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Published: November 10th 2011
Sunday 6th Nov
Up at 5.00am and a walk to the station opposite to catch the train to the Airport. Checked in and then thought we would see if we could sell our Sydney city train tickets that still had 4 days of city travel on them - Got 20$ from a Swiss couple who were visiting Sydney (It all helps!!) Also, when we checked in they advised that the plane had no in-flight entertainment so we had an allowance of 60$ to spend on books, magazines, food etc in the airport! Busy morning!!
Flight was on time (08.35am), uneventful flight and fantastic views of the snow on the mountains as we came in to land in Christchurch. Phoned the campervan people who told us to get taxi to them - Adventure Campervans, 73 Treffers Road, Wigram, Christchurch)
When we arrived our campervan was still ‘out’ so we borrowed a car and went to the local supermarket to stock up with food and drink for a few days. Campervan had arrived by the time we got back at 4.00pm (we had lost a couple of hours as well, as NZ two hours ahead of Oz) but they were still servicing it
etc so we didn’t actually get going anywhere until gone 5.00pm! We were both knackered so we headed south on Highway 1 and stopped at the campsite at Rakaia.
Quick pizza for tea and a walk back to the river and then to the local pub (just like England!) which unfortunately was just closing at 8.30pm! (Info: Distance 55kms )
Monday 7th November
On the road by about 8.30am – long, straight flat road with not too much scenery until we took the A79 road inland to Geraldine (beautiful park with azaleas ...Springtime here !). Very pretty ride after this, up over the Burke Pass and reached the absolutely stunning view of Lake Tekapo! (11.20am) It was a crystal clear day and the snow topped mountains and the ice blue turquoise lake was vividly dazzling. Totally beautiful! After a wander around and up to the tiny stone Church of the Good Shepherd (where a Japanese or South Korean bride was posing for pictures) with another amazing view of the lake from its alter window.
Back to the Van and decided to do a slight detour to top up with diesel at Twizel before the 55km drive up to Mt Cook.
Drove by the side of Lake Pukaki with views all the way, across several “braided” (wide stoney beds with several streams for glacial run-off) rivers, until we reached the village at the top. Turned off to the Campervan park and from there we had a walk towards Hooker Valley but unfortunately could only walk to the lookout as the suspension bridge was being repaired. Heard some very strange noises and apparently these were avalanches or ice cracks ( the information board said you could hear a whole symphony of sounds from the Hooker Valley!) Had a look at the Alpine Memorial which had plaques of about 40 or so people who had lost their lives on Mt Cook and also Fredas Rock, which shows a picture of the first woman to climb Mt Cook.
Left Mt Cook about 4.00pm and took the Road 8 to Omarama and then the Road 83 towards Oamaru passing a few lakes and dams and then following the watercourse down to Road 1 and then on to Oamaru. Checked in at the Top Ten Campsite and then drove out to Bushy Beach to cook some food and wait for dusk to spot the rare yellow
eyed “Hoiho” penguins! Spotted quite a few, although not the hoards I had imagined (nothing like David Attenbrough!!) and watched the sun set over the beach!
On the way back, 8.45pm by now, picked up some bits of shopping that we didn’t have and back to the campsite by 9.30pm! (Info: Distance 550km )
Tuesday 8th November
Fairly late morning start as we were feeding the birds from our campervan – sparrows, blackbirds, starlings and a thrush! Very English!!
It had been raining overnight, the sky was still grey and the clouds were very low so driving along the road we didn’t benefit from any ‘beautiful’ scenery! There were a lot of low rolling hills, with gorse, may blossom and wild lupins to distract us as well as a few birds of prey, fields of alpacas and deer and as expected, loads of sheep and lambs!! Our first stop was the Moeraki Boulders which are huge circular boulders scattered across the beach! They look as though they have been washed up on the shore but they have actually been formed in the ground and as the sea washes away the cliff, it exposes more of them!
Onto Shag Point for
our coffee stop and a short walk on the headland where we spotted some fur seals lying on the rocks and swimming. Drove up over a very long hill and then down into Dunedin which is a huge city, spread over several hills. Parked in the centre and had a wander around looking at all the old buildings and the Cathedral before heading out towards the Otago Peninsular for lunch.
Took the bottom road around the coast but then decided we would go to Larnach Castle, NZ’s only castle, and turned up a very steep hill – which went on...and on...and on....... Didn’t think the Campervan was going to make it but eventually came to the top and had stunning (if not somewhat hazy due to the weather!) views of Dunedin and the whole of the peninsular. We had to use our imagination to visualise it on a good day!!
Had a walk around the fairly extensive gardens of the castle – it was lovely to see all the spring flowers – tulips, rhododendrons, azaleas, daisies and the Scottish blue poppies and candelabra primulas. The cloud began to break up a bit and the sun was trying to come out
so we were hopeful of some clearer weather. Took the ‘High Road’ down into Portobello where we booked into the campsite and then drove out to the albatross centre at the end of the Peninsular. Unfortunately it was shut when we got there but we were lucky enough to spot a few albatross coming in across the sea and circling the cliffs. There were also some spotted shags (I think!) nesting on the cliffs and plenty of gulls and spoonbills flying around as well as some seals resting on the rocks below!
Back to the campsite for a restful evening, maybe a wander down to the local shop and beach followed by an early night! (Info 195kms)
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Laura
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Liking the Daisy in the daisies pic - so did Summer! Scenery is beautiful