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Published: October 19th 2008
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1 Orana Park Zoo
Getting friendly with the giraffe Still in the South Island & still loving it. Karolyn came with us to Orana Park, the Christchurch Zoo. The facilities, conditions & provision for public participation are second to none. It always was a favourite place & that hasn’t changed.
Our next trip away from Lincoln was with the Wallaces who joined us in our hire car so it was a bit of a holiday for them too although they prepared loads to take with us. Janet expressed a wish to go to Wanaka & Lake Matheson & Paul wanted to see the glaciers so that’s what we did. The scenery was fantastic all the way from Christchurch. On the way we stopped at the Church of the Good Shepherd by Lake Tekapo. Mount Cook was in clear view across the lake. We stopped briefly at a salmon farm, fed the fish then bought one to prepare for dinner. We stopped for lunch in Geraldine, where Marni lived in ‘98 when we took Nibby to see her.
We arrived in Wanaka on a fine day with great views from the house of a friend of the Wallaces. After eating out that evening we stood outside the house where
2 Tekapo
Lake Tekapo. View of Mount Cook there was very little light pollution & we could see the Milky Way in the night sky. The mountains all around with snow on the top were a joy to wake up to. We drove out along the Mount Aspiring Road (Janet was driving), through 8 rocky fords & with mountains & waterfalls on both sides. We eventually parked when we could drive no further (about 60 Km) & walked to a hanging bridge which took us on to a short bush walk following a rushing river.
When we left Wanaka we drove by Lake Hawea & then the north end of Lake Wanaka heading north to Haast. En route we stopped at Blue Pool & Fantail Falls. We stopped overnight in Haast, not a place to go to for a holiday but a convenient stopping point. The next morning was torrential rain as we drove to Fox Township. We checked in to a motel & the clouds began to clear so we made our way to he glacier. The weather just got better & the glacier was amazing. Later that day we went to Lake Matheson & walked right round, finding the viewing spots which were highlighted by
3 Tekapo
Lake Tekapo from the road the time of day. This lake is famous for its reflections so we were really lucky that the weather was perfect. We could see Mount Cook, Mount Tasman & other peaks very clearly. Waking up next morning to see scenery around Fox is wonderful even if we did lose an hour when the clocks went forward overnight. After a short drive just to view the peaks & the Fox from a different viewpoint we set off for Franz Joseph, another equally impressive glacier.
The weather was good in the morning & we set off on the walk to the point as near as people are permitted for safety’s sake without a guide. We could see tiny dots which were the people on the glacier with their guides. It helps to put the size into perspective. As we approached the car park on our return the clouds closed in on us & the rain came down again. We were so lucky. The glacier couldn’t be seen through the clouds by then.
What we did remember was the last time we were there, on Rachel’s 5th birthday, when she had tonsillitis & Janet carried Nibby in a baby carrier on
4 Tekapo
Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo her back & carried Rachel in her arms which probably balanced the weight to some extent. Little Nanny held Vicky’s hand & Paul took Ian right up to the glacier while the rest of us held back a bit, but not nearly as far as the safety area today.
That night we stayed in Hokitika where we walked to a glow-worm dell. The glow-worms are in a sheltered, but humid place under the trees on the side of a seaward hill. It’s free & open for all to wander in & absorb the wonders in store there.
Before we left we drove to the Hokitika Gorge, in quite heavy rain again where a hanging bridge takes walkers across a stunning blue river where people dive off the rocks in the summer.
We drove back to Christchurch through Arthurs Pass again. This time in heavy rain so the scenery was blotted out by clouds. Good job we came through here before.
Back in time to visit the Buchans in the evening. They emigrated to NZ from Scotland when we were there in ’86. They now have a gorgeous home on 1 acre of land in Prebbleton &
5 Salmon Farm
They all look good their children have done well after a difficult start, leaving friends behind.
The next day was packing, another quick visit to the Haymans to see their almost-complete house, & an afternoon tea visit to Janice & Ross Wilson who remember the Hamer family well. Ross worked at the sheep-breeding unit & got us our pet sheep & took it away at the end of our year.
After a fantastic time in New Zealand we’re off to Australia. It’s not so hard to leave here this time as we’ll be meeting Nibby after our first week in Sydney.
New Zealand is great place for bird watching. We’ve heard, seen & photographed lots of native birds in various habitats. Janet is becoming quite a twitcher. Maybe that’s what is in store for retirement!?
It is wonderful to keep in touch & meet up with friends, many of whom have been to stay with us in England at some time & all of whom are very welcome to come at any time. We’d love to see them & there’s always a room ready.
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