Advertisement
Published: March 20th 2014
Edit Blog Post
Monday 17th March - on the road in glorious sunshine as we make our way to Oamura. We stopped for coffee at Tarras which is a small community famously known as being the home of Shrek the Merino Hermit Sheep (Molly & Ellie will know all about Shrek). Our journey took us across the Lindis Pass which is one of our favourite roads - my description is 'plumped up duvets' which gives you an idea of the topography and they were a lovely golden colour in the sunlight. I had phoned Jane (my cousin Gytha's daughter) and arranged to see her for coffee in Oamura tomorrow morning. On our way we detoured over the Ben More Dam which is the biggest earth dam in the Southern Hemisphere I.e. It was constructed entirely if earth and granite - it was very impressive and contained the volume of water which was 1.5 times that contained in Wellington Harbour. We eventually reached Oamura where we stopped at a powered site in order to catch up with washing and hot showers!
Tuesday 18th - another sunny day into our van and using a town map found where Jane lived. It was lovely to meet
With Jane and Keegan
Sitting on their deck in the sun eating Jane's home-made cookies up with her again and to meet Keegan her youngest son. Hamish was at school and Andrew was at work. We had coffee and cookies sitting on her lovely sunny decking looking out over Oamura. Eventually made our way back to the van luckily catching Andrew when he came home for lunch. Made our fond farewells and with our bag of homegrown and homemade goodies back on the road heading for Owaka where we hoped to catch a glimpse of Sealions. Getting late so we stopped for a free camp just outside Milton in a small quiet Air.
Wednesday 19th - up and away early reaching Owaka and Surat Bay by 10.00am. We grabbed our cameras and binocs and set off along the beach. We hadn't gone far when we could see something moving in the distance - how lucky were we not only one Sealion but 3 large males lazing on the beach with yet another coming out of the sea - a female. They are such wonderful creatures and it's amazing seeing them in their natural surroundings. Travelled on down to Curio Bay and Porpoise Bay where we saw some Dolphins swimming out in the Bay -
also encountered more sand flies! Time was getting on so decided to start on our journey back northwards towards Mt Cook. The weather had now closed in and it began to rain quite heavily. Drove through some wonderful lush fertile farming country and then the scenery started to become more mountainous with craggy outcrops. By this time the weather had begun to lift and it was amazing with very dark skies and sun shining on the tops of mountains - a real matchbox moment. Passed another, smaller, dam (there are quite a few dams in this area). Stopped for a free camp just before Cromwell beside Lake Dunstan- a lovely spot.
Thursday 20th - not such an early start as intended - stopped at Cromwell then another stop at Tarras once again for more coffee! Back over Lindis Pass watched the stockmen moving a big mob of sheep, another moving a mob of cattle and yet others working with cattle. the latter had 2 huge red deer stags that they had shot and were in the back of their ute - all very natural and rural in this part of the world. Pushed on towards the Mt John Observatory
Mt Cook from the bedroom balcony
We were so lucky to have clear skies - a steep climb up an "Alpine road" to the summit. Superb views of the bright blue Lake Tekapo against a backdrop of mountains with clouds spilling over the edge. Mt John sits like an island surrounded by grassland and mountains. We only stayed for another coffee as we wanted to get to our luxury accommodation for the night - The Hermitage, an upmarket hotel at Mt Cook. This was our Christmas present from Al in 2011 - one night of luxury at The Hermitage to be taken up by April 2014!!!!!
Ironically, the Maui rep phoned to check if the vehicle key was now OK (a week after it packed up). We were delighted to tell them all was well and the key had now dried out. Arrived at The Hermitage, grabbed our bags to check in and - Bugger! the central locking had packed up! C'est la vie - another call to Maui tomorrow!
Another WOW and matchbox moment looking at Mt Cook from our balcony window - once more it doesn't get much better than this. Had a lovely meal in the restaurant followed by Star Gazing in their planetarium. Now off to bed and
Lake Benmore Dam
Hard to believe this is basically gravel, earth and granite tomorrow we plan to walk to the glacier, hopefully in better conditions than when we walked to Rob Roy Glacier by Mt Aspiring in the pouring rain - we'll let you know how we get on!!!!!
Goodnight - xx
Advertisement
Tot: 0.173s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 7; qc: 45; dbt: 0.1254s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb