Cold toilet seats, ice cold tap water and other winter delights .

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It’s been a while since I have been in New Zealand in the winter and you forget all those little things about life in a winter climate.
Since I live in North Queensland and it’s almost always tropical, life is quite different to New Zealand.

It’s such a surprise waking up and looking out your window and having to rub the condensation off the glass before you can see. Great fun to draw pictures in though and I remember getting into trouble for this when I was little.
Always remember to park the car with the windshield protected as de-icing the car before you can drive off is such a chore.
You have to remember to look at the weather forecast to plan your days rather than just expecting it to be fine each day.
You really hold off going to the toilet as the trip to the bathroom is cold, the bathroom is even colder and then the cold toilet seat makes you really regret the whole experience.
Getting a drink of water from the tap is like pouring water from the fridge, really freezes up your insides.
Having to pack layers of clothing with you everywhere you go is a pain, remembering to take a jacket, gloves and hat is a forgotten skill.
Walking around the house without slippers and socks is a toe freezer, compulsory footwear a must.

We started our winter trip by flying into Christchurch on the best flight I have ever been on. The view of the Alps was magnificent, no clouds, crystal clear air, with every mountain, glacier and lake in full view.

Christchurch was cold when we arrived and got colder as the sun disappeared around about 5-00pm, very early for us Queenslanders. Refused to go walking around, the warm car was a great option so we found a great restaurant called “Duxdelux” on Hereford St in the arts centre. This is a brewery as well as a nice restaurant, with in and out door seating and great food, lots of organic food also to choose from.
We stayed at a caravan park in Papanui, a northern Christchurch suburb, called Meadowpark, part of the Top Ten group, which are all around New Zealand. This park has a pool, spa, and great adult sized trikes for hire which seat one or two people.

We drove north from Christchurch to Nelson via the coast road and Kaikoura. This drive takes about 4-6 hours depending on how often you want to stop and sight see or eat.
There was a very hard frost overnight and we had white surroundings for at least 2 hours of the drive. The deer in the paddocks looked quite chilly and the sheep were all huddled up against the plant fences to keep warm.
Lots of surfers were out and about near Kaikoura braving the chilly conditions.
Easily seen along this area are seals. They are just lying around the rocks and can be photographed without being disturbed; they range in size from small pups which were having a great time playing in the rock pools to huge adults sun baking on the rocks. Watch for the signs saying they are around or just look out for cars that have stopped along the road.
A great place to eat is at “The Store” which is half way between Blenheim and Kaikoura. It is a great café right on the shore with in and out door seating and a great log fire. Very nice food, not just the usual sandwiches and cakes.

Nelson is at the top of the south island with sea frontage and a mild climate and loads of sunshine compared to further south. Apple and Kiwifruit orchards and vineyards are easily seen all around the district and many vineyards have excellent cafes and boutique breweries.

We had a great lunch at one place near Richmond just off the turn off to Motueka. Called the Abbey this vineyard had the old Stoke church converted to a great eating place, 12 boutique beers on tap and fantastic food and wine.

We drove south from Nelson to Christchurch via the Lewis Pass, which is the inland route via Murchison, Springs Junction and Hamner Springs.
This drive takes you through quite a few mountain passes such as the Spooner Range, Hope Saddle, large pine forests and great mountain scenery.
There are also a few waterfalls to look at,the one we stopped at was just off the main road and was probably formed when there was an earthquake. This part of the south island is right on the fault line and at Inangahua Junction there is an information centre which shows just what the last earthquake did to this area.

At the high point of the Lewis Pass at the St James Walkway we found lots of snow and a beautiful frozen lake. The boys would have loved to have a piece of cardboard to use as a toboggan but managed to amuse themselves with snow ball fights and throwing rocks on the lake to see if they could break the ice. No such luck.

It started sleeting so we were off and driving as snow on mountain roads is not my idea of fun driving conditions.

We stopped off at Wairua for a great lunch at the café on the left hand side of the road. It in an old house converted to a great restaurant that sells fantastic pies not of the usual steak variety. Just up the road is the “three bored housewives” craft shop well worth a look, Michael bought his hat from here which is made from sheep, alpaca and llama wool.

Last stop before Christchurch was near Amberley and the Brew Moon café and bar for more beer sampling and food. The $8- beer sample platter was enjoyed as well as the old car in the car park outside afterwards.

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Comments

[spa toilet seat]

The cold spa toilet seat will really give you chills when you skin get near to that