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Published: January 23rd 2007
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Map so far
Our route around the south island from Marlbrough sounds to Wanaka Hello all, sorry for the massive delay in our blog. We've been hugely busy in the last 2 weeks and have crammed loads in which has been great. Currently in Queenstown indulging in some adreanline therapy. However the story so far. (will have to cut it short but the pictures should give a better picture)
Arrived in Marlbrough sounds just before new year after our north island adventures. Drove the backroads intot he sounds to stay at the Te Mahia lodge for new year. Was lovely and isolated and met some lovely kiwi's alos on holiday for the festive period. New Years was spent eating a hog roast provided by our hosts but was otherwise a fairly sedate affair!
The following day we hired a small yacht and explored the sounds as best we could with our piddly 4hp engine! We'd also taken a rod along and kate managed to catch supper in the form of a tasty snapper. While mark carried out the ritualistic sacrifice of said creature, kate couldn't help but shead a tear! All this emotion was however worth it after a friendly local prepared the fish and we put it on the barbi for a
Marlbrough Sounds (MS)
MS as the sun sets from the ferry. delicious even meal watching LOTR on TV.
from MS we drove over to Nelson, a great little town and chance for kate to satisfy the "consumer" streak in her! Luckily for us Katmandu, the local outdoor kit shop was doing a 50% off the entire shop!!!!!!!!! Wow, like pigs in shit we were. The creditcard took a hammering but we're now the proud owners of more kit than we need!
Whilst in nelson we walked part of the Abel Tasman track and spent a day sea kayaking. True to form the weather held out and we had a fantastic day paddling down the coast, even spotting the local seal population. The company we used was Southern Exposure and would thoroughly recommend them. We also would recommend the BBH hostel Alan's Place/Gingerbread house. The two brits running it had a cool atmosphere going. Nelson proved to be better than we expected and wanted to stay longer, but alas we had to move on. We retraced our steps east to the Blenheim area and partook in some winetasting around the umpteen vineyards available. We ate the most delicious veal ravioli in the Herzog winery followed by some of their best
Kate in MS
Kate enjoying New Year luxury from Te Mahia resort on the sounds. Nothing but the sound of silence! Pinot Noir to help it down!
We carried on to Kaikoura on the east coast to try and get to swim with the dolphins but following a logistical error (forgot to book in time) we spent the day on the waiting list to no avail. Kaikoura didn't capture our imagination at all so the following day we started heading west towards Lewis Pass to head to the westcoast but heard on our way out of town that orcas were down at the beach. We raced down to see two groups of whales cruising the coast of the beach and Kate had one of her emotional moments of the trip watching them serenely gliding by. Amazing and didn't cost us a penny!
We headed over the southern alps towards greymouth but detoured up the coast and stayed in Punakaiki for the night. Here tha beaches are shades of black and grey sand the you can sit for hours watching the majestic ocean battering the coastline. The average rainful for the westcoast is something like 6-8 metres a year!!!!! compared to the east side which might get a maximum of 2m. Unfortunately we experienced this weather for a few days
Kate outside our little pad.
Always with a mug of tea in hand, K relaxes in the sounds sun. so spent much of our time in the car. Nevermind all part of it I suppose.
Again our luck held and upon arriving in Franz Josef glacier the weather cleared just in time for us to head up the massive glacier to try out some ice-climbing. What a day we had. 8 customers with 2 guides made for a much more personal experience. The downside was that we had to charge up the glacier at speed to get enough time to climb but having seen the bigger groups it was worth every penny. Kate had immense fun climbing and seems to have a new direction in life. (much to the worry of her mother!)
After a energy packed stay at Franz we headed on down to Wanaka standing next to the lake of the same name. Being back on the west side of the mountains mean't great weather again. We climbed the Iron Mountain on the edge of town, visited the NZ fighter pilots museum, did a spot of indoor/outdoor climbing in the brand spanking new climbing centre and went to the most bizarre cinema you've ever seen. Cinema Paradiso still runs with normal celluloid film and instead
Gone fishing
Kate in control of the rod not long before she snagged a juicy snapper for tea! of the usual cramped affair, the scottish owner has filled the place with sofas and armchairs, theres even a Morris Minor you can sit in and watch the movie! At have time the film is paused and everyone makes a b-line for the freshly baked cookies straight out the oven and a cappucino before taking your compy seat for the second part! Great and maybe someone should do the same back home.
Well, that enough for now as the hands are aching! Will get some pickys on in the next few days and continue our story later! Hope all well and the that the weather is improving! Its 27 today and sunny, ha!
Mark and Kate
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vani
non-member comment
when are ypu back?
hi guys! Sounds like a frenzy of activity over in kiwi- land. Nearly home time now. Be great to see ya back in northallerton. Missin you loads. See ya soon, guys. loadsa love, vani