering everything a traveller, skier would
need to be happy - shops, take aways, cafes etc. We enjoyed another stay and shower at a campsite preparing us for the next day......
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