The last day in New Zealand and I was awake at 0215 (not because of anticipation, but because of our flight time) and up at 0225. I showered, dressed and finished packing. Fran was quickly up and dressed. We had a cup of tea, I had a can of coke and took the suitcases outside.
Our taxi arrived at 0310, so we packed up and were off to airport. We arrived at 0330 with a fare of NZ$24.50 but it was only NZ$22 with our discount coupon. We went into the terminal and found that our flight was departing from the domestic terminal. There were no staff around, no check-ins open, but quite a few passengers. I quickly found that the auto check-in doesn’t work for International departures from the Domestic Terminal. After wandering to the International Terminal, I eventually found out because of shift changes, no-one would be on until 0430. There were very small signs and generally poor signage. We went into the lines at 0430, had our suitcases weighed (20.4 kg each) and were passed through. The luggage was going straight through to Adelaide, so that was no problem. We had to wait until the departure gate opened, then went through. There was no real problem at the security point. Finally we got onto the plane to Auckland and we were off on time. Sunrise was during the flight and scenery was nice.
We arrived at Auckland on time and went quickly around to the departure point for the flight to Adelaide. Here the security check was okay but my pack was selected for random testing – and, low and behold, it tested POSITIVE for EXPLOSIVES!
Fortunately both I and the tester were sensible about it, because like a lot of things, one negative test negates many positive tests. He reset the machine, used a fresh test strip and – all clear! Off we went, but now with little time. However we still made it to the flight on time and, again on time, the flight headed off to Adelaide.
The flight back was smooth, but they ran out of a selection of food so it was either take what was offered or nothing. After twenty flights within the last year, I didn’t mind and just ate what I liked.
We landed in Adelaide on time and I rang Ashley to pick us up. He was already at the airport, so we went through Customs and Immigration, hoping for no delays. Immigration was quick, but Fran held us up at two points because of declaring all the medicines and so on that she had, and because she ran into a parent from school. However, even so, we were through very quickly once the officials realised what Fran had (no prohibited material) and so we were soon in the public area of the terminal and met Ashley. Quickly we took the luggage to the car, put it and ourselves in and, for Fran, her New Zealand holiday was over.
For me, over a year of travelling had come to an end – and is never likely to be repeated!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
January 13
This was our last full day in New Zealand. I was up at 0710, had tea and toast, then showered and dressed. Quite a bit of time was spent organising luggage, but mainly emptying the car out.
We set out at 0900 and went to visit the Antarctic Centre. We arrived at 0915 and finally left at 1115.
During the time we spent in the centre, I spent some time in the cool room. This was normally at –8°C but on occasions the wind machine started up and there was a wind chill down to –21°C. We had a look at the penguins, most of who were either injured or physically incapable of caring for themselves in the wild. When they were being fed, it was interesting to see the different behaviour of the individual penguins – some were gluttons, some shy and some would only take food from a particular keeper. On the way out, we went into the “storm”, down to –20°C. Both the normal temperature and the storm conditions were warmer than yard duty at Werribee on the oval in winter.
On the way out we went for a ride on the “Hegglund” all-terrain vehicle. Fran had to ride in the front because the back was full (normally this would be an area for troops. It was very different, climbing up 45° slopes and traversing 40° slopes and then floating through over a metre of water. I was interested because I had seen fleets of them in the northern areas of Finland and Norway.
We returned to the city and parked on the street. We walked through a mall to visit Christ Church. Here we looked around and I walked up the tower. The view over the city was impressive, but unlike European places, modern buildings had blocked out long-distance views. There was a performance on in the square, which we looked at for a time. There was audience participation, reluctant on the part of some but everyone ended up enjoying themselves. There was also a tourist tram which ran around the central parts of the city. Opposite the tram stop was a giant chessboard, with people playing chess there.
We walked back to the car and headed off to visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral – I had promised the preist at Invercargill that we would visit, and it was quite impressive, but lacking in the grandeur of Christ church. We had lunch at a Burger King and then bought soup for tea at an adjacent supermarket.
After that we went out to the New Zealand Air Force museum. It seemed much smaller than I remembered, but the problem is that I have been to too many since then – and some of them were huge. The afternoon wore on and we went back to the motel. I emptied the car and left Fran at the motel while I drove to the depot to drop the car off. At the same time I was returning the car, there was a French couple picking up a car. I could now appreciate how difficult it would be for them – language, colloquial speech relating to driving, driving on the “wrong side”, unfamiliar road signs and in a different language. I got driven back to the motel.
The shops were still open so we walked around to Westfield Riccarton shopping centre and went through a variety of shops there – but there was no shopping as our luggage was already up to weight. Then we went back to the motel and had tea, using up any food which we had left.
Later in the evening I transferred and processed today’s photos, wrote up today’s blog as a summary and then watched a little TV. We went to sleep early as we had to be up at 0215 tomorrow to catch our taxi at 0315 tomorrow morning to the airport.
We set out at 0900 and went to visit the Antarctic Centre. We arrived at 0915 and finally left at 1115.
During the time we spent in the centre, I spent some time in the cool room. This was normally at –8°C but on occasions the wind machine started up and there was a wind chill down to –21°C. We had a look at the penguins, most of who were either injured or physically incapable of caring for themselves in the wild. When they were being fed, it was interesting to see the different behaviour of the individual penguins – some were gluttons, some shy and some would only take food from a particular keeper. On the way out, we went into the “storm”, down to –20°C. Both the normal temperature and the storm conditions were warmer than yard duty at Werribee on the oval in winter.
On the way out we went for a ride on the “Hegglund” all-terrain vehicle. Fran had to ride in the front because the back was full (normally this would be an area for troops. It was very different, climbing up 45° slopes and traversing 40° slopes and then floating through over a metre of water. I was interested because I had seen fleets of them in the northern areas of Finland and Norway.
We returned to the city and parked on the street. We walked through a mall to visit Christ Church. Here we looked around and I walked up the tower. The view over the city was impressive, but unlike European places, modern buildings had blocked out long-distance views. There was a performance on in the square, which we looked at for a time. There was audience participation, reluctant on the part of some but everyone ended up enjoying themselves. There was also a tourist tram which ran around the central parts of the city. Opposite the tram stop was a giant chessboard, with people playing chess there.
We walked back to the car and headed off to visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral – I had promised the preist at Invercargill that we would visit, and it was quite impressive, but lacking in the grandeur of Christ church. We had lunch at a Burger King and then bought soup for tea at an adjacent supermarket.
After that we went out to the New Zealand Air Force museum. It seemed much smaller than I remembered, but the problem is that I have been to too many since then – and some of them were huge. The afternoon wore on and we went back to the motel. I emptied the car and left Fran at the motel while I drove to the depot to drop the car off. At the same time I was returning the car, there was a French couple picking up a car. I could now appreciate how difficult it would be for them – language, colloquial speech relating to driving, driving on the “wrong side”, unfamiliar road signs and in a different language. I got driven back to the motel.
The shops were still open so we walked around to Westfield Riccarton shopping centre and went through a variety of shops there – but there was no shopping as our luggage was already up to weight. Then we went back to the motel and had tea, using up any food which we had left.
Later in the evening I transferred and processed today’s photos, wrote up today’s blog as a summary and then watched a little TV. We went to sleep early as we had to be up at 0215 tomorrow to catch our taxi at 0315 tomorrow morning to the airport.
January 12
Despite the late evening, I was awake and up at 0640. It was tea, toast, coke and then a shower and finally dressing. I packed up, checked the unit and then packed the car. Because we left so early, we left the key in the unit and were on the road by 0745. I refuelled in Dunedin city at Mobil, heading south, and then left, going north, at 0755. We went by the Moeraki Boulders and I gave Fran the same commentary as yesterday, just so she knew I could remember. Not far north, we went through back roads to cut across to the main road to Mt Cook via Takiroa, where we stopped to view Maori paintings. We stopped in Kurow to use a toilet – they were very clean and there was an interesting display in the town.
After that stop we went straight through to Mt Cook. Our first stop to view Mt Cook was at Peter’s Lookout – there were many views as we went along the road through the valley, each unique in its own way. At Mt Cook Settlement, we looked through the Visitor Centre, which was new – it had not been there when I had last visited with mum. We ate our lunch outside at the picnic benches – Fran spilled her drink water in her bag over books and all the paperwork in there. When we left we drove back through Geraldine (I got a photo for Elizabeth there) and Ashburton, drove over a very long bridge (remember that a lot of New Zealand rivers are glacial, and so have small and narrow main channels but wide beds up to a mile wide) and had to put NZ$10 petrol in along the way (too close to call, so I decided to play safe).
We got into Christchurch at 1705 and went straight into our motel. It seemed very good. I immediately booked a taxi for Wednesday morning early, to go to the airport. In the unit we had a cup of tea and unpacked. I checked my emails, but the Internet allowance was not sufficient to upload photos. We went out for tea at Robbie’s, as we had a discount voucher from the motel for a meal there. We walked there and back. At the office, Fran requested a newspaper for tomorrow morning (we had seen a police car rushing up towards Mt Cook and wanted to know what the story was).
Back in the unit we changed, I processed today’s photos and then summarised my blog for today. Fran watched TV while I did this and we were soon to bed and to sleep about 2200.
After that stop we went straight through to Mt Cook. Our first stop to view Mt Cook was at Peter’s Lookout – there were many views as we went along the road through the valley, each unique in its own way. At Mt Cook Settlement, we looked through the Visitor Centre, which was new – it had not been there when I had last visited with mum. We ate our lunch outside at the picnic benches – Fran spilled her drink water in her bag over books and all the paperwork in there. When we left we drove back through Geraldine (I got a photo for Elizabeth there) and Ashburton, drove over a very long bridge (remember that a lot of New Zealand rivers are glacial, and so have small and narrow main channels but wide beds up to a mile wide) and had to put NZ$10 petrol in along the way (too close to call, so I decided to play safe).
We got into Christchurch at 1705 and went straight into our motel. It seemed very good. I immediately booked a taxi for Wednesday morning early, to go to the airport. In the unit we had a cup of tea and unpacked. I checked my emails, but the Internet allowance was not sufficient to upload photos. We went out for tea at Robbie’s, as we had a discount voucher from the motel for a meal there. We walked there and back. At the office, Fran requested a newspaper for tomorrow morning (we had seen a police car rushing up towards Mt Cook and wanted to know what the story was).
Back in the unit we changed, I processed today’s photos and then summarised my blog for today. Fran watched TV while I did this and we were soon to bed and to sleep about 2200.
January 11
Again it was the usual procedure, up at 0640, a cup of tea, toast, a shower and got dressed.
I packed, packed car and got ready to leave. Alas again, the hosts don’t make things clear and I found I was up for a NZ$5 charge for Internet, so I was not too happy. Next time I will be ensuring that either the cost is stated upfront or otherwise I will not pay.
We set course for Mt Cook but Fran soon decided the day would be too long. After filling up at Shell (no Woolworths discount dockets) in Invercargill, I headed out (on wrong heading) for the Southern Scenic Route. I eventually caught up with the correct route after going through some very scenic little places.
Along the way we sidetracked into a number of interesting places – one was Niagara Falls, certainly falls but on a different scale to the Canadian/American one. There were nice beaches and coastal scenery at Curio Bay and Owaka.
At Nugget Point we had something to eat from the prepared food we had bought the day before and then walked out on the point to see the rugged scenery and many seals resting on rock shelves and small sandy areas. Back at the car, we spoke briefly to a couple in the car next to us – another brother and sister, the sister from near Invercargill but the brother from Melton (Vic), who had his Mazda car serviced at Werribee (just near where I have DOUG, ARTIE and DOUG 2 serviced). We called in at Balclutha and then went straight onto Dunedin. Unfortunately the SatNav took us on a torturous route before we found the motel. We booked in, put all the luggage in and went straight off to Moeraki. At Moeraki the tide was nearly in, and we had to scrabble along the top edge of the beach and at the foot of a cliff. I had no problem to see the boulders but Fran was reluctant to run the risk of being trapped by the sea. Then it was quickly back to Dunedin where we did some shopping.
After going back to the motel and unloading that shopping, we set out to the Otago Peninsula. There were some very scenic areas along the way, and out at the point we got fish and chips for tea (at a very busy shop). We went right out to Taiaroa Head and then headed back to Sandfly Bay, on the advice of the chip shop owner and a customer.
We parked in the car park, then went down to beach. Along the way we saw some wildlife officers who confirmed there would be sea lions for sure and penguins possibly. The path started out as a sealed track, then sandy, then scrabbling across dunes. We walked along the beach to a hide, passing very close to a sea lion. We saw many sea lions from the hide but only one penguin (from hide) struggling up a cliff-face. It stopped for a breather, but out of our sight. On the way back along the beach we saw another climbing up a sand face. Fran had real trouble getting back from the beach, having great difficulty on the loose sand of a few dunes. We ended up with me at one end of a stick pulling Fran at the other (lower) end. Even so, it took a long time and gave Fran a bit of a scare.
After that, and a drive back along a narrow ridge with strong winds pushing us in both directions (but not at the same time), we were back at the motel by 2245. Fran went straight to bed. I piggybacked on an open network and checked my email, then transferred and processed photos, summarised my blog (no detail, as it was getting late), did some other work and then went to bed.
I packed, packed car and got ready to leave. Alas again, the hosts don’t make things clear and I found I was up for a NZ$5 charge for Internet, so I was not too happy. Next time I will be ensuring that either the cost is stated upfront or otherwise I will not pay.
We set course for Mt Cook but Fran soon decided the day would be too long. After filling up at Shell (no Woolworths discount dockets) in Invercargill, I headed out (on wrong heading) for the Southern Scenic Route. I eventually caught up with the correct route after going through some very scenic little places.
Along the way we sidetracked into a number of interesting places – one was Niagara Falls, certainly falls but on a different scale to the Canadian/American one. There were nice beaches and coastal scenery at Curio Bay and Owaka.
At Nugget Point we had something to eat from the prepared food we had bought the day before and then walked out on the point to see the rugged scenery and many seals resting on rock shelves and small sandy areas. Back at the car, we spoke briefly to a couple in the car next to us – another brother and sister, the sister from near Invercargill but the brother from Melton (Vic), who had his Mazda car serviced at Werribee (just near where I have DOUG, ARTIE and DOUG 2 serviced). We called in at Balclutha and then went straight onto Dunedin. Unfortunately the SatNav took us on a torturous route before we found the motel. We booked in, put all the luggage in and went straight off to Moeraki. At Moeraki the tide was nearly in, and we had to scrabble along the top edge of the beach and at the foot of a cliff. I had no problem to see the boulders but Fran was reluctant to run the risk of being trapped by the sea. Then it was quickly back to Dunedin where we did some shopping.
After going back to the motel and unloading that shopping, we set out to the Otago Peninsula. There were some very scenic areas along the way, and out at the point we got fish and chips for tea (at a very busy shop). We went right out to Taiaroa Head and then headed back to Sandfly Bay, on the advice of the chip shop owner and a customer.
We parked in the car park, then went down to beach. Along the way we saw some wildlife officers who confirmed there would be sea lions for sure and penguins possibly. The path started out as a sealed track, then sandy, then scrabbling across dunes. We walked along the beach to a hide, passing very close to a sea lion. We saw many sea lions from the hide but only one penguin (from hide) struggling up a cliff-face. It stopped for a breather, but out of our sight. On the way back along the beach we saw another climbing up a sand face. Fran had real trouble getting back from the beach, having great difficulty on the loose sand of a few dunes. We ended up with me at one end of a stick pulling Fran at the other (lower) end. Even so, it took a long time and gave Fran a bit of a scare.
After that, and a drive back along a narrow ridge with strong winds pushing us in both directions (but not at the same time), we were back at the motel by 2245. Fran went straight to bed. I piggybacked on an open network and checked my email, then transferred and processed photos, summarised my blog (no detail, as it was getting late), did some other work and then went to bed.
January 10
I was up at 0640 and had a cup of tea, sausage rolls for breakfast (which otherwise would have been last night’s tea), then drank some coke (to replace the fluid which I had lost).
Then I had a shower and dressed (Fran had her shower last night), packed, packed the car and we were ready to leave just before 0800 – Fran returned the key.
I filled up with fuel at Caltex (138.9 cf 142.9 at BP) – the same place I had filled the day before and then we left Te Anau on the Southern Scenic route.
Once we had set out, it started to rain and became misty and cloudy. We went through Tuattapere and on to Riverton. Here I stopped to go to the toilet. Like many small towns, it had its own lolly shop (New Zealanders must have a very sweet tooth). We headed on into Invercargill. Our first stop was the iSite Information centre and then we toured the attached museum. One of the displays in the museum was for “the fastest Indian”. Armed with maps and information, we did the heritage route through town, then called into our motel about 1300. We booked in, then had our lunch in the unit. The unit had an upstairs bedroom as well as the downstairs room including a bed. I found there was Internet access, so set up the laptop for it and started uploading previous photos. We headed out again and visited Bluff, then toured the main shopping areas of Invercargill on the way back. We called into St Mary’s Basilica, but found it locked. I knocked on the door of the presbytery to get a key, then ended up chatting to the priest who opened the church up for us. He said the design was based on St Sophia in Istanbul, as the first priest to arrange the church building had spent some time at the church in Istanbul (this was poignant for me as I had been in St Sophia not too long ago). When we left, we did some shopping on way back to the motel. After putting that shopping in, we went to do some more shopping (at a New World, just down the road) and then called into Burger King for tea.
After refreshing the inner man, we went back to the unit. Tragedy – I found that the signal had been too low in the room to keep the strength sufficient and so no photos had been uploaded. After a bit of experimentation, I ended up with the laptop on the lounge table to get sufficient signal. Then I downloaded today’s photos and uploaded all the others while Fran watched TV and read, all the while complaining of a cold.
Then I summarised today’s blog, saved it, charged all the other batteries, got ready for bed and was soon to sleep.
Then I had a shower and dressed (Fran had her shower last night), packed, packed the car and we were ready to leave just before 0800 – Fran returned the key.
I filled up with fuel at Caltex (138.9 cf 142.9 at BP) – the same place I had filled the day before and then we left Te Anau on the Southern Scenic route.
Once we had set out, it started to rain and became misty and cloudy. We went through Tuattapere and on to Riverton. Here I stopped to go to the toilet. Like many small towns, it had its own lolly shop (New Zealanders must have a very sweet tooth). We headed on into Invercargill. Our first stop was the iSite Information centre and then we toured the attached museum. One of the displays in the museum was for “the fastest Indian”. Armed with maps and information, we did the heritage route through town, then called into our motel about 1300. We booked in, then had our lunch in the unit. The unit had an upstairs bedroom as well as the downstairs room including a bed. I found there was Internet access, so set up the laptop for it and started uploading previous photos. We headed out again and visited Bluff, then toured the main shopping areas of Invercargill on the way back. We called into St Mary’s Basilica, but found it locked. I knocked on the door of the presbytery to get a key, then ended up chatting to the priest who opened the church up for us. He said the design was based on St Sophia in Istanbul, as the first priest to arrange the church building had spent some time at the church in Istanbul (this was poignant for me as I had been in St Sophia not too long ago). When we left, we did some shopping on way back to the motel. After putting that shopping in, we went to do some more shopping (at a New World, just down the road) and then called into Burger King for tea.
After refreshing the inner man, we went back to the unit. Tragedy – I found that the signal had been too low in the room to keep the strength sufficient and so no photos had been uploaded. After a bit of experimentation, I ended up with the laptop on the lounge table to get sufficient signal. Then I downloaded today’s photos and uploaded all the others while Fran watched TV and read, all the while complaining of a cold.
Then I summarised today’s blog, saved it, charged all the other batteries, got ready for bed and was soon to sleep.
January 9
Again, as usual, I was up at 0640, had a cup of tea, some toast and had a shower. After this, I got dressed and we were off to Milford Sound by 0730. It was raining again.
This time we got a good run – there were few vehicles until we were fifteen kilometres out of Milford Sound, where we ran into a bus and some cars. We arrived at Milford sound about 0910 and had to walk through the rain to a walkway, then into the Visitors’ Centre. The cruise we had booked ourselves on had been cancelled because of boat engine failure, but we were offered a cruise on the Milford Mariner instead (half an hour longer, but no extra cost for us). While we were waiting we ran into the girls from the Hangi at Rotorua – they were going on an earlier cruise on the Red Cruises.
We were onto our boat at 1020 and it left the dock left at 1030. Once on board we met up with two families from yesterday (one Irish, one from Auckland) and others from Singapore (American), Holland (a couple and two girls – there can’t be anyone left in the Netherlands!) and Canberra. There were spectacular views as we headed out in Milford Sound, but the rain and mist blocked parts out. The rain and mist disappeared as we exited Milford Sound into the Tasman Sea – the rain just stopped. Then it was clear all the way back, so the views were plainly visible this time. We arrived back at the dock and were off the boat at about 1310. We walked back to the car and drove back to Te Anau. We stopped at a few places (Fran’s usual ‘good’ spots – less than fifty metres walk) and longer at Mirror Lake. We arrived back in town at 1630 and went to get some tea – there were no sausage rolls left, so we had to get some at the supermarket.
We went back to the motel unit and had lunch, wrote up postcards we had bought and posted them down the street. Again we walked back to the unit. I downloaded photos from the day, named and processed them. At this stage, for some reason, I wasn’t feeling well.
We watched the news on TV and saw an item about two deaths on Fox Glacier – young Australian Indians.
I wrote up my blogs in summary but had no tea – I was still not feeling well. I had to be up early tomorrow as we are off to Bluff, so I was off to bed about 2200.
This time we got a good run – there were few vehicles until we were fifteen kilometres out of Milford Sound, where we ran into a bus and some cars. We arrived at Milford sound about 0910 and had to walk through the rain to a walkway, then into the Visitors’ Centre. The cruise we had booked ourselves on had been cancelled because of boat engine failure, but we were offered a cruise on the Milford Mariner instead (half an hour longer, but no extra cost for us). While we were waiting we ran into the girls from the Hangi at Rotorua – they were going on an earlier cruise on the Red Cruises.
We were onto our boat at 1020 and it left the dock left at 1030. Once on board we met up with two families from yesterday (one Irish, one from Auckland) and others from Singapore (American), Holland (a couple and two girls – there can’t be anyone left in the Netherlands!) and Canberra. There were spectacular views as we headed out in Milford Sound, but the rain and mist blocked parts out. The rain and mist disappeared as we exited Milford Sound into the Tasman Sea – the rain just stopped. Then it was clear all the way back, so the views were plainly visible this time. We arrived back at the dock and were off the boat at about 1310. We walked back to the car and drove back to Te Anau. We stopped at a few places (Fran’s usual ‘good’ spots – less than fifty metres walk) and longer at Mirror Lake. We arrived back in town at 1630 and went to get some tea – there were no sausage rolls left, so we had to get some at the supermarket.
We went back to the motel unit and had lunch, wrote up postcards we had bought and posted them down the street. Again we walked back to the unit. I downloaded photos from the day, named and processed them. At this stage, for some reason, I wasn’t feeling well.
We watched the news on TV and saw an item about two deaths on Fox Glacier – young Australian Indians.
I wrote up my blogs in summary but had no tea – I was still not feeling well. I had to be up early tomorrow as we are off to Bluff, so I was off to bed about 2200.
January 8
I was awake at 0600, then up at 0640 and had a cup of tea, toast, a drink, showered and dressed. I packed, packed the car and we left at 0800. Before we left Queenstown I filled the car with petrol and we set off to Te Anau by 0815.
We arrived at Te Anau at 1030 and went to book our glow-worm trip (1415 cruise only had one space) for 1515 today. Once we had booked the trip, we went to the motel but were too early. The wife of the owner promised that the room would be ready by midday. To fill in time, we went to the DOC Discovery Centre for Te Anau and had a good look around. We went back to the cruise depot and booked our cruise for Milford Sound tomorrow and then went to supermarket and got stuff for lunch. Then we went back to the motel. The wife gave us Unit 3, but the husband (who had just turned up) grumbled. Our unit has one bedroom, a main room with single bed and a small bathroom with separate toilet. Fran made, and we had lunch, left the car at the motel and walked back into town. On our walk we found an extra supermarket (quite small) and many other shops including a bakery. At the bakery I bought a sausage roll (which, upon eating, was found to be good).
On our way to the ferry terminal, we walked around the town and then sat on foreshore. We spoke with a couple from Ringwood (Melbourne) and the husband had come from Altona Meadows.
Once we got our boarding passes for boat, we waited, and while waiting, spoke to a staff member Lynette from Invercargill whose parents were Dutch.
We all boarded the boat and went across the lake. We landed and had a short walk through to the centre. We broke up into groups of about twenty, walked into the entrance to the cave and rode right down to into the caves. We spoke with a family from Ireland while walking, but while in the boat everyone had to be silent.
We went through the caves (very interesting and different from Waitomo) and there was a huge amount of water going through (from rain). The caves themselves were dark (naturally) and had a large number of glow-worms visible. After going through the cave, we went back to the centre while the other people in the group went through. Here we spoke to a couple from Jutland in Denmark while having cup of tea and watching a Japanese guide (?) explain the glow-worms.
On the ride back there were quite a few showers.
Once off the boat, we walked into town and had tea along the way, including ice creams. Then we walked back to the motel and refuelled the car. At the service station I spoke with two Irish girls who didn’t know the fuel ratings (unleaded, premium, diesel) and who hadn’t ever filled a car with fuel before. Back at the motel we found the car next door had the interior light on, but despite knocking on the door of the unit, there was no answer.
We settled in and had a cup of tea. I copied and processed the day’s photos and summarised my blog. During the evening we watched “Whale Rider” DVD from office. After, we went to sleep.
We arrived at Te Anau at 1030 and went to book our glow-worm trip (1415 cruise only had one space) for 1515 today. Once we had booked the trip, we went to the motel but were too early. The wife of the owner promised that the room would be ready by midday. To fill in time, we went to the DOC Discovery Centre for Te Anau and had a good look around. We went back to the cruise depot and booked our cruise for Milford Sound tomorrow and then went to supermarket and got stuff for lunch. Then we went back to the motel. The wife gave us Unit 3, but the husband (who had just turned up) grumbled. Our unit has one bedroom, a main room with single bed and a small bathroom with separate toilet. Fran made, and we had lunch, left the car at the motel and walked back into town. On our walk we found an extra supermarket (quite small) and many other shops including a bakery. At the bakery I bought a sausage roll (which, upon eating, was found to be good).
On our way to the ferry terminal, we walked around the town and then sat on foreshore. We spoke with a couple from Ringwood (Melbourne) and the husband had come from Altona Meadows.
Once we got our boarding passes for boat, we waited, and while waiting, spoke to a staff member Lynette from Invercargill whose parents were Dutch.
We all boarded the boat and went across the lake. We landed and had a short walk through to the centre. We broke up into groups of about twenty, walked into the entrance to the cave and rode right down to into the caves. We spoke with a family from Ireland while walking, but while in the boat everyone had to be silent.
We went through the caves (very interesting and different from Waitomo) and there was a huge amount of water going through (from rain). The caves themselves were dark (naturally) and had a large number of glow-worms visible. After going through the cave, we went back to the centre while the other people in the group went through. Here we spoke to a couple from Jutland in Denmark while having cup of tea and watching a Japanese guide (?) explain the glow-worms.
On the ride back there were quite a few showers.
Once off the boat, we walked into town and had tea along the way, including ice creams. Then we walked back to the motel and refuelled the car. At the service station I spoke with two Irish girls who didn’t know the fuel ratings (unleaded, premium, diesel) and who hadn’t ever filled a car with fuel before. Back at the motel we found the car next door had the interior light on, but despite knocking on the door of the unit, there was no answer.
We settled in and had a cup of tea. I copied and processed the day’s photos and summarised my blog. During the evening we watched “Whale Rider” DVD from office. After, we went to sleep.
January 7
I was awake at 0600 after an unsettled night. After breakfast (tea, toast, pancake), a shower and dressing, I packed, then packed the car (through the now incessant rain) and we were off by 0800.
After arriving at Fox Glacier at 0820, we went straight on because the rain was still incessant and heavy. We arrived at Haast at about 1000 and stopped briefly to go to the toilet and look around.
Then it was on through the Haast Pass, with incessant rain following us along the way. By the time we got to Wanapa the rain had stopped, so in finer weather we went through Cardrona to Queenstown. Along the way there was no rain but there was a lousy driver in front (so it was slow and tortured progress) and so we arrived in Queenstown by 1320. Here I dropped Fran at the iSite Tourist Centre to book the steamship trip on the lake. After Fran had got the tickets, we went to the motel and had our lunch. We were going to be too late for the lake trip, so I dropped Fran back at the i-Site to rebook our boat trip, then we parked and did some shopping. It was only a short walk to the ferry port, so after a short wait we went on the trip. During our trip, I had a look around the boat – there is a lot of history. We were back into the port by 1730 and we walked back to the car. We drove around to the Gondola terminal and I took the trip up and back- Fran stayed at the terminal. Neither of us went on the luge there.
After that we went to a supermarket, did more shopping and went back to the motel. Here we had tea, I processed the photos, summarised my blog and saved everything. Then we watched TV and to bed. It started to rain again!
After arriving at Fox Glacier at 0820, we went straight on because the rain was still incessant and heavy. We arrived at Haast at about 1000 and stopped briefly to go to the toilet and look around.
Then it was on through the Haast Pass, with incessant rain following us along the way. By the time we got to Wanapa the rain had stopped, so in finer weather we went through Cardrona to Queenstown. Along the way there was no rain but there was a lousy driver in front (so it was slow and tortured progress) and so we arrived in Queenstown by 1320. Here I dropped Fran at the iSite Tourist Centre to book the steamship trip on the lake. After Fran had got the tickets, we went to the motel and had our lunch. We were going to be too late for the lake trip, so I dropped Fran back at the i-Site to rebook our boat trip, then we parked and did some shopping. It was only a short walk to the ferry port, so after a short wait we went on the trip. During our trip, I had a look around the boat – there is a lot of history. We were back into the port by 1730 and we walked back to the car. We drove around to the Gondola terminal and I took the trip up and back- Fran stayed at the terminal. Neither of us went on the luge there.
After that we went to a supermarket, did more shopping and went back to the motel. Here we had tea, I processed the photos, summarised my blog and saved everything. Then we watched TV and to bed. It started to rain again!
january 6
Our first day in the South Island!
As usual now, it was up at 0640, had a cup of tea, a shower, dressed and had m weetbix.
After packing, I moved the car to the front of the hotel (a lot of people were leaving early, so space was available before 7:30). It was the very quick to pack the car, check the unit to make sure nothing was left behind and after refuelling at Shell in Picton (just around the corner), we headed south to Blenheim. We drove around the town, but the sights weren’t so dramatic to delay us, so we were soon off across in a southwest direction to Greymouth. Here we stopped to get rolls and other supplies for lunch. Lunch was made in the car and we ate it while droving south. Unfortunately the fine weather of the last few days disappeared as it started to rain heavily. We arrived at Franz Josef and were into our unit by 1500. Despite the rain, we drove out to the Franz Josef glacier and walked to see the main face, through pouring rain. It was not as I remember it, but still spectacular despite the poor viewing conditions (why couldn’t that rain fall in Victoria?). After a short time we were back into town and I refuelled (very expensive) at the only fuel outlet in town.
Straight after, we shopped at supermarket for soup and other essentials (only, as prices were REALLY high).
As it was still raining, we went back to the unit for an early tea, hung out our outer clothing to dry, read the local papers and tourist material, watched TV and then went to bed early.
As usual now, it was up at 0640, had a cup of tea, a shower, dressed and had m weetbix.
After packing, I moved the car to the front of the hotel (a lot of people were leaving early, so space was available before 7:30). It was the very quick to pack the car, check the unit to make sure nothing was left behind and after refuelling at Shell in Picton (just around the corner), we headed south to Blenheim. We drove around the town, but the sights weren’t so dramatic to delay us, so we were soon off across in a southwest direction to Greymouth. Here we stopped to get rolls and other supplies for lunch. Lunch was made in the car and we ate it while droving south. Unfortunately the fine weather of the last few days disappeared as it started to rain heavily. We arrived at Franz Josef and were into our unit by 1500. Despite the rain, we drove out to the Franz Josef glacier and walked to see the main face, through pouring rain. It was not as I remember it, but still spectacular despite the poor viewing conditions (why couldn’t that rain fall in Victoria?). After a short time we were back into town and I refuelled (very expensive) at the only fuel outlet in town.
Straight after, we shopped at supermarket for soup and other essentials (only, as prices were REALLY high).
As it was still raining, we went back to the unit for an early tea, hung out our outer clothing to dry, read the local papers and tourist material, watched TV and then went to bed early.
January 5
Today it was up at 0640, a cup of tea, breakfast (which was weetbix with Vegemite) and then a shower. The usual procedure followed as I dressed, packed, checked that nothing was left, and finally unpacked the car into bags except for the SatNav.
We were off by 0800and out of the carpark, onto the streets of Wellington and nearly ready to leave. We firstly drove to a Shell service station to refuel, then headed into Ezi-Rent to drop the car off. After it was checked for damage (none), we were run around to the InterIslander Terminal in it.
We were dropped off at the InterIslander Terminal about 0850 and quickly checked the bags in (my strap was now on Fran’sbag as it had lost the handles).
We waited in Terminal and chatted to aman from England who had been to Australia for a visit, met up his wife in Auckland and they were now going over to the South Island. Fran chatted with Belgium couple from Singapore.
The call to embark came at about 1010 and, once on board, we settled on seats with a table on Deck 7 for viewing and comfort. Before the ship left, we were joined by couple from Carterton (New Zealand) who had run a supermarketthere, but were now retired..
The trip over was very smooth. I had a pie and then chips for lunch while Fran had yoghurt and then a ham and salad roll.
We arrived in Picton at 1330 and were meet by a representative from Ezi-Rent. Fran stayed at the terminal with the luggage while I was run down to office with two others (one woman from Sydney and one man from England). In a relatively quick procedure, I got the car (this time a Nissan Pulsar sedan) and was back to the terminal in a minute or so (it was just down the road) to pick up Fran and luggage. She had been chatting to the husband of the woman who had gone to get their car, and the husband had been laying down the law to the children (enjoy this holiday or else!), and after a quick load up (room okay in the bood, but not as easy to load as the back of the Diahatsu). We went off to the hotel, booked in and left our luggage there. We drove along Queen Charlotte Drive to Nelson, had a look around at ChristChurch there and walked around the town, checking the shops and sights. We had an ice cream at McDonald’s as, during our walk, there was nowhere else open with ice creams..
We drove back along the coast to Picton. We shopped at the supermarket for supplies and got fush and chups (I just had to write in New Zealandese) for tea at a little place just over the road.
We took them back to the motel and ate tea outside, read outside for a time and then inside as the sun set. There were too many cars out the front, so I had to park at the side – good for foot access, but not good for loading the luggage in the morning. I processed the photos, wrote a simplified blog (intending to flesh it out later, not realising how much later that would be) and then prepared for bed. I didn’t use the Internet – too expensive (and limited), so was soon in bed and to sleep.
We were off by 0800and out of the carpark, onto the streets of Wellington and nearly ready to leave. We firstly drove to a Shell service station to refuel, then headed into Ezi-Rent to drop the car off. After it was checked for damage (none), we were run around to the InterIslander Terminal in it.
We were dropped off at the InterIslander Terminal about 0850 and quickly checked the bags in (my strap was now on Fran’sbag as it had lost the handles).
We waited in Terminal and chatted to aman from England who had been to Australia for a visit, met up his wife in Auckland and they were now going over to the South Island. Fran chatted with Belgium couple from Singapore.
The call to embark came at about 1010 and, once on board, we settled on seats with a table on Deck 7 for viewing and comfort. Before the ship left, we were joined by couple from Carterton (New Zealand) who had run a supermarketthere, but were now retired..
The trip over was very smooth. I had a pie and then chips for lunch while Fran had yoghurt and then a ham and salad roll.
We arrived in Picton at 1330 and were meet by a representative from Ezi-Rent. Fran stayed at the terminal with the luggage while I was run down to office with two others (one woman from Sydney and one man from England). In a relatively quick procedure, I got the car (this time a Nissan Pulsar sedan) and was back to the terminal in a minute or so (it was just down the road) to pick up Fran and luggage. She had been chatting to the husband of the woman who had gone to get their car, and the husband had been laying down the law to the children (enjoy this holiday or else!), and after a quick load up (room okay in the bood, but not as easy to load as the back of the Diahatsu). We went off to the hotel, booked in and left our luggage there. We drove along Queen Charlotte Drive to Nelson, had a look around at ChristChurch there and walked around the town, checking the shops and sights. We had an ice cream at McDonald’s as, during our walk, there was nowhere else open with ice creams..
We drove back along the coast to Picton. We shopped at the supermarket for supplies and got fush and chups (I just had to write in New Zealandese) for tea at a little place just over the road.
We took them back to the motel and ate tea outside, read outside for a time and then inside as the sun set. There were too many cars out the front, so I had to park at the side – good for foot access, but not good for loading the luggage in the morning. I processed the photos, wrote a simplified blog (intending to flesh it out later, not realising how much later that would be) and then prepared for bed. I didn’t use the Internet – too expensive (and limited), so was soon in bed and to sleep.
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