Lake Tekapo - and a bit of Christchurch & Kaikoura

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We stopped off on the way to Lake Tekapo at Maeoraki Boulders which are really cool. It basically a load of round boulders dotted along the shoreline, but they look really bizarre, you'll have to see the pics. Lake Tekapo itself is amazing. Impossibly blue lake, surrounded by snowy mountains, and our hostel was a lodge right on the lake. We arrived late afternoon, so only a brief chance to see the lake & town. I also walked up to the outdoor hot pools, with the intention of taking a dip. But it must have been some after school club or something, as it was full of Primary school kids splashing around........ i'd have looked decidely dodgy if i'd have sat in the middle of them all in my obsence swimshorts, so i gave it a miss. Most stayed in that night & relaxed around the lounge which was really nice. Royston went up to the observatory to see some stars, apparently its a good place for it, no artificial light....?

Next morning we shifted on to Christchurch again, which i've been to for 3 nights, so just a pit stop. It was full on Rock n Roll, i walked round the town, bought some new socks & undies, did some laundry, transferred some new songs to my ipod & charged my electricals. TAKE THAT CHRISTCHURCH, WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Royston flew to Wellington the next day, but i decided to carry on up to Kaikoura to try the Whale watching again, as it was rained off last time. We'd had 2 weeks of glorious blue skies, so there was no reason for bad weather............ 20 minutes into the bus ride up, the heavens opened, and it rained & hailed for hours. Cancelled again, so everyone did the same as last time & huddled round the fire watching films! Rumour still has it it's not been on for months but they make out it is on, as it's the only tourist draw to the place. And a girl who arrived in Kaikoura the day we left was told her whale watching was cancelled due to bad weather, and it was a gorgeous day!!!!

Up the next morning to amazing sunshiiiiiiiiiine & perfect blue skies, and a bus ride up to Picton for the ferry. I was expecting a boat, but it was huge!! It had 10 floors, 2 cinemas, proper pubs, restaurants, the lot. I'm just relaxing on a full recliner chair at the front deciding between a nice hot brew or a nice cold beer....

See you on the North Island!

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Photos

Moeraki Boulders
On the way to Tekapo

Cookie Factory
I overdid it slightly...

Comments

[Grogues]

Washing powder
I dares you take it to South America?! Go on, I dares you! x