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Published: March 1st 2008
A great site to visit if you are travelling around NZ in a camper van is www.parkyourcamper.com
Right then...here we go again...
We arrived in Picton and headed straight for Nelson. We dropped off Pam, a girl we went out with on the friday night and ran into again on the ferry and looked for somewhere to stay for the night. We stopped for some supplies at woolworths (a supermarket in NZ) and when we left ran into the two dutch girls, again. By now we had got to know them a bit so invited them to join us at our parking spot. We spent the night playing ridiculous card games and then said goodbye to them as they headed south. We also left Daniel here who met up Rachel for the rest of his time in NZ.
From Nelson we headed north to Abel Tasman national park. We made several stops including the park itself where we had a wander on the paths for a couple of hours and had a dip in some of the bays. The park is mostly used by walkers, which have routes of 3 and 5 days!. We left after a
short while, not intending to do the walks in a million years. Our next stop was a natural spring, where the second most pure water in the world can be found, beaten only by water found under a glacier in Antarctica. The water was amazingly clear, but due to a diseasae called Didymo we couldn't have a dip. Hopefully the pictures show how clear it was. Compared to some of tourist heavy locations we went to, this was very empty for some reason but was definately worth going to. After this we headed for Farewell Spit at the Very north of the south island. We took some photographs and had a walk round but decided a tour was unnecessary. The Spit is 33miles long but accessable for only 3/4 of these. We settled for the night and woke with a journey to Kaikoura infront of us.
It took us around seven hours betwen the places. The roads were windy and our little van was not a fan of going up hills! Our plan for Kaikoura was to swim with Dolphins, which we had heard about and told it was amazing from the English girls. As we looked round we
saw an all too familiar sight of the dutch girls. We exchanged the usual jokes of who is stalking who and left them once again. Outside the closed Kaikoura information centre we saw an advert for star gazing and decided to give it a go. Despite all the 'crazy' things we have done, this was definately one of the highlights of the trip. No moon, which blocks out 70% of visible stars when up, meant that when we got to our observation point at 10.15pm we could see everything. The sun finally departed shortly after and the view was amazing. From the southern hemisphere the whole of the milky way is visible, along with Mars, Orion (although he is upside down here, bless him), Saturn and even two other galaxies. We were shown different constilations, the southern cross, different star signs and then went to the telescope. Through this we saw even more stars and got a look at saturn, its ring and its moon. Saturn was strange, and looked like the guy had drawn it on the telescope trying to trick us.
Whilst in Kaikoura, Jake decided to go swimming with some wild fur seals. This was an
amazing experience as the seals were extremely playful and just wanted you to copy what they were doing. The trip was excellent...however the guy who ran the trip told Jake not to bother wearing anything under his wetsuit (everyone else did!)! To cut a long story short...he must have had the tightest wetsuit ever...and required assistance in getting out of it...which involved laying on the floor with his feet in the air whilst a couple of guys pulled the wet suit off! Not sure who was more embarrassed!!
Whilst in Kaikoura we decided that we wanted to keep the van for the rest of the trip, as the freedom and costs made it favourable. After a few phone calls we managed to secure a different van as ours was already booked. This meant a trip to Christchurch to swap vans, but was not too much out of the way and as we planned to spend a few days there anyway not a problem at all.
As we headed off we felt confident we were fully prepared for the journey. We were with the exception of one old friend... petrol. Usually there are signs if there isn't a petrol
station for a long while. This time, there was not. We prayed as we drove along and as we approached a random town we saw a sign for petrol, which signalled our van to stop dead just 500 yards short of our 50km target. It could have been worse though, as a local farmer stopped and donated some of his emergency supply to us, although laughing constantly as he did. Hanmer springs was eventually reached and as we drove into our space, we again saw the all too familiar sight of the dutch girls van! We spend the afternoon in the pools there with their varying temperatures and smells (sulphur was present again, therefore eggs) before heading off to chirstchurch.
In Christchurch we went a a place called adrenaline forrest. It consits of many highwires attached to trees with varying heights and difficulties. It was split into 4 stages, the first an introduction of what was to come. We skipped the second as a childrens party was busy their. As we set off on the third section we regretted slightly not going on the previous trail. The heights dramatically increased, and despite being constantly attached to a safety wire
it was quite a nervous couple of hours. We spent three hours in total along the 63 different obsticles, and were both happy to finish and unclench our fists which had been holding tight the whole time we were there. Good fun all that said though, the highlight being a 'flying fox', where you attached your harness to a zip line and headed down at speed through the trees.
We picked up our second van the next morning. This time we got a two seater, which was much more comfortable, and in a bit better nick. It also had a less offensive design of a strange blue man. Ask no questions, get no lies! We drove from the east coast across to the west coast to Hokitika. We rested and spent the next day learning how to carve jade with Steve, a charming man. The carving was really good...but very difficult and a real skill. Later that evening we headed down the east coast to encounter the glaciers.
Franz Joseph was our first stop. We arrived to find it chucking it down and we spent our first evening teaching the dutch girls uno. Once we had decided to
get another van we told the girls our plans and they matched theirs almost day for day. Because of this we organised to meet them in Franz and travel the rest of the trip as a foursome. The first morning was a complete change from the previous night. There was an almost perfectly clear sky and the temperature was back up to the early to mid 20s. Around midday we set off for our glacier walk. The trip took us into the nearby glacier national park, where we walked around 2 miles to the face of the glacier up and down rock faces via ladders becuase a recent flood had damaged the previous flat track. Once in front of the glacier, we put on our clampons (spikes basically) and set off. We walked for about an hour on the glacier up steps created as we went along by our axe wielding guide. It was hard work at some points, and when we reached our goal, we stopped to get a drink and take in the amazing views. We returned back to land and headed back to the coach. The same evening we drove to Fox Glacier just 10miles away. This
time we just went to the closest view point and had a look. Following this we drove to Lake Wanaka in the centre of the south island.
Arriving late in Wanaka we struggled for a palce to park our van. We had generally been able to find a place to park the van for free, but here it was never going to happen. Our first night we parked on a grass verge, only for the police to remove us as someone had complained. Our second night we found a street with no signs, but were still woken at 5am by a jobsworth who forced us to move. The first day in Wanaka we headed for a walk recommended to us. The hour walk took us up and down a mountain and offered fantastic views of the town and lakes below us. After this we drove to the local airport, where we were booked in and had been given confirmation that we could finally sky dive. We were given our jump suit and a briefing, then introduced to our tandom skydivers. We jumped into a plane with three other divers and headed up to 12000 feet, being strapped in as
we rose. Craig was the first out of the plane, Jake second and the feeling is like nothing else we have felt before. For 45 seconds you are freefalling, the parachute goes up and then for around five minutes you are moved from side to side and spun round by your partner. All very exhilerating, and much relief is felt on the inside when the chute is released and you start to float rather than hurtle down towards the ground. After such an experience there was only one thing that could beat it, so we met the girls and headed for the crazy golf course. The next morning we headed south, through Queenstown to Milford Sounds.
What we were expecting to be at least a small town, actually turned out to be a cafe/pub and a hostel. We spent the evening having a couple of drinks with the girls and retired. After his previous experience, Craig decided that a Kayaker he was not. So at 7am Jake was up and out on the fiord. The views from water level of milford sounds are unrivaled...and allows you a more accurate perspective of the sheer size of the place. Jake was
coupled with a Sweedish body builder who just wanted to race with all the other couples...slightly awkward but fun none the less. The makers of Jurassic Park were going to film in Milford Sounds but decided against it because of the amount of rain they get...7 metres per year!! Whilst kayaking around for the 26km...we were joined by seals, dolphins and some fiord breasted penguins...the second rarest in the world! Craig headed on a much more relaxing cruise with Marije & Marge through the Sounds. The views were amazing with waterfalls which are huge, but that can dry up after 2/3 rainless days. We also saw seals cooling off in the water and a pod of dolphins also came up to the boat to see what was going on. Also here is Mitre Peak, allegedly the most photographed attraction in New Zealand! We picked Jake up and headed back to Queenstown.
Queenstown is a strange old place. Most activities available in NZ can be done here if you so wish. There were more backpackers here than anywhere else we had been, but also families from across the globe looking at what they could do. Our first day was a
relaxing day, booking what we were going to be doing over the next few days, walking around the town and lying on the grass in front of a lake. Ourselves and Marge did manage to find an hour out of our busy schedule to go for a swim. The local high schools pool was the location, laps were the aim, we soon realised how unfit we have become! That night we went to Fergburger, a highly recommended fast food location. The burgers were huge, especially Jakes who had the full wax jacket, a pound of beef, lots of bacon and salad! The following day was the day for our white water rafting. The four of us left by bus from the centre of town to a nearby base where we were handed our wetsuits, booties and life jackets. After a one hour bus ride down the type of road we thought we had left in South America, we were at the start of our two hour trip. We were divided into groups of six and unbeleivably, the four of us were joined by two people on the same plane as us for our skydive! Over the two hours we were
taught all the basic commands, floated and drank in the river and went down through the rafts. Later that evening we went for a game of poker to try and win some drinks for our planned friday night. We didn't, but had fun and got to watch some of the 20/20 match between England and NZ.
Jake and Marge decided to throw caution to the wind and do the Nevis...the biggest bungee jump in New Zealand, just the 134 metres! The jump was amazing...like nothing else we had felt before. Jake came back up with a nose bleed and blood shot eyes...but it was well worth it, and would definately do it again! Jake was nervous at first...but the guy who was running the jump turned out to be from Hucknal in Nottingham, so keeping Jake talking, he didn't really think about the jump until he had thrown himself off!
While waiting for news of ours friends, Craig and Marije headed for the luge track. Similar to those in Rotorua, as you rise up the mountain on a gondola and again on the chairlift before hurtling back down. After this we all made ourselves look beautiful (make your
own jokes here please) and headed out into town to meet the Coupe brothers who were now in the same place as us. We moved on and met up with Daniel and Rachel, and also bumped into the English girls mentioned previously, who joined us also. The night was very much a backpackers night out, with the people very much intent on drinking as much as possible. The club we ventured to sold a drink called a teapot, as it was served in, well, a teapot. Imaginative, and very effective i think you will agree. Jake was refused entry to the club, even tho he had his passport...apparantly the bouncer didn't think the photo was Jake! The following morning we woke up to a miserable, rainy day and decided to head for the East Coast, starting with Dunedin.
On our arrival we sat nursing a drink with the one day cricket while the girls again caught us up, then drove towards the peninsula where we were starting the next days activities. We parked in a small area by yet another lake and turned in for the night. We were woke up by a triatholon. Bikes, running shoes and wet
suits along with what seemed to be every family member of every entrant surrounded us. A very strange expereince altogether. We headed towards the peninsula after our rude awakening, stopping at a nature reserve full of seals. As we left Dunedin we took a slight detour to see what is officailly recognised as the steepest street in the world. We don't think our photography does it justice, as it was almost 90 degrees at the steepest part. We struggled up it in our little van, a bit worried we might not make it. Our next stop along the east coast was Oamara to see the Moeraki Boulders. These are a strange old site of almost prefectly round stone half buried in the sand. We followed this with a meal and left the girls to head for Akaroa for the following morning, where we were booked in for some dolphin swimming.
We assembled with four other swimmers, a researcher and a film crew at 8.30 the next morning and headed out looking for some Hector Dolphins. These are among the rarest and are the smallest dolphins in the world. 7,000 are now thought to be in existance though, up from
around 1,200 at their lowest numbers. Conservation and bans on fishing have both contributed to this. We found a pod and sang through our snorkles and banged some stones to attract their attention. Swimming with them was a truly amazing experience. After this we headed back to Christchurch to drop our van off the next morning and catch our 3.30 flight to Sydney. We spent our last night washing our van inside and out, before parking up outside of the Wicked camper depot with the Dutch girls who we had met earlier in the day. The following morning we handed in the van, wandered around town and then generously let the girls take us to the airport as they still had their van for another day.We said goodbye and headed to our gate.
And that was that. We had spent five busy, fun filled weeks in beautiful NZ and now we had left it all behind. We would both like to say thanks to the girls who we spent most of our time with on the south island. They were great fun to be with and we really appreciated the leaving presents.
A great site to visit if
you are travelling around NZ in a camper van is www.parkyourcamper.com
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Jean and Fred
non-member comment
Well the write up has certainly been worth waiting for and the pictures look amazing looks like New Zealand is well worth visiting. Glad you were able to take part it in so many activities and came through all of them unscathed. Looking forward to hearing about the next stage of you adventures. Keep up the good work.xx